First off, I think that in light of the extent of detail that was found in the Freeh report and the damning evidence it presents we can understand the Blather’s reasons for blogging about this story for our readers.
This isn’t just a PITT-Penn State thing any more than it is just an administrative matter for PSU. It is the biggest sports story in history. These person’s actions weren’t confined to the playing field as in the Black Sox scandal or the Boston College point shaving scandal, but were the manipulations by sports coaches and administrators that directly impacted and abetted sexual crimes against children.
It is the sums of all fears for an organization, especially one which prides itself on having their faculty and students reach higher for excellence which I think Penn State does on the whole.
I abhor all that is detailed in this report although I have to say that nothing in the report came as a shocking surprise to me. Anyone who has followed this case had to have some idea that Paterno and his three Stooges; Curley, Schultz and Spanier, must have known and discussed the 1998 incident and its aftermath. Nothing escaped Paterno’s influence when it came to the football program and we see that writ large in the reporting on his actions of 1998.
But here is one huge point I think is being generally overlooked and one that came as new information to me. Tim Curley and Joe Paterno granted Jerry Sandusky an emergency extension on his contract that was due to expire at the end of the 1998 season.
Get that? Even after all Paterno and friends knew about Sandusky abusing that young boy in ’98 and after all the hoops they jumped through to protect both the program and the university from the impact Sandusky’s crimes would have if they became public… they rehired him to help win football games in 1999!
To quote from the Freeh Report; page 21, 2nd para from the bottom: “As the (1998) retirement package is being finalized Curley requests the emergency re-hire of Sandusky for the 1999 football football season, which is approved.” Inserted date is mine.
Why you may ask?
Well, because PSU was a preseason #2 BCS ranked team and had an excellent shot at another national title. They had defensive players Courtney Brown (All-American), LaVar Arrington (AA x2), Brandon Short (AA) and David Macklin, all star players and future NFL draft picks returning and Paterno didn’t want a new coordinator to screw anything up, or have Sandusky leaving which may influence those players to leave PSU early. No – Paterno needed the singular man who he knew was a pedophile to stand next to him on the sidelines for the success and glory of the football program.
In my opinion this may be one of the most damning pieces of evidence the NCAA has to support a “Loss of Institutional Control” charge if they choose to go that way. It isn’t just sickening, it is clear evidence that protecting Sandusky was done for the benefit of the football program, otherwise why would Paterno keep him on staff one minute after he could get rid of him without arousing suspicion?
Prior to today we here on the Blather had been discussing how actually secret this was and some posters wondered why or how no one in Centre County seemed to know anything about Jerry Sandusky before the Grand Jury report was released in 2011. Well, we know now that just wasn’t the case at all. A whole hell of a lot of people knew his sexual predilections but ultimately chose not to get involved or to take any actions that might upset the apple cart of their careers and gingerbread lives.
I stated earlier that I had heard rumors about Jerry Sandusky more than five years ago and considering that I had nothing to do with PITT football back then, other than being a distant fan, that certainly meant it wasn’t a big secret. Today David Jones of the Patriot-News had this in his chat:
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So now we have a bunch of reporters who heard about Sandusky, we know for a fact there were the at least four PSU administrators, to say nothing of their staff workers (someone had to type those JoPa emails), various police departments and Attorney General’s offices and staff, janitors, butcher, bakers and candlestick makers, all who knew what had transpired.
It was as if everyone knew about Sandusky but didn’t want to let on they knew, meanwhile the Boogey Man of our worst nightmares jumped out from under the bed at at least 10 young boys during those silences.
There just can’t be any more denying this happened and the extent in which Joe Paterno had in allowing it to happen. Those days are past no matter how much one loves Penn State. Any thinking, reasonable and compassionate human being must acknowledge that at this point. To not do so is just as damaging to Penn State as what the true believers think the BoT and the media have conspired to do.
Then there is the fact that this investigation didn’t touch the interference by Paterno into the university’s regulated disciplinary procedures as far as his student athletes went. Which is rich in itself in that Paterno’s “Grand Experiment” was all about having athletes live their lives at PSU in much the same way that normal students do and insisting they leave with a degree. My God, how many times did we hear that from the head Gnome-in-charge?
