Filmmaker John Ziegler was with Sandusky and believes something is afoot and the former Penn State football coach was put away over financial gain by alleged victims. He also feels Joe Paterno did nothing wrong...
Penn State ex-president Graham Spanier, former athletic director Tim Curley and former vice president Gary Schultz have been bound for court on the charges against them in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse case.
Dauphin County Judge William Wenner found enough evidence to warrant a trial for three after a two-day preliminary hearing in Harrisburg.
Former Penn State assistant football coach Mike McQueary testified as part of the hearing that Curley and Schultz knew what was going on...
Here's the update after his testimony...
((HT: ABC27 Harrisburg)) abc27 WHTM
Spanier's grand jury testimony during the Sandusky trial was read in open court in the morning session where it was disclosed that, according to Pennlive's Charles Thompson:
Prosecutors alleged that Spanier lied when:
He told the grand jury investigating former Penn State football assistant Jerry Sandusky that he never understood the 2001 incident to involve the abuse of a child.
He told the same panel that he was never made aware of any prior accusations against Sandusky. Records show Spanier was copied on at least some of the updates between Schultz and Curley on that case.
Schultz and Curley are already charged with perjury and the prosecution has to prove the statements were false to get a conviction to stick.
It was only a matter of time and assembling a game plan...
So now, officially, taking issue with the Freeh Report the Paternos, trustees, and former players are taking on the NCAA in court. The university itself is not a party in the suit since they agreed to the sanctions set forth by the NCAA which included a four-year bowl ban, wiping 111 wins off the books from Joe Paterno's record, a $60-million fine, and a serious amount of scholarship cuts.
Here's the excerpt from the show involving Bob Costas and Paterno family attorney, Wick Sollers...
The NCAA hasn't received any information involving the Paterno interest and was not in a position to comment on the lawsuit itself. And neither is Penn State: "Despite our request, the Paterno family has not shared any information about its planned legal action," chief legal officer Donald Remy said in a statement. "We remain committed to working with Penn State toward the continued successful completion of our voluntary agreement with the university and to working" with the NCAA's independent monitor, former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell.
The issue the HQ has with the Paternos and all involved in the lawsuit- the university signed off on the whole thing.
Give it up, pack it in, and otherwise stop...
The decisions made by those in power reflected an inherent desire to hide the facts and hide the hideous acts of a warped individual who is, thankfully, serving the remainder of his days in jail.
You don't see the Sandusky family chasing this rainbow...
All this reflects is the amount of hubris and ego that the Paternos have in a vain attempt at revisionist history...
The first salvo was the Sue Paterno open letter trying to explain who her late husband, Joe, really was...
Now, before Sue Paterno gives, what surely will be, an emotional interview with Katie Couric...
ESPN has timed and cooperated with an embargo of a report co-authored and researched by former Pennsylvania Governor Dick Thornburgh (among others) who addressed the self-thought of "holes and inaccuracies" in the Freeh Report...
To refute, somewhat, coach Paterno could probably have issues spelling the word e-mail- much less understanding what it is and how to use it within the Penn State system. If Freeh anointed himself "judge, jury, and executioner" then the issues are to be with the university for signing off on the conclusions- not Freeh or the NCAA.
The issues should be resolved with the school as the family tries to reclaim what's left of a tattered reputation.
Mr. Paterno was on notice for at least 13 years that Sandusky, one of his longest serving assistants, and whose office was steps away, was a probable serial pedophile. Mr. Paterno was aware of the criminal 1998 investigation into Sandusky's suspected child sexual abuse. Indeed, the evidence shows that Mr. Paterno closely followed that case. Later, in 2001, another one of his assistants, Mr. McQueary, directly reported to Mr. Paterno that Sandusky was sexually abusing a young boy in Mr. Paterno's Penn State football locker room. The evidence shows that Mr. Paterno purposefully ignored this evidence.
So, to the Paternos, good luck in your Pee-Ahr campaign. It will be interesting to see how many of us outside of State College buy what you're selling...
So it begins. Well over a year after it started, Joe Paterno's widow is telling the family's side of the Jerry Sandusky saga and they'll tell it on Monday.
Multiple outlets report that on Sunday morning, Sue Paterno will release a report she says will counter all the allegations the Freeh Report made against her husband.
And it will be released to the public on ESPN's "Outside the Lines" show.
No, really.
The report, rumored to be some 180 pages long and supposedly compiled by a "National Team of Experts", is reportedly a comprehensive rebuttal to the allegations that investigator Louis Freeh made in his report to the Penn State Board of Trustees.
Read the full story from the Centre Daily Times RIGHT HERE
You'll recall the Freeh report alleged Joe Paterno was part of a large cover-up by Penn State leaders to hide the behavior of convicted child molester Jerry Sandusky. The report provided documents stating Joe Paterno was aware there were issues with Sandusky and chose to try handling them internally rather than telling police.
