Paterno family to conduct their own review

Submitted by Leaders And Best on

Paterno family to conduct their own independent review of the independent review conducted by PSU.

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/8169773/penn-state-nittany-lions-paternos-conduct-own-review-freeh-data

Just when I thought this story couldn't get any uglier, it does. In other news, the Paterno family is also vowing to find the real killer in the OJ Simpson murder trial.

A Real Toe Tapper

July 16th, 2012 at 10:50 AM ^

Exactly.  The main reason why the Freeh report is being treated as a credible document is that it came from a qualified, independent source who had access to the relevant documents and witnesses.   

Whoever the Paternos hire is going to be a hired gun whose stated mission will be to poke holes in the Freeh report in order to reach the conclusion that this wasn't Joe's fault.  The fact that we already know what conclusion he/she is going to reach is a credibility-killer.  If he/she is able to uncover some new evidnece (seems unlikely), then that may be a different story.  Otherwise, it is a PR stunt.

Blazefire

July 16th, 2012 at 3:17 PM ^

And a terrible, terrible one. Dude's dead. His family has nothing to do with it. His legacy is irrevocably tarnished. The only thing to do now is let time heal wounds. You can't bail out the Titanic. That shit is already sunken.

maizenbluenc

July 16th, 2012 at 12:29 PM ^

football season cannot get here fast enough.

Also:  formerlyanonymous needs to come back and add a new Canto to the Inferno. Between this and Tresselgate, we have spent our last two summers in an (maybe two) endless level of hell.

M-Wolverine

July 16th, 2012 at 1:59 PM ^

coming off an 11-2 record is your idea of an "off-season of hell" you're never going to be happy.  Summer of '09, or '10...THAT was hell. 

Not that both situations actually give me glee...well, ok, one did...but really, endless hell is going 3-9...and THEN finding a big scandal at your own school. Happy Valley is having a summer of hell. Perspective.  

Stephen Hawking

July 16th, 2012 at 11:04 AM ^

The institution-wide cover-up of an employee engaging in child rape is something to be exposed and reported upon. And you should feel free to read one of the many other excellent threads on this board rather than clicking on one whose subject matter you're not interested in, and whose intent is clearly stated in its title.

Erik_in_Dayton

July 16th, 2012 at 10:58 AM ^

Just say, "We disagree with the report, but the important thing is making something good out of this, which is why we're starting an organization/fund to bring attention to and combat child abuse."  Instead they keeping digging the hole. 

brandanomano

July 16th, 2012 at 11:29 AM ^

They're just continuing to prove that they care about their reputation more than what actually happened. Obviously this "investigation" is going to claim JoePa was innocent, but will anybody actually give a damn? Hopefully not, but ESPN will probably continue to run the shit out of this story and brainwash the masses.

4godkingandwol…

July 16th, 2012 at 11:33 AM ^

... Seems like this family has done a pretty good PR job over the last 40 years to be able to create such a system of idol worship.  I think their failure is that they have yet to realize the good times have come to an end and people (outside of the PSU community) will no longer drink up the piss they spew.

BeatOSU52

July 16th, 2012 at 12:24 PM ^

They have, in a way, been great at PR by making Peterno out to be a saint not only in Happy Valley but throughout the college football world.  But PR has two sides, and the family hasn't done so well at handling PR when the going gets tough.  Great businesses know how to handle it when a crisis happens.(See how well McDonalds handled it after the movie Supersize Me came out for a good example of this).  

However, it is tough for them, though, as the Paterno family isn't a business.  This is still their family member we are talking about.  They are not going to rip the head of their family into pieces like everyone else has been doing.  They should still have a sense of realism and say something in the lines what the above poster, Erik in Dayton, said.  ...or just not say anything to the public at all.

Blue Ninja

July 16th, 2012 at 10:59 AM ^

They said this could take years, kind of like OJ finding the real killer. The longer it takes the more likely people will forget and it will all go away <sarcasm>. This is just plain ridiculous, had the report exonerated Paterno the family would have been giddy. Freeh has no ax to grind, is a former FBI director, I think that his ability to investigate and run an investigation are unquestionable.

gobluesasquatch

July 17th, 2012 at 1:55 AM ^

As it relates to current or former employees outside of "the four". I am beginning to find it hard to believe that many, many others were aware of and involved in this situation. This to include PSU officials and current board members., coaching staff under Joe, other administrators, not to mention the entire Second Mile board and some or perhaps many community members.

French West Indian

July 16th, 2012 at 12:56 PM ^

Are you certain the Freeh has no axe to grind?  There is some evidence that the FBI has actually been complicit in ignoring child sex abuse scandals involving prominent Wash DC officials.  It's a slippery slope call Freeh's ability to run an investigation "unquestionable"...after all, it was only a short time ago that Paterno's ability to coach a team would also have been considered unquestionable.

It seems like a longshot to us, but the Paterno family may have reason to move forward with their own investigation. Whether anybody will ever believe it or not...

