Worst Scandal of All Time

[MUMac]

I admit that this whole situation is disturbing, bothersome and I have conflicting thoughts.

First, though, Paterno is not able to defend himself. We have heard snippets of what he said, did, did not do or did not say. All second or third hand. He is an easy target to dump on, as he is no longer with us and knew he would not be with us much longer last fall. I am not defending him, but I would like to have more facts, but those went to the grave.

I am with the group that believes the NCAA overreached. Let's face it, Penn State was an easy target for the NCAA, due in large part to the kind of act and the length of time from the act to the trial. Add to that, two high ranking individuals have likely perjered themselves. Unfortunately, those people were all terminated when the facts became known. No one is involved with the University that created this crap storm. The one's that are paying the price had nothing to do with this.

Now, I know the argument will be that that is always the case. No, it is not. Most times, the President/AD remain in place while the coach is terminated. Thus, institutional control makes more sense to me - they lost it, and that is the punishment.

I am not looking to get into a long debate over this. It is one of those emotional issues that really no one's mind will ever be changed - including my own. I just wish the NCAA had the balls to enforce some of the blatant violations against the blue bloods that happen now. They do not and I really feel this was an overreach in a "feel good" kind of way by the NCAA.

[BLT]

May 1998: People/organizations aware of allegations concerning Sandusky, as of this date: Penn State University Police, State College Police Department, Centre County Office of the District Attorney, Second Mile attorney, Penn State attorney, Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.
http://deadspin.com/5859823/a-compre...-abuse-scandal

As a manager, if an employee comes to me with an harassment claim, we are told to pass it along and let the specialists deal with it--to stay out of it to protect confidentiality to avoid bias of an untrained self-apponted specialist. They absoluletly do NOT want me interjecting myself into an investigation by seeking out a victim or witness or trying to problem solve it. They want to independently investigate the incident in confidence. There is/was a lot of blame to pass around...but the PSU administrators and Joe Pa's big mistake was interjecting themselves into a solution that should have been handled by the criminal and social welfare authorities...who couldn't seem to find enough to bring charges over a long period of time. Sad all the way around for the victims of the failures of many.

Again, not making excuses for any one...just think the NCAA's interjection into a criminal matter is an over reach...although I get it could be justified to some degree.

[Nukem2]

First of all, the NCAA isn't "interjecting" themselves into a criminal or civil matter.

Second, the NCAA has complete authority to act because it is an athletics related matter. They can do so on a parallel track.

It only became an athletics matter indirectly because of those misguided administrators who thought they were "protecting" PSU and its FB program from perceived taint. If they had exercised proper judgement, it would have been about Sandusky with some taint that would have blown over quickly. In the meantime, over the years, what have PSU athletics done to be punished (other than the continuing saga of Paterno and the admins )....? Zip..nada...

[Goose85]

Not defending JoePa or Penn State at all, as the Mayor pointed out.
I'm not sure why addressing the NCAA penalty against Penn State as too harsh comes accross as some sort of defense of JoePa or Penn State?

Those in charge are being punished appropriately. Sandusky - life in prison, JoePa - reputation ruined and will forever be remembered as the guy that could have stopped the monster but didn't, other PSU autorities involved - all will also likely see prison terms and have civil actions brought against them, the University / athletic department will lose far more than $100 million because of this cover-up. JoePa will get the worst of this as everyone will now point the finger at him (maybe justified) because he is dead and can't defend himself.

Ok, the bad guys are getting what they deserve (again, not defending them - they deserve what they are getting).

Why the need for the NCAA to give them what is probably worse than the death penalty? These sanctions will hurt every athletic program at PSU as the financial penalties will result in cuts to all PSU sports. The NCAA has now determined that on top of issuing penalties, they can fine schools significant amounts of money.

I'm sure PSU agreed with the NCAA sanctions as they had little time to react, and the public outcry was to ban football.

Because of a few, the reputation of PSU, not just football but the entire university as a whole is now garbage. Can you imagine the added reputational hit if PSU wanted to fight the NCAA on the penalties? They had to accept whatever was levied. Heck, I suggest the NCAA was too harsh and I'm accused of defending the actions of JoePa / Sandusky and the rest involved.

[TheSultan]

It only became an athletics matter indirectly because of those misguided administrators who thought they were "protecting" PSU and its FB program from perceived taint. If they had exercised proper judgement, it would have been about Sandusky with some taint that would have blown over quickly. In the meantime, over the years, what have PSU athletics done to be punished (other than the continuing saga of Paterno and the admins )....? Zip..nada...

Isn't that enough????

[Nukem2]

Isn't that enough????

Guess we'll have to agree to disagree. there is far too much collateral damage here. In the meastime, quality FB programs like USC are drooling over PSU castoffs...

[MUMac]

Guess we'll have to agree to disagree. there is far too much collateral damage here. In the meastime, quality FB programs like USC are drooling over PSU castoffs...

Yep, and that was part of the basis of my comment. The NCAA acted big time here because they could and felt it would look good. Yet, all the other crap get's a blind eye.

[TheSultan]

Well, this will be my last post on this, but I have very little outrage over USC boosters paying student athletes. I have a great deal of outrage over organizational cover ups of pedophiles.

[Nukem2]

Well, this will be my last post on this, but I have very little outrage over USC boosters paying student athletes. I have a great deal of outrage over organizational cover ups of pedophiles.

No one disagrees with your outrage. But, please, deal with the guilty parties.

[MUMac]

Well, this will be my last post on this, but I have very little outrage over USC boosters paying student athletes. I have a great deal of outrage over organizational cover ups of pedophiles.

Who said anything about comparative emotions? Of course the outrage for the situation of PSU is worse than USC. You will note, the police are not involved in the USC situation, as that is better addressed by the NCAA. Just as those commenting against the NCAA's handling is that the PSU situation is best handled through the police/courts and not the NCAA. It has NOTHING to do with moral outrage at all.