Mind you, Paterno was not charged with anything. Sue Paterno believes her husband's name was besmirched and the humilation of her husband was too much to bear.
The story says the report will prove that Freeh did not "Thoroughly" investigate what happened and ignored details that would exonerate JoePa. She did not elaborate as to why Freeh would do that.
Oh, Sue Paterno will apparently state her case to the world Monday in an interview to be broadcast on the "Katie" show (syndicated, check local listings for time).
The family is filing their own appeal with the NCAA...
The HQ has no idea what they think they're going to attempt to accomplish over something that the university that employed their father has already signed off on. The appeal is on the grounds that Joe Paterno is an “involved individual” mentioned in the consent decree and the Freeh Report.
The family is asking for 30 days to write material to back up their assertion.
From the letter itself:
As will become evident in a thorough and impartial review, the NCAA acted hastily and without any regard for due process. Furthermore, the NCAA and Penn State’s Board Chair and President entirely ignored the fact that the Freeh Report, on which these extraordinary penalties are based, is deeply flawed because it is incomplete, rife with unsupported opinions and unquestionably one-sided. The NCAA and Penn State’s leadership, by accepting and adopting the conclusions of the Freeh report, have maligned all of the above without soliciting contrary opinions or challenging a single finding of the Freeh report. Given the extraordinary penalty handed out, prudence and justice require that scrupulous adherence to due process be observed and not completely ignored.
If you are so inclined, the entire letter from Scribd.com RIGHT HERE
Once again, the university signed off on the report- without challenge...
Or did the Paterno family forget that whole thing about a "four-year death penalty...?"
And, apparently, he's not a fan of the Freeh Report...
Graham Spanier wrote a letter to the Board of Trustees Sunday obtained by ESPN's "Outside The Lines" program that outlines, in his perspective the idea that he only had limited interaction in the Sandusky investigation and how much he, head coach Joe Paterno, former Athletic Director Tim Curley, and vice president Gary Schultz actually knew in the first place.
After the 2001 incident, Spanier admits that "I never heard a word about abusive or sexual behavior, nor were there any other details presented that would have led me to think along those lines."
Spanier points out, in his defense, that he has undergone background checks and has received top security clearances from the federal government in his new job -- clearance that required a review once the Sandusky matter became public last fall...
"The release of the Freeh report has triggered an avalanche of vitriol, condemnation and posthumous punishment on Joe Paterno. The NCAA has now become the latest party to accept the report as the final word on the Sandusky scandal. The sanctions announced by the NCAA today defame the legacy and contributions of a great coach and educator without any input from our family or those who knew him best.
"That the President, the Athletic Director and the Board of Trustees accepted this unprecedented action by the NCAA without requiring a full due process hearing before the Committee on Infractions is an abdication of their responsibilities and a breach of their fiduciary duties to the University and the 500,000 alumni. Punishing past, present and future students of the University because of Sandusky's crimes does not serve justice. This is not a fair or thoughtful action; it is a panicked response to the public's understandable revulsion at what Sandusky did."
NCAA President Mark Emmert used the equivalent of the "best interest of baseball" clause- defending the Constitution of the organization outright in handing down the penalties in light of the actions of Penn State before, during, and after the Jerry Sandusky scandal enveloped campus.
Here's what they decided...
A fine of $60-million funds to establish and endowment - one year's gross football revenue... even as Darren Rovell reports revenue at $73-million. The fine is payable over a five-year period.
A scholarship reduction of 25 to 15 for 4 years- while allowing students to transfer and compete immediately if they so choose. Athletes who stay in State College will retain athletic grant in aid as long as they choose to stay on campus... and regardless as to whether or not they ultimately choose to stay on as an athlete.
A post-season ban of 4 years
The NCAA vacates all wins from 1998-2011- the records will reflect that. Bobby Bowden is now the FBS leader, Eddie Robinson is the FCS leader, and John Gagliardi is the NCAA leader.
5 years probation and the establishment of an "Academy integrity monitor"
The NCAA also reserves the right to initiate sanctions on individuals after criminal investigation is completed...
The NCAA is also telling Penn State to adopt reforms from Freeh Report, and enter into Athletic Integrity Agreement with the Big 10 and the NCAA
Emmert and Dr. Ed Ray, President of Oregon State and Executive Committe Chair, were available at NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis.
Ray said before Emmert spoke that we all "should focus on the people who let them down." He also said the NCAA has the authority and the responsibility to do what was done today, and the actions of Penn State were "against our value system and basic human decency."
The Executive Committee directed President Emmert to examine, and if appropriate, level punitive and corrective measures. They're taking the criminal investigation and Freeh report into account and the leadership of the school displayed failures that directly violated by-laws and the NCAA Constitution in regard to integrity and ethical conduct.