It is interesting that Triponey vs Paterno re: discipline and lack thereof; wasn’t mentioned at all in this report. You know what I think? Freeh said that he had been in contact with the NCAA during the investigation and I believe he told them “That one’s all yours folks, have at it“.
So, my opinion of this issue has changed in at least one major way. Prior to the report I truly didn’t think this warrented NCAA sanctions as I believed it was a predominately criminal matter and didn’t show a “clear competative edge” being garnered by PSU in covering up these crimes.
I don’t think that way now. I fully expect a serious NCAA investigation with sanctions that will strongly impact the football program and I won’t blink an eye if they levied the Death Penalty in this case. If the PSU board of Trustees had any moral guts at all, Hell, even if they had any business sense at all, they would self impose vacating at least one football season to reassess exactly what role football should play in the university’s mission areas… if any role at all.
Good God – Chas Rich owns this blog and if he thinks it is pertinent to discussion on here… then it is.
1252 words written and that is the thought posted in the first paragraph of the first comment. I can’t win here :).
Spanier has to be thinking about a one way ticket to the Maldives right about now also. He’ll be brought up on charges before the smoke from the second Grand Jury report settles.
This isn’t finished by any means folks.
For the posters who do not think this is a Pitt issue . . . well, you are certainly entitled to your opinion, but I don’t get it.
Pitt fans have railed against the Happy/Creepy Valley Cult for as long as I can remember, but now the rest of the country is catching on. I hope and pray nothing like this ever happens at Pitt. I will take all the losing seasons and coaching chages so long as the coaches and young men and women who represent our university on the field continue to do so with class, dignity, and honor.
And as some posters mentioned, I fully support canceling the PSU series. Let those bastards float.
Maybe next year, after PSU gets the death penalty the Dorian Johnsons of the world can TRANSFER to Pitt haha
But hey! That opens up a scholarship for Dorian Johnson even if he did tweet “We Are Penn State” this morning.
Question: Has either the PG or TRIB put a human being on the ground in Philly or State College?
I read the Micco chat and he said PSU was a local team. Thus, the PG would have no excuse for not covering a local story with an actual human body.
The PG will stop printing papers by the end of 2013. They just lost another CEO.
link to pretty-little-liars.wikia.com
Sorry guys, just a bad joke to lighten the mood
“According to Curley, Sandusky’s emergency hire was because he was “integrally involved in the planning and instructional aspects of preparation for this coming football season and is essential to the continuity of the program’s success during this time frame.”
If that isn’t for the benefit of the football program what is?
This should be a warning for all schools (college or high school, private or parochial) that humans (especially minors) should come before sports. I know it happens everyday in almost every school, but it is so sad that sports takes precedence over things like education and safety in America. I see it in the school I teach in which is very small, rural and the farthest thing from an athletic powerhouse.
I have no idea what the NCAA does. I cannot envision a death penalty. Not that they shouldn’t, I just think they won’t do it. To be effective any punishment should swift and impact the upcoming season. But I don’t think the NCAA acts until all the court cases have been heard the first time.
By the way, I thank both Chas and Reed for their excellent coverage. Not over the top. And not simply PSU bashing. Good job.
I don’t care how many reports, how much proof against the university or Paterno, I don’t see Penn State or their fans missing a beat. You will never convince them their football “god” did anything wrong.
My point is that the issue of whether or not this story is relevant to PITT sports, and subsequently the Blather, takes the farthest seat toward the end of the train there is – past the caboose even.
Here we are in the midst of some of the most important sports news ever and commenters are wondering why it is being discussed on here.
Doesn’t that sound a bit strange to you?
But, I think the NCAA might just creatively interpret their own bylaws and hammer the program with the death penalty. At the very least, the program will be banned from bowls and scholies taken away for several years. The NCAA is also investigating the second mile connection as well as tutors doing players homework and JoePa’s hiding of player’s crimes. Those things will help solidify some harsh punishment.
I still can’t believe the many Nitters still supporting JoePa and bringing up all the good he’s done in addition to giving the program 2 titles. They are in denial and don’t want their specialness tainted. This We are Penn State crap shows me they have learned nothing. The BOT should shut down the program this year. Pitt should lead by saying we are suspending the future series until Penn State proves conclusively that their culture has changed and they have implemented new institutional controls around their football program. Pitt cannot afford to support such a university monetarilly by playing games or by associating themselves with a school that is morally bankrupt.
