PSU cancels Paterno presser
November 8th, 2011 at 12:04 PM ^
embarrassing. so poorly handled
November 8th, 2011 at 12:05 PM ^
Ridiculous cowardice. First the PC was "supposed to be football only" and now it doesn't exist anymore.
Just say a few words, Joe. Nothing to be scared of
November 8th, 2011 at 12:08 PM ^
Except potential charges, liability, and probably an agreement with prosecutors not to discuss the case.
The press conference should have been cancelled as soon as the shit hit the fan. There was no way it wasn't going to end with Paterno giving an endless amount of "I am not allowed to comment on that matter" responses.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:10 PM ^
No, that was a smart move by PSU. It was a complete no win situation for PSU and Joe Pa. They can't answer the questions the media would ask, making it look as if they were "dodging the questions." Furthermore, nothing Joe Pa could have said would make the situation "okay." There was zero benefit to put him out there.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:14 PM ^
I understand, but this was all handled poorly. Why cancel it at the last second?
Joe Pa's time is running short. I thought he could ride this out and retire at the end of the season, but he might have to resign now. There's too much of a firestorm now. Is he going to skip out on every conference now?
November 8th, 2011 at 12:20 PM ^
Yep. They screwed this up as much as they could. Now, there are 150+ pissed off reporters, camera crews, etc. who need a story roaming College Station looking for filler.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:43 PM ^
Uh, why are they roaming around TAMU looking for a story on PSU?
(College Station = Texas A&M; PSU is in State College.)
November 8th, 2011 at 4:06 PM ^
brain fart
November 8th, 2011 at 12:21 PM ^
That's really on PSU, not Paterno. It's clear that no one person is in control of the situation.
I too thought he could get through to the end of the season, which would have been for the best. While Paterno deserves to suffer a black mark from this, it shouldn't erase all the good he accomplished. I'm afraid if he's forced to resign now, all anyone will remember is the end.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:13 PM ^
We (sports junkies) tend to live in a bubble where we only consider things in terms of how things will effect sports and the game on the field. Reading this blog I have been very surprised the fact that this entire event has been somewhat minimized in terms of what occurred and what it means. What transpired at Penn State and is what is still to transpire is a major, major, event, not a sporting event, but a landmark tragic event in America. There is no place for a football press conference right now, I was surprised they were ever planning on having it.
The fact of the matter is that I would not be surprised if there are threats on Joe Pa's life right now. I, for one, have no idea how Penn State is going to host a football game this weekend and I think that there are going to have to be substantial security measure taken in order for them to do so. i will be surprised if Paterno is at the game.
Guys (and at least one girl that I know of), he is getting fired, and soon, if only for his own good.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:06 PM ^
If Paterno isn't out after this season it'll be the biggest coaching disgrace to a school since Woody Hayes punched the Clemson LB. It's the end of the line and The Big Ten needs to take his name off of the Championship Trophy
November 8th, 2011 at 12:17 PM ^
He should be out today and not "coach" another game - as if he has actually been "coaching" at all.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:10 PM ^
Paterno has given his last press conference.
This situation is an object lesson in a whole lot of things, but one of them is never stay too long.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:15 PM ^
if he retired 4 years ago and this story came out this week, it would look just as bad
actually its better than JoePa stayed and Sandusky never became HC, that would have been about 1000x worse!
November 8th, 2011 at 12:20 PM ^
If he ws 4 years retired, was obviously old, had reported what he heard to the AC . . . it would be bad, but not a media circus and he would not still be in the hot seat.
Obviously, if Sandusky had been hired as HC, that would have been worse. However, it is clear now that despite their craven character, the PSU administrators would not have hired Sandusky -- certainly not after 2002. I wonder what they knew in 1999 when he left as DC. That is probably an interesting area for investigation: was the student assistant's discovery in the locker room really the first time anything was reported to administrators?
November 8th, 2011 at 12:22 PM ^
There was a police investigation in 1998, but it's unclear if it was reported to the school, at least from what I have read.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:24 PM ^
The university police were in charge of the '98 investigation, so I'd assume someone at the university knew about it.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:33 PM ^
Hard to believe that the 1998 investigation and sandusky's 1999 retirement (at 55) are unrelated.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:36 PM ^
I didn't read the full grand jury release, couldn't stomach it, so I've only picked up pieces of the story from the media. Didn't realize it was PSU police with that investigation. Kept seeing the angle that the DA didn't pursue it for some reason and then, presumably unrelatedly, disappeared a few years later.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:10 PM ^
After playing his role in *covering up* this dispitable act,how can he?