"It is a stark wake-up call," Ray admitted, "and the idea is to adhere to the fundamental values of respect."
Emmert said that the consent decree, signed by the NCAA and the school, doesn't remove the pain and anguish caused and the sanctions reflect the magnitude of the acts, and "ensure that Penn State rebuild an athletic culture that went horribly awry."
The idea is also to establish a mindset where football is not ahead of an entire school's behavior...
Against this backdrop, Penn State accepts the penalties and corrective actions announced today by the NCAA. With today’s announcement and the action it requires of us, the University takes a significant step forward.
The NCAA ruling holds the University accountable for the failure of those in power to protect children and insists that all areas of the University community are held to the same high standards of honesty and integrity.
The NCAA also mandates that Penn State become a national leader to help victims of child sexual assault and to promote awareness across our nation. Specifically, the University will pay $12 million a year for the next five years into a special endowment created to fund programs for the detection, prevention and treatment of child abuse. This total of $60 million can never reduce the pain suffered by victims, but will help provide them hope and healing.
Current Penn State head coach Bill O'Brien issued a statement that said:
Today we receive a very harsh penalty from the NCAA and as Head Coach of the Nittany Lions football program, I will do everything in my power to not only comply, but help guide the University forward to become a national leader in ethics, compliance and operational excellence. I knew when I accepted the position that there would be tough times ahead. But I am committed for the long term to Penn State and our student athletes.
I was then and I remain convinced that our student athletes are the best in the country. I could not be more proud to lead this team and these courageous and humble young men into the upcoming 2012 season. Together we are committed to building a better athletic program and university.
Here's the early part of the announcement, thanks to our friends at WHP-TV in Harrisburg...
1100 UPDATE: The Big Ten Conference is piling on with their own sanctions...
The Big Ten is withholding bowl revenue, expected to amount to a $13-million total for the four years of probation. The Big Ten is saying the money will go to "established charitable organizations in Big Ten communities dedicated to the protection of children."
Sally Mason, Chairman of the Big Ten council of Presidents and Chancellors, and Jim Delany, Big 10 Commissioner, held a teleconference where they announced a censure of the school, will be party to the academic integrity agreement with the NCAA, will not allow the team to be in the Big 10 conference title game, and announced the withholding of the bowl revenue.
A public censure of Penn State by the Big Ten means that the school has no say in any part of conference policy.
Mason admitted that discussions on Penn State were all over the place and "everything was on the table and everything was discussed"- including expulsion from the conference.
Commissioner Delany addressed the idea of member schools accepting internal transfers from Penn State and admitted those students "needed to be prioritized" and they needed to have the most freedom and flexibility for those particular students.
Big Ten Network's Mike Hall caught up with Tom Dienhart
More when we know more...
The fine will go toward an endowment for children's causes, according to those same "sources."
"This is a fine like no fine before," an industry source told CBSSports.com. McMurphy also he Tweeted that Iowa president tells Des Moines Register Big Ten could add additional punishment to Penn State after NCAA's
The equivalent of piling on...
Jerry Hinnen wrote on CBSSports.com that Penn State's athletic revenue for the 2010-11 year was $116-million. Applying that percentage would be in the 25-50 percent range...
Of their entire athletic revenue stream... and the money could be earmarked for an endowment toward children's causes...
To recap, here's where Mark Emmert is coming from... the "Tavis Smiley" interview...
((HT: PBS/youtube))
"...I have been assured they will not be appealed or substantively challenged.
"Penn State is desirous of a positive relationship with the NCAA in the future. I believe the university is also eager to clear the decks of the Sandusky mess with as much dispatch as is possible, especially before fall semester begins. I believe the rationale is that contention would only prolong the period before healing can begin."
Reports out of Happy Valley, PA indicate that Penn State and it's Board of Trustees have made the decision to take down the statue of former Head Coach and current NCAA all-time victory leader Joe Paterno.
The decision comes on the heels of the Louis Freeh report which indicated Paterno was heavily involved in what appears to be a coverup to protect convicted child molestor and former top assistant Jerry Sandusky over the course of many years.
Unversity President Rodney Erickson released a statement early Sunday morning on the school's News Website.
Why we are not surprised by the decision to do this, the timing is, to say the least...curious. School officials, after denying for days this was going to happen, waited until the dawn hours of Sunday morning to actually do it.
Really, it isn't a huge surprise and we think most knew it was coming. Why else would so many people, including the Paterno family make the trip to take pictures with the statue late this week.
But Penn State being Penn State just couldn't come out and say they would do it. Rather, they just waited and tried to sneak it in...maybe thinking nobody would notice.
Penn State president Rod Erickson said he decided to have the statue of Joe Paterno removed because it "has become a source of division and an obstacle to healing."