Remember, the cult helped create Paterno. The cult can create another monster if not extinguished. Kill the cult by killing the program.
The Task Force from Penn State that hired Freeh, did so, but gave him only two parameters for investigation. The scope was not football related and as such, there is not necessarily a football perspective and that was done on purpose. Read page 1 and 2 of the report and Freeh succinctly indicates the scope of the investigation. Is there any mention of the football program? NEgative.
This was a last ditch effort by the Board to manipulate and deflect attention away from the football program in an effort to keep it away from the death penalty and it may work. That said, the scope issue needs to be put in the mainstream so everyone knows that the report was crafted to address only two issues, none of which was football related. That is one reason you are hearing that there are no football issues or competitive advantages or lack of institutional control. Look Freeh and his firm were paid by the University to do a job. They did it and nothing else. It is a good start, but by all means, not the end all. The NCAA must understand the scope and to this point in the evening I have not heard one person mention the scope of the investigation and the perspective from which this was written. Freeh is crafty that way and so is the Public Relations guru’s who are collecting millions to save the brand.
Competitive advantage – Penn State was afraid of the publicity had they reported Sandusky’s pedophilia. They all agree not to report it because it may negatively impact recruiting and donor spending. Penn State secures pledges from top high school athletes, which puts more money in the coffers and allows PSU to purchase state of the art training facilities and increase the size of their stadium. Penalty, 6 years.
Competitive Advantage – Joe Paterno conducts his own investigations of all criminal activity of players and the stars get to play. That is an advantage over other colleges who would expell or retract a scholarship to a player that does the same thing.Penalty 2 years.
Competitive Advantage – Jerry Sandusky receives money from donors to conduct training camps and football camps for prospective recruits. Sandusky actively recruits for PSU, which is against the guidelines as he receives compensation from the university to run the camps. Sandusky uses PSU football to get more victims. 2 years.
Competitive Advantage – Penn State, once known as linebacker U, covers up Sandusky becuase they would not be able to land star linebackers. Sweeping it under the rug and projecting to parents that he is a great defensive coordinator allows parents to send their children to Penn state. Sandusky sees them as objects of desire for him. 2 years.
There are many more “Football” related issues, but Freeh wasn’t tasked with finding those out because the Task Force and Board of Trustees tried to pull the wool over the public eye and limit the scope. Chas? Reed? If you agree, get this out in the mainstream. To me, it is a key part of this story and will make the NCAA sanctions that much more harsh. Or, am I losing it here.
This is a golden opportunity for major college athletics to take an inward look and know what the cult of silence or oligarchy rule could do to your schools reputation, but more importantly, members of the community.
I have been very impressed with a majority of Pitt alums and fans over the past half year who have really pushed to keep things in context and not see this as retribution. Thank you all for that. I think that the best thing that has come out of this is a chance to help our university never be caught in the same net which has been seen in Happy Valley for the past 35 years. I am sad to say, although the events that transpired were shocking, I was never truly surprised that this occurred at PSU given football’s desire to rule over everything in state college, from the administration, to the students, even to the police.
I don’t think this is the end for Penn State… the rest of the cover ups will be produced in the coming months and years. This is the start of the purging of PSU to create the university that it’s non-cultic students deserve for it to be.
H2P
If the NCAA doesn’t come down hard on this it will be a travesty. This is the very definition of lack of institutional control. If for nothing else, Penn State’s actions from the top on down to the rioting zombies have clearly shown they’re in desperate need of some time off to put things into perspective.
Actually, no it couldn’t have. It couldn’t have happened at Pitt.
The University of Pittsburgh is a great institution that happens to have a football team, not the other way around. Which is the way it should be.
We have never lived in the arrogant, insular, cult-like bubble of Happy Valley; we have an administration that in some sense doesn’t even care that much about athletics.
At the very least, it’s inconceivable that Pitt would ever cede that much power to a mere football coach.
No one is blameless or exempt in the corrupt world of college football and every program, including Pitt, should partake of humble self-examination in the wake of this scandal.
