Joe Paterno Must Step Down
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Joe Paterno Must Step Down
Topic Author: Josh Little
Posted: 10:50 PM Nov 7, 2011
Replies Posted: 0 comments
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It's time for JoePa to step down!

Everyone knows the story by now, renown defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky has been arrested and charged with 40 counts of molestation spanning several years and at least 8 different young boys (that we know of.)  Sandusky was clearly a sexual predator who preyed on disadvantaged youth, most he met while at his own foundation Second Mile, which was created to help....you guessed it, disadvantaged youth.

Sandusky allegedly sexually abused these boys, some of which happened on the Penn State campus.  One janitor caught Sandusky performing oral sex on a boy expected to be between 11-13 years-old, while a graduate assistant caught him having anal sex with a 10-year old.  The first alleged incident happened in 1998, the second in 2002. Both occurred ON campus.

The GA took the info to Paterno, who in turn told his superior.  And that was it.  Sandusky was allowed to stay around the program and keep training in the team weight room (he was there two weeks ago.)  Paterno knew about this incident, yet still allowed him to be around the program for the last 10 years?  Unacceptable.

Could you imagine Coach Ault acting in a similar fashion?  Telling his boss, then looking the other way and going about his life?  No way....most coaches, and men in general would not.  Paterno is to Penn State what Ault is to Nevada.  They ARE the program, and thus should be held to a higher standard then "I did what was legally prudent."  How about being a leader? How about being a man?

Paterno should have not only gone to his bosses about this, but also followed up to make sure something was done about it.  He should also have alerted the POLICE, not just the University.  And he should have made sure Sandusky was banned from the campus.....which just happened this week.....after years of molestation.

I'm sorry, but this is a joke.  JoePa should be held to a higher standard.  He should have done the moral and ethical thing. He should have informed someone outside of the school so Sandusky would have been taken away from his "foundation."  One article compared the Second Mile foundation to a spider web, which lured in troubled youth....only so Sandusky could prey on them.  He should have done something, not just the minimal requirements of his job.

The Penn State Athletic Director and the Senior Vice President have lost their jobs, and been arrested for perjury in the cover-up.  If Paterno would have used his clout as the leader and father-figure of that program, maybe a few troubled kids would have been spared from this sick man.  But silence and looking the other way may have sentenced more kids to a life of despair and unimaginable torture. 

Paterno released a statement saying he did what was legally required.  "....I did what I was supposed to with the one charge brought to my attention...." WOW Joe, you're quite the leader. 

"It was clear that the witness saw something inappropriate involving Mr. Sandusky. As Coach Sandusky was retired from our coaching staff at that time, I referred the matter to university administrators."  So, since he was already off the coaching staff, you're excused from doing anything else?  Sandusky retired in 1999, but one alleged incident happened on campus in 2002. It kept happening in your locker room Joe, under your watch.

Joe Paterno is a legend as a football coach, but as a man is a failure.  Football is not everything....as the face of the football program, for the good of the program, you need to go away.  I hope you can live with yourself....and I really hope these victims can one day find peace.

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