"I believe that, were it to remain, the statue will be a recurring wound to the multitude of individuals across the nation and beyond who have been the victims of child abuse," Erickson said in a statement released early Sunday morning.
Here's your proof as the statue heads to storage...
((HT: ESPN))
Paterno's name will stay on the library, according to Davidson, "symbolizes the substantial and lasting contributions to the academic life and educational excellence that the Paterno family has made to Penn State University."
Now, the HQ will be interested to see how the folks in Happy Valley respond...
Who paid for a banner to be flown over Penn State University Tuesday morning bearing a simple and direct message "Take the Statue Down or We Will".
And no, thusfar, nobody has owned up to paying for the banner to be flown.
Obviously, the message is in reference to the Joe Paterno statue in place at the school. The statue is the topic of some pretty emotional debates among many people, with most calling for the school to take it down and not honor former coach Joe Paterno.
However, the school's Board of Trustees has been rather quiet about the issue, only saying that they will consider the option.
No, we haven't weighed in on this...until now.
The school is crazy if they don't at least put the thing in storage. The outrage and moral reprehension of Paterno's apparent lack of accountability and according to the Freeh report, a wanton ignoring...or selective memory about convicted child molester and former assistant Jerry Sandusky angers just about everyone.
Sure, we know the Board is scared of the reaction, but if they had any grasp of reality, they'd realize they are doing more harm than good by leaving it where it is.
Also, NCAA president Mark Emmert chimed in, a bit, about the after effects of the Freeh report. Emmert 'Heavily' criticized Penn State's behavior and apparent lack of reaction to Sandusky, but stopped short of saying the school would suffer penalties from it.
Listen to Emmert talk to PBS host Tavis Smiley about Penn State:
The family of former Penn State coach Joe Paterno released a statement on Monday that essentially announced that they want to conduct a review of the Freeh probe and gather some of their own investigating in how the case of former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was handled at Penn State.
Paterno's family has been adamant that he did not know anything about Sandusky and his pedophilia. Though they don't dispute that he could have done more to stop Sandusky, they believe his passing on of Mike McQueary's concerns to superiors absolved him (Paterno).
Most importantly, the family's attorney, Wick Sollers wants to verify the information in Thursday's report by former FBI Director Louis Freeh that was conducted for the Penn State Board of Trustees. Sollers says Freeh presented his information as they were "Absolute Facts" and that "We believe numerous issues in the report and his (Freeh's) commentary bear further review".
You can read the full statement from PennLive.com RIGHT HERE
Or if you prefer, here is ESPN.com's version RIGHT HERE
We don't dispute the family's right to claim the Freeh report was misleading. But there is one issue standing out there that IS not addressed: Did or did not Paterno know about the 1998 report? Yes, they have said repeatedly, "The 1998 incident was fully investigated". We know that.
The problem is DID Paterno know about it. The Freeh report says he did. And if that is the case, the OBVIOUS question is: With another reported incident involving Sandusky, how could Paterno NOT see a pattern or a more serious problem?
And that folks, is more the issue with JoePa. The evidence of him knowing about 1998 combined with 2001, would lead one to surmise he knew more than he said. Yes, it is possible he stuck his head in the sand, but come on folks, do you really believe that?
Duke and Team USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski discusses the Freeh report and his thoughts on Joe Paterno.
It’s quite obvious that Coach K has been buried in preparations for the London Olympics and hasn’t fully consumed the Freeh report.
Krzyzewski never blamed Paterno in public comments feeling after all he has accomplished Paterno deserved better.Even Coach K realizes this report will forever stain Paterno’s legacy.
Not that the HQ is shocked, surprised, or stunned...
But, apparently, Joe Paterno was negotiating his own golden parachute in plenty of time just as the grand jury investigation was getting warmed up. Jo Becker has discovered that the 2011 season was set to be Paterno's last and he and his family was to receive $3-million, be forgiven on a $350,000 interest-free loan, garner use of the university's private plane, and watch games from a private box for 25 years at Beaver Stadium.
Some members of the Board of Trustees were privy to the arrangement and, after being "bombarded" (Becker's verb) by hate mail and threatened by a defamation lawsuit, the school BoT caved.
But, according to Becker, the family says it was the other way around:
On Friday, Wick Sollers, a lawyer for Mr. Paterno and his family, said that it was Penn State that last summer proposed the lucrative retirement package, and that many of the aspects of the proposal — use of the plane, the luxury box — had existed in prior contracts.
If this does not confirm that the interview below was a complete and total demonstration of hubris, the HQ doesn't know what is...
((HT: ESPN))
And this one...
((HT: MSNBC.com/"Today" Show))
We could continue... but it's too easy...
And it's also too easy to say that the remodeling of parts of the Lasch Building is a good start. In all reality, it's the analogy of putting lipstick on a pig. The building, if you want to start some kind of cleansing, needs to be torn down for all it symbolizes and stands for on a campus that has a culture of denial and absolute power.