November 8th, 2011 at 12:12 PM ^
Based on what evidence do you make this claim?
November 8th, 2011 at 12:18 PM ^
Moderating me for asking this question does not take away the fact that evidence is needed in our country...
November 8th, 2011 at 12:27 PM ^
In a court yes, but here it's different. The Admins and JoePa have a duty whether they like it or not to represent PSU in the best possible way. It's why I say the admins who are accused of covering it up should have been fired. They made the school look horrible and no matter what the court decides will always be associated with that.
As for Paterno? Well for 35 some years now we've heard all about how he's a class act, a guy who takes responsibility for what's going on, a Buck stop heres type of guy. And then on the biggest Coaching Scandal in at least 50 years he just passes it on and never follows up on it. He did the bare minimum, and more people were victimized as a result
November 8th, 2011 at 12:32 PM ^
Amurrica
November 8th, 2011 at 12:36 PM ^
the fact that he was informed of sexual activity between a man and a boy in the Penn State facilities directly from JP himself? Where is the wiggle room here? I recognize that this is essentially the beginning of the legal process, but I'm just not seeing what cross-examination is going to do as far as mitigating JP's original testimony.
Not to mention that fact that having a HC position is not bound by criminal law: Penn State doesn't have to go through the justice system to fire him.
November 8th, 2011 at 2:15 PM ^
Where is this sworn testimony stating that Joe Pa knew everything that went on and then covered it up? I am not finding it anywhere. All I see in article after article is complete assumptions and guesses by the media.
If you have the testimony i'd love to see it.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:12 PM ^
I think Paterno is gone today or tomorrow. God Millen is on sportcenter breaking down defending Paterno. What a fucking idiot.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:22 PM ^
Naw, I think he coaches out the year..they announce he's retiring for "health reason" during the bowl season, and try to send him out on top....this disheartening situation is definitely the straw that broke the camel's back
November 8th, 2011 at 12:51 PM ^
He broke down and barely muttered, "It's pretty disturbing." That's not a defense of JoePa. He is saying he respected and loved the man... but clearly is now conflicted, to put it mildly, that JoePa did nothing 9 years ago and allowed this to fester.
November 8th, 2011 at 4:37 PM ^
Wasn't much of a defense. All he said was don't condone the man on court of public opinion and let due process play out. Which...I mean, he kinda has a point...but PSU is getting severely damaged in PR right now and regardless of specifics of what joepa did or didn't do, it's in PSU's best interests to get rid of him and clean house ASAP.
When he was breaking down, to me it looked like it was because he was mortified that his former coach and former program would let such a thing happen on their watches. It looked to me like Millen's image of JoePa was forever damaged. He was visibly torn during his broadcast.
Kinda the opposite of a staunch defense of JoePa.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:15 PM ^
Everybody loves to bitch about the media, and there's plenty worth bitching about. But could universities bring so much of this upon themselves: cancelling press conference at the last minute, expressing "unconditional" support for indicted officials while neglecting to mention the victims, hiding behind lawyer-speak. They never learn. They deserve this shitstorm.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:13 PM ^
Is starting to lose it on ESPN right now.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:16 PM ^
I'm stuck in a college library right now, wish I could watch this :(
November 8th, 2011 at 1:05 PM ^
But I take no glory in Matt Millen feeling bad over this. Someone wants to humiliate him for his crappy football management (ala Channel 4), I'm all for that, he deserves it. This? I can only imagine how I'd feel if this was all going done here. The Fab Five was embarrassing, but that's a drop in the ocean compared to this. I don't blame Millen a lick for feeling the way he does.
November 8th, 2011 at 7:29 PM ^
Its not my video.
November 8th, 2011 at 3:59 PM ^
And Sandusky was Millen's position coach when he played at PSU... it's gotta hurt for him to hear, and believe, this accusations against someone that was so influential in his life.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:16 PM ^
There's now a ninth victim, and Paterno is gone.
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/crime&id=8423194&rss=rss-wpvi-article-8423194
You knew this would start happening. And now the floodgates open.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:18 PM ^
this is 1 terrible mistake, really really bad, but...JoePa has done so much good, he deserves at least the end of the season and a bowl game on the sidelines
November 8th, 2011 at 4:10 PM ^
But right now the only thing I think JoePa deserves is immediate termination.