But don’t lump my alma mater in with the sickness that was able to grow up there with the home of the Stepford Students.
WE ARE: Pitt. And I couldn’t be prouder.
Let me give you a glimpse into what is going through the minds of the Penn State faithful this morning. I have been a baseball for over fifty years. Not surprisingly, my son became one with me. As is just so happens, we were living in St. Louis the year Mark Mcgwire broke the home run record and was in attendance at the game when it happened. I bought a baseball upon leaving the game which was inscribed “I was there” for my son, who put it in a prominate place in his collections case. That baseball is collecting dust somewhere in out attic today. That is the same attic the “Joe Knows” shirts are headed. We are talking about a small man who expected his masses to sacrifice their self respect and anything else required to protect the brand, and that meant him. Those kids were nothing more than collateral damage to protect the Penn State brand. Yes, Penn State will survive, but not in any kind of positive way. They are finished because Penn State was, and is, nothing more than a euphemism for the image of one man. And that man, like the Wizard of Oz, turned out to be nothing more than a hoax with all of the character traits of George Costanza.
This has to be hard for them but eventually they will realize that all of their spin is not helping them, and in fact hurting them.
and alumni should not be punished by the “death penalty” since it was the administration that was at fault. The student riots after JoePa’s firing clearly illustrate who empowered this idol, and where the Penn State family’s priorities lie.
(grin)
Remember how the Saddam statue was destroyed? Give her first dibs on the Paterno one.
Really impressed by Pompeani’s passion and concise descripton of the matter at hand.
Not surprised at all by Cook’s lack of perspective. It shows everyday in his writing.
You STAY At Penn State.
“The ability for rational thinking and the processing of factual information to draw locical conclusions is inversely proportional to the degree of devotion to the institution of Penn State University”.
I just saw the initial Jay Paterno ESPN interview in response to the Freeh Report findings and it is like, “WTF, are you serious”!????? My best advice to any Penn State faithful is that the only appropriate response to this report would be “non verbal”, just hang your head and slowly rotate it side to side, back and fourth a few times. There is no other RATIONAL response to this damning internal investigation’s findings.
“WE ARE,,,,,,,,,ROYALLY F*CKED”
I don’t say this a Pitt fan/PSU hater. I don’t hate PSU — I had lots of friends go there, chose Pitt over PSU, and it was the school that got the most coverage where I grew up. But anything less than the death penalty by the NCAA will trivialize what was permitted to occur here, for the benefit of the football program (as Reed points out). Surely if UConn loses a year in the NCAA tourney for poor graduation rates (and it is a good academic school) then how can the NCAA do anything less than pull the plug. And soon.
Hey Reed — glad you and Chas have given this some much coverage. It is a story that impacts or should impact the conduct of every college athletic program in the country.
It’s a longer write-up, but this is worth your time to read as it may truly highlight what BATR said above.
One caller yesterday opined that maybe the Dept of Education, not just the NCAA, should take a real hard look at all this. That could have a major impact on future funding and operations.
“We should be careful that we don’t paint the entire football program over a long period of time with a single brush,” Erickson said. “This particular tragedy happened within the football program, but it could have happened in many other places. These things happen in schools, they happen in churches, they happen in youth camps all over. The question is really, were there aspects about the football program that allowed some of these things to continue on? We will certainly look at that.” Erickson added that football is “an important part of our whole educational process here.”
I just don’t think they get it, or maybe they don’t want to get it.
longsufferingpittfan — That is a really good point. The Commonwealth would have to do something, in my opinion, if the federal government fails to act. Tax money going to PSU will now be going to the victims assuming insurance does not cover it. As Jeff Toobin put it on CNN, the plaintiffs will need wheelbarrows to haul the cash away (which is surely just).
As far as the NCAA is concerned, I am becoming increasingly convinced that the cover up benefited PSU’s football program and provided it a competitive advantage. Consequently, the NCAA should have authority to levy whatever punishment it finds necessary. Right?
For those that might have missed it:
Anyway, it will be interesting to see what the NCAA does with it. You have an organization whose compliance rules contemplate recruiting violations and gambling among other issues– not necessarily the cover up of heinous acts like those comitted by Sandusky. On the other hand, the cover up was done to protect a football team.
The case will set a precedent, that much is certain.