The HQ agrees with Bobby Bowden, among countless others, that the Joe Paterno statue outside Beaver Stadium should be torn down and any representation of the Paterno name needs to be removed from any building in Happy Valley. The Board of Trustees needs to be blown up for all of their inactivity, cowering, and manipulation of the system to give the family a parachute and concealing the negotations until recently.
A thought echoed here...
((HT: WHP-TV))
And, despite how incredibly unrealistic and idealistic the idea is, the school needs to stop playing football for a while. If the continued sheltering of a child rapist doesn't symbolize all that was wrong inside the university, the HQ doesn't really know what else ever would...
To think the HQ actually agrees with SAS is just how bad this whole deal is... and that's a lot of screaming we're putting aside for this...
((HT: ESPN))
Penn State played football last post-season because of image preservation- even if it was the bowl game in Dallas... No, not that one... the other one.
The Paterno family has paraded itself shamelessly in front of any camera for the last week because of image preservation. Joe Paterno orchestrated his own exit during a grand jury investigation because of image preservation.
Paterno/Sans halo
For what's left of Penn State to preserve what's left of it's image, it needs to collectively start over- and return to small town ideals that created a Happy Valley in the first place.
And that means, in scientific terms, approaching absolute zero...
And while, yes, it's a very cold place... sometimes that's the only way to start over...
((Update--Michael Pilato, an area artist who had painted a mural in State College with an image of Joe Paterno....has painted over the halo. The halo had been placed there upon Paterno's death. The act comes just 2 days after the release of the Freeh report))
By now the Freeh report on what happened at Penn State regarding the cover-up for former football assistant coach Jerry Sandusky has been analyzed, the talking heads have spoken and the experts say. Death to them all.
But they are overlooking something that could have prevented a lot of this.
The lack of Open Records accountability at the school.
Yes, having a "Sunshine Law" or Open Records availability is a tool used by journalists and others. But it is something that is in place to keep places that get public money...like public schools...accountable.
Penn State was not required to make their records public. Nor were 3 other "State Related" institutions. And the 4 schools were and are the only publicly funded things in the state not required to make their records available.
Read more from the knowledgeable Al Tompkins from The Poynter Institute (Journalism Think Tank) RIGHT HERE
So...at this point, you are probably saying "Journalists don't need to know everything". And you are wrong there. But this isn't about Journalists.
This is about the public. Anyone, including you, seeing how a government entity...that you pay for, is conducting their business.
You should have a right to know.
If Penn State had been held to this, most of the records on Sandusky and his accomplices (Yes, Spanier, Curley, Schultz and Paterno could be called that now) or enablers would have been there.
The 1998 investigation, it would have been there. The 2001 McQueary incident, it would have been there. And they would have been found and read.
The article that we linked to quotes Graham Spanier as saying in 2007, that open records only feeds journalists trying to find out how much money Joe Paterno makes and would affect their licensing contracts with Nike and Pepsi.
And the DUMBASS legislators in Pennsylvania bought it. Does Florida hide what they make? No. Does Georgia? No. Ohio State? No.
But it worked.
The moral of the story here is a simple one. And to say THIS would have stopped Sandusky and the cover-up is being a bit too idealistic. But it would have helped. The records would have been available for scrutiny. Someone eventually would have found it.
But we may never know. Shame on Pennsylvania for not being transparent with their use of public money. Shame on Penn State for going "All-Out" to keep things from anyone with an interest. Right or wrong, the public should have a right to know where their money is going, and if you don't buy that, maybe it's time to look at Condo prices in China.
This is a topic that is already being hotly debated on Twitter, Message Boards, Sport Talk Radio and on TV. And it's not a simple one; "What's next in the Penn State investigation?"
And there is an extremely wide divergence of opinion.
Exactly as we and oh so many others have been saying since the conviction of former Penn St. assistant Jerry Sandusky, this was...and is going to get worse before it gets better.
As summarized earlier today in the report by former FBI Director Louis Freeh, there were multiple problems with (a) the way Penn State administrators reacted when confronted with this and (b) the way the Penn State Board of Trustees didn't react in regards to the way administrators handled this.
But the question is this: What's next?
1--The NCAA is going to investigate the school. And they should. But the cries for the "Death Penalty" and "Eliminating the Program" won't happen. On several levels you could make the argument it should, but it won't. The Freeh report information painted the Football program and former Head Coach Joe Paterno in a horrible light. Paterno was portrayed as a sort of "Godfather" type figure that nobody had the temerity to cross. And it portrayed the football team as being the "End All, Be All" of the school. It is not.
But the NCAA is somewhat boxed in here. There is no precedent for this in any of their voluminous set of rules. Yes, arguably, this could be construed as "Lack of Institutional Control", but in the technical sense, they didn't violate an NCAA rule. Did they violate the spirit of doing the right thing? Hell yes! At it's core, this is primarily a criminal case and the NCAA is not set up to punish based on that.