If the real story is anywhere even close to what conjecture is pointing to, his offense transcends all "good" things he's done.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:16 PM ^
I wouldn't be surprised if the prosecution is happy with this. There is an indication that Paterno would be a witness for the prosecution. You don't want your witnesses making public statements if you can help it.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:17 PM ^
The NYT is reporting that they're starting to ease him out.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/sports/ncaafootball/penn-state-said-t…
Sad that it's ending this way.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:49 PM ^
They've been easing him out for 20 years.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:19 PM ^
I heard Millen was losing his shit so I rushed to turn the tv on, but I couldn't find the remote. What did he say? Did his voice crack at all?
November 8th, 2011 at 12:29 PM ^
He started by talking about how we have to stay unemotional and then proceeded to start to cry at one point. After that he we kind of rambling about multiple topics. He does know everyone involved so I am sure this whole thing is very personal for him. It seemed like ESPN let the interview go on for too long in my opinion.
.
November 8th, 2011 at 1:00 PM ^
Ah, I found a video of it. Don't know how to embed a non-youtube video though.
If he was talking about the Lions while he was the GM instead of Penn State, it would be just as applicable.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:31 PM ^
I think he said if he were a GM he'd have to take a serious look BJ Cunningham for the 2nd overall pick.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:35 PM ^
he's going to have to get out in front of this thing. If he hangs on to the bitter end and is eventually forced out over this, it will be an ugly, ugly thing for everybody at PSU.
He has to accept the fact that his name, however fairly or unfairly, is now going to be tied to this horrible stuff for a long time. If he tries to act as though it won't be, he's mistaken. Asserting that he did what he was supposed to do by terms of his position as coach and that he wasn't indicted means he's beyond criticism is profoundly naive.
He should immediately announce he will retire after the season is over, which will be the first step in the cleaning house that may be inevitable. He should acknowledge that he, along with many other PSU officials, should have been more proactive in dealing with Sandusky a decade ago, and apologize to any children who were victimized since then, and their parents. He should also request that his name be taken off the Big Ten Championship Trophy.
In other words, he needs to step up and take some responsibility for what happened, and accept the consequences (which pale in comparison to what the kids have experienced). If he does, it will be the first time anybody in a position of power at PSU has done that, apparently.
I feel sorry for the guy, because his career and reputation until this came out were beyond reproach. However, he has only himself to blame. Only a fool would think that this situation wasn't a gigantic ticking time bomb that would inevitably explode.
* if the breaking reports are true and he's being forced out, he's already missing the few remaining opportunities available to him to retire with a shred of dignity.
November 8th, 2011 at 12:39 PM ^
My gosh Don... don't be a sucker... you feel "sorry" for Paterno?
Don't go believing that Paterno was ignorant to any of it. He passed the buck, and surely saw nothing happen to Sandusky and/or nothing come of it, and yet did nothing. Paterno had the opportunity to be a leader, when called upon, you know, to be a LEADER, and dropped the ball, fully knowing more kids were in danger.
THEY NEVER CALLED THE POLICE.
And Sandusky for the next ten years, continued to molest kids, and continued free access to PSU.
November 8th, 2011 at 1:03 PM ^
I'm certainly not going to lose any sleep over this on Paterno's behalf, and I don't dispute at all your description of the actions or non-actions of Joe-Pa or anybody else at PSU. He was an idiot for not taking a more forceful path of action, and he bears a good deal of moral or ethical responsibility. Whatever comes his way, he ultimately deserves.
I feel sorry for him because I believe very, very few people in this world are 100% good or 100% bad, and Paterno's record of positive actions on behalf of PSU are well-documented. I would bet there are hundreds and hundreds of his players who would bend your ears for days on how important he has been in their lives, for the better. The problem is that many people who are doing lots of good things are also capable of incredible blindness and can exhibit a stubborn unwillingness to truly confront awful facts about those close to them. At the minimum, Paterno is guilty of this. For me, it does not cancel out or completely destroy the positive things he's done in the world, which he has presumably labored long and hard at. He fucked up in a major way one thing he could not afford to fuck up.
IMHO, this whole story bears a good deal of resemblance to how the Catholic Church has handled the sexual abuse of children by priests. You have a large, powerful institution with an intense desire to protect a reputation at all costs, especially since there are significant financial issues that come into play. Denial, equivocation, cover-ups, ass-covering are the rule of the day, while kids continued to be assaulted.