Yes, I know they've stuck their collective noses in some places they shouldn't before. But...
Do I think they should get the "Death Penalty?" Yeah, you could make the argument. But it would send a lot of things down a slippery slope, one that you have to be very careful before heading down. It would open up a whole new set of definitions about what is an "NCAA Violation".
2--Will there be charges or lawsuits filed? Hell to the yeah. This opens up pretty much everyone in a role of responsibility to legal charges.
In the case of the administrators, former AD Tim Curley and former VP of Student Affairs Gary Schultz are already being charged with perjuring themselves. This is not going to help that case.
Thus far, former president Graham Spanier has avoided that fate. That will change. He is implicated on several levels here, none of them good. The quote about being humane and the fact he never once asked about the children, that will and should damn him forever.
What we think happened to Paterno is he treated this the way things like molestation and devient behavior were dealt with back in the 40's and 50's. They were swept into a broom closet and they hoped those issues would go away. And that in no way, shape or form justifies Paterno's stubborn ignorance or willingness to do the worst possible thing.
The family of now deceased coach Joe Paterno needs to be very careful here. They keep harkening to what Paterno did for the program and all the good things he did, which were many. But they have NOTHING to do with this.
Did Paterno admit he should have done more? Yes. But he also lied to a grand jury and again, has been portrayed as the "Godfather", a mafioso style boss of the Happy Valley/Penn State area.
Again, Paterno, nor his family have EVER expressed their sympathies with the victims. And that is the problem here.
3---So what happens next? Curley and Schultz will go on trial. And Spanier, we and many others hope, will be next.
The NCAA will investigate and make a statement that says how appalled and repelled they are by what happened in this case and the way the Football team "Bullied" everyone in town. And they will put the team on Probation. But they won't kill the team.
Penn State will be sued and they will be sued a lot. And they should be. The Paterno family will be sued as well. And they should be.
Lest we forget, Joe Paterno's statue will be taken down. It has to be. For everything he did leading up to this, when presented the chance to do the right thing, he didn't. And sorry, that can't be forgiven.
It's an odd coincidence that during Jerry Sandusky's trial, his attorney strongly tried to push the case that the "Victims" were conspiring to make money off of the school and others.
They weren't. But they are about to.
This is one of the most horrible episodes in the history of modern human behavior. There is nothing that anyone can say to justify the way Penn State, it's adminstrators, it's board of trustees and Joe Paterno handled this. Nothing.
There are no excuses.
All we can hope for at this point is this opens some eyes and makes people more aware of behaviors such as Sandusky's. It also, we hope, makes ALL PEOPLE realize that we have a responsibility to protect those who can't protect themselves. That should ALWAYS...in EVERY SITUATION be first and foremost. It's just sad and pathetic that it took something like this to reinforce it.
UPDATE: The press conference involving members of the Board of Trustees and the current president of the University was somewhat heated...
Here's some of the exchanges among the media and those who got put in the line of fire...
((HT: MSNBC))
In a subsequent interview with Tom Rinaldi on ESPN, Jay Paterno refuted points of the Freeh Report claiming that no one in or around the program thought Jerry Sandusky was a child predator in 2001. Jay Paterno also says his father wishes he knew more so he could have done more.
In regard to the 1998 incident, Jay Paterno claims that the depth of his father's knowledge is in dispute and the incident was turned over to law enforcement. In defense of the allegations of 2001, his father reported to the people he was supposed to report to and accepts the criticism that he should have done more.
"None of us knew," he said "and we were not the only ones who missed it."
It's one of the more anticipated documents released in some time.
At least to those who cover Sports or are interested in the fallout from the Jerry Sandusky case.
Former FBI Director Louis Freeh was charged by the Penn State Board of Trustees to investigate what...well...pretty much everyone involved with Jerry Sandusky, either directly or indirectly knew or didn't know when it came to Sandusky's molestation of young boys.
Here is a summary of what the report says: (it's pretty damning)
--Per a Pre-Report Press Release, Freeh's investigators conducted over 430 interviews and read over 3 million e-mails.
--The school violated The Cleary Act, a Federal Law that requires them to at least investigate reports such as the one's that accused Sandusky.
--Despite the Paterno families complaints, they did cooperate with the investigation, providing many documents and notes.
--The reports Paterno talked administrators into changing plans after the McQueary discovery were true.
--The reports Paterno, former President Graham Spanier, former AD Tim Curley and former VP Gary Schultz purposely didn't report what they knew about Sandusky were true. And they were done to spare the school the negative publicity they believed would go with such reports.
--The 4 DID know about the allegations Sandusky assaulted a boy in 1998 despite their statements otherwise.
((From the report: After being informed of the investigation into Sandusky in 1998 "Schultz is immediately informed of the investigation and notifies Spanier and Curley. Schultz's confidential notes from May 4, 1998 'Behavior at best inappropriate@worst sexual improprieties' and at min-poor judgement. Schultz also notes: Is this the opening of Pandora's box and 'Other children?'".))
((More from report: "Curley notifies Spanier and Curley that he has touched base with Paterno about the incident. Days later, Curley e-mails Schultz 'Anything new in this department? Coach is anxious to know where this stands". Paterno testified to the Grand Jury before his passing saying he knew "Nothing" about any 1998 investigation))
((Still more from report--after the McQueary witness incident: The administrators came up with a plan to start telling people about Sandusky. But--"Curley emails Schultz and Spanier and says he (Curley) has changed his mind about the plan after giving it more thought and talking to Joe (Paterno) yesterday." Curley suggests informing Sandusky they know and offer to help him. If he refuses then they inform 2nd mile and others and to not allow Sandusky access to school faciilities.
((Spanier signs off on it and adds: "This report is acceptable to me The only downside is if the message is not heard and acted upon and then WE become vunerable for not having reported it. But that can be assessed down the road. the approach you outline is humane and a reasonable way to proceed."))
((Going back in time, there is this note by the investigators: "Before 1998, several staff members and football coaches regularly observed Sandusky showering with young boys in the then Lasch building. None of the individuals interviewed by the Special Counsel notified their superiors of this behavior."))
--The Board of Trustees were not made aware of anything regarding Sandusky and the Board is heavily criticized for not "Creating an atmosphere that allowed the School to 'Not be Accountable' to them."
--After the Sarah Ganim reports in March came out, the Board did not demand accountability from Spanier or anyone else at the School.
We're not going to decipher the minutae in all the details of the report. If you would like to read all 267 pages of it, which we recommend, you can do so by going to the Freeh Report Website.
Pretty much everyone involved here who could have put a stop to the Monster Sandusky..didn't. This is a colossal failure of responsibility.
Those defending Joe Paterno, Penn State or anyone else being held responsible is wrong. Paterno, whether he realized it or not...broke a Federal Law. He knew. He may not of known details. But he knew. And he didn't do anything. For fear of hurting the School and/or the Football team
And that folks is INEXCUSABLE.
But it is not all on him (Paterno). From Spanier to Schulz to Curley should be jailed. They should be crucified. Because they did wrong. They operated on their own. But it is not all on them. No system was in place to hold them accountable.
We hope, no, we pray the U.S Attorney's office prosecutes these men to the FULLEST extent of the law. They should be. Yeah, we know Paterno passed away, but this should and we hope WILL tarnish his legacy.
When faced with the opportunity to do the right thing he failed. When given the chance to do the right thing Spanier failed. And so did Schultz and Curley.
Yes, the report lays out the discussions they had about reporting this, but NONE OF THEM FOLLOWED THROUGH. They deferred to Paterno and then tried to cover it all up. They put the interests of themselves and Penn State ahead of the children..and felt NO REMORSE over it.
Yes, you can expect Penn State, it's Board of Trustees, the Paterno family and others to be sued civilly, they are exposed to huge liabilities for their sheer and utter ignorance and stupidity for not acting.
Please read the report, it makes us and a whole lot of other people pretty angry. Penn State and it's Board of Trustees have a lot to ponder...and do. Unfortunately they can't go back in fix their COLOSSAL FAILURE to act, but let's hope they do the right thing now and act like an institute of higher learning that is their for the betterment of all rather than the protection of a few.
Here's the Freeh presser in its entirety
((HT: WHP-TV Harrisburg))
Thursday should be an interesting day for everyone following and/or connected with the Jerry Sandusky/Penn State scandal.
That is when former FBI Director Louis Freeh has announced his report on Penn State and their involvement with Jerry Sandusky will be made public.
More specifically, the report will be released at 9 a.m eastern time on a specified website to whomever wants to read it.
You can find that website, TheFreehReportonPSU.com RIGHT HERE
There will also be a 10 a.m Press Conference talking about the findings.
And yes, as detailed here and many, many other places, the report is not likely to be complementary. Already bits and pieces have made their way out, many describing the control and actions of former head coach Joe Paterno, former president Graham Spanier, former AD Tim Curley and former VP Gary Schultz.
But there has been a lot of talk the investigation goes much, much further. According to a report by YahooSports.com reporter Dan Wetzel, who has been all over this story, the report will detail administrative behavior towards the football team, the insular behavior of the football team and administrators who basically tried to hide Jerry Sandusky.
So stay tuned faithful reader, we'll be looking at the Freeh report as soon as it becomes available and will help dissect it for you. Peek in Thursday morning to find out what was said.
What is it that someone said after the verdict in the Jerry Sandusky case? That things were nowhere near over? Or...the story has moved past him onto others now?
Each day forward from there seems to be bringing newer and newer reports of who knew what or whom didn't say what.
The latest comes from CNN's Susan Candiotti on the Freeh Investigation.
Joe Paterno
In reports Monday, they are starting to paint a picture of Penn State as a place where the world operated as it did and everything related to football started...and stopped with Joe Paterno.
The investigation by former FBI director Louis Freeh is beginning to leak out. And while critics are saying its part of a plan to discredit Paterno and the school, the rest say "Shut up--they are doing you a favor. By letting bits and pieces come out, they are softening what looks to be a 'Crushing' blow".
CNN's story talks about a conflict that arose at the school between Paterno and former VP of Student Affairs Vicki Triponey in 2005. The confilct itself was based on a run of bad student-athlete behavior that Paterno wanted to "Handle" internally rather than letting the school get involved.
Reports all over the internet are now leaking about Paterno and his "Handling" of discipline matters. Back in 2003 when the Nittany Lions were suffering a losing season and a rash of players arrested, Paterno, rather than suspend players, lashed out at the local media and others for questioning him about not disciplining the same players.
Why is this relevant you ask?
It continues to expose the whole issue at hand. The big reason Jerry Sandusky was able to continue preying on little kids...the appearance that Penn State knew of his problem and chose to ignore it.
That ignorance comes with a price though. And it is about to get paid. There will...and has already been an uproar over what is coming out. With the trials of Tim Curley and Gary Schultz along with the lawsuit by former president Graham Spanier all about to reach their apex it is like we said "About to get uglier".
--UPDATED-- The family of former coach Joe Paterno released a statement late Monday afternoon asking that Penn State be completely forthcoming with any e-mails related to this story and that they be given to the Louis Freeh investigation to be in turn released to the public.
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Interesting.
We felt compelled to tell a story here because we just read through the grand jury testimony of former Penn State athletic director Tim Curley and former V.P Gary Schultz.
And it was a fascinating read.
But first, the explosive report from CNN about e-mail chains between the two men and school president Graham Spanier continue to add to what is a scary and immensely disappointing portrayal of how Penn State didn't react when confronted about possible Sandusky indescretions.
The e-mails, first mentioned a couple of weeks ago, talk about the group deciding after consulting former coach Joe Paterno advised them to be quiet, to do just that.
CNN is expected to release more e-mails this week.
Now...back to the Grand Jury testimony.
OSG Sports read through a large portion of the 276 page testimony of Schultz and Curley at the Dauphin County Courthouse.
You can read the testimony by following the link RIGHT HERE
Without giving away the spoilers, start on about page 173 or so. That's where the attorney's begin talking to Curley about the incident where Mike McQueary found Sandusky in the shower with a young boy.
Curley went to great lengths to say McQueary was very not specific about what he had seen. The part that stands out the is when he describes who decided not to do anything and why.
Curley essentially says it was his decision because he didn't consider it a criminal act. He talked at length about discussing it with Schultz and with Spanier, but they deferred to him. Curley says he confronted Sandusky, but believed his story. He also went to the Second Mile he says, but does not detail the outcome of that conversation.
Curley also speaks of going to Joe Paterno's home to with Schultz to discuss the incident the day after McQueary reported it.
But the scariest part is when Curley was asked if he knew of the 1998 incident Sandusky was involved with. He said he didn't.
However....that differed from Schultz's testimony. Schultz recalled meeting Paterno at his home though he did confirm that the decision on what to do was left to Curley.
Spanier was however consulted as well and signed off on everything.
What is disconcerting is this: Schultz said he was aware of the 1998 incident and in some detail. He was aware of the Police investigation and aware that it was somewhat similar to what the were dealing with in Lasch Hall that McQueary had seen.
And Schultz didn't think the two "Similar" incidents warranted getting police...or investigators involved.
Really?
We highly, highly, highly recommend you read the testimony/link above.
In case you missed it, read the full testimony RIGHT HERE
While none of this confirms "Officially" anything in the reported E-Mails, it does allude to things reported in them. It does not directly implicate Paterno in anything, but it seems to infer he may have known more at the time than he let on. Considering Paterno's penchant for at least acting absent minded about some things, it is very conceivable that he didn't remember a lot of it when he testified too.
And if this proves to be the cover-up that it appears to be; these guys need to end up in the same place Sandusky does.
((ht: centredailytimes.com))
Mystery of the day in Happy Valley, PA.
The family of former Penn State coach Joe Paterno released a statement on Monday that essentially announced that they want to conduct a review of the Freeh probe and gather some of their own investigating in how the case of former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was handled at Penn State.
((ht: al tompkins/Poynter institute)) 
Thursday should be an interesting day for everyone following and/or connected with the Jerry Sandusky/Penn State scandal.