LSAClassOf2000

July 16th, 2012 at 11:33 AM ^

"The Paterno family also said it will ask its team of experts and lawyers "to go beyond the report and identify additional information that should be analyzed." - from the article

There goes the payout from Joe's contract and then some - this will certainly be an expensive "investigation" that might prove fruitless. If this review is essentially meant to insert "not" into every other sentence in the Freeh Report, then I don't see any reason that they should look further than a freelance editor.

I will say, the Paterno family is putting up a beautifully choreographed defiant front for the PSU faithful. It simply adds  further diversity to the vast number of ways that Penn State has already experienced denial over this issue.

SamirCM

July 16th, 2012 at 11:10 AM ^

"It can be argued that Joe Paterno should have gone further," I lose all faith in your credibility, I believe it is a FACT that Joe should have gone further, I think it can be argued that it is unconscionable that this is even a debate.

 

I just hope that this report will have some productive value, for instance maybe they will finally uncover Hoffa's body.

mGrowOld

July 16th, 2012 at 11:12 AM ^

Exerpt from the Paterno family study:

Interviewer: "Did Joe ever tell you that he was covering up Sandusky's crimes"?

Inteviewee: "Why no he didnt"

There you have it.  Proof positive Joe's innocent of all these so-called rumors and inuendos.

PS: I have heard they are hiring the same team of experts that OJ used to find Nicole's real killers.

Roachgoblue

July 16th, 2012 at 11:24 AM ^

I am going to ask my boss if i can investigate my actions and determine my own pay going forward. I will be completely objective and fair. I am serious I have zero to gain. No, really I would be fair.

Gameboy

July 16th, 2012 at 11:38 AM ^

...As one of the many in media unjustly bashing Paterno

Last but not least, we have a veritable shit ton of guys like Brian Cook at mgoblog*. Brian's hate is fueled by the utter pretentiousness of Paterno, Penn State fans, and "Success With Honor." What an absurdity it all was, he writes. What folly. What pure joy to see it wrecked.

http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2012/7/16/3159823/sally-jenkins-rick-reilly-joe-paterno-penn-state#storyjump

Seriously, that football program needs to die.

bdsisme

July 16th, 2012 at 11:42 AM ^

Blockquoting it to make it easier for people to see as they scan the thread...

Last but not least, we have a veritable shit ton of guys like Brian Cook at mgoblog*. Brian's hate is fueled by the utter pretentiousness of Paterno, Penn State fans, and "Success With Honor." What an absurdity it all was, he writes. What folly. What pure joy to see it wrecked.

What delicious comedy, I say, that a Michigan Man is offended by another's pretention.

*mgoblog is a great site. Really. They do an outstanding job, even if I hate their guts and hope they die in a fire after sliding underneath a gas truck.

The real story is this: through their flames and smoke, the anger and hatred, and the schadenfreude of Jackie Sherrill and Brian Cook - through all the present bullshit, Joe's best legacy remains.

BILG

July 16th, 2012 at 7:50 PM ^

By the logic in that article people should also weigh all the good Sandusky's charity did.  I mean, he helped thousands of young kids...couldn't have raped them all.

And while we're on it, didn't Hitler build the autobon and turn the German economy around...Besides the whole Holocaust and genocide thing, he really did some good.

M-Wolverine

July 16th, 2012 at 2:17 PM ^

I feel bad for the situation they're in...to come to terms with all that must be tough. But they certainly are doing all they can to get no sympathy.  

The Penn State Way (apparently)- cover up a horrific scandal for 20 years and then beat our chest and say how proud we are that we make our (public university) findings public after a conviction and the shit has already hit the fan.  Penn State - forthright and open about anything they've done wrong.....months after being caught and years after it came to their attention. 

Shame - That's not how you do it.

oldcityblue

July 16th, 2012 at 11:42 AM ^

I understand there are  new developments here, and there will continue to be for probably years to come. I just don't give two good shits about having to read any more posts about PSU at all.

Please resist the urge to post something (ANYTHING) about PSU until we get close to the football season. At that point, really consider the fatigue we all have and decide not to post.

 

French West Indian

July 16th, 2012 at 1:00 PM ^

...please resist the urge to read these posts if you don't care.

Some of us find the story to be very interesting and not the least bit irrelevant to the current state of college football within the cultural spectrum.

In reply to by French West Indian

oldcityblue

July 16th, 2012 at 1:53 PM ^

...just an urge to plead for people to stop posting about PSU.

 Plenty of relevant, important things that don't need to be posted - add PSU to the list.

As far as relevant within the cultural spectrum; Fuck the fucking fuckers.

...and move on.

jmblue

July 16th, 2012 at 2:48 PM ^

I never understand these kinds of posts.  If the subject doesn't interest you, why do you visit the thread? 

This is easily the biggest story in college sports right now.  People are going to discuss it.  You don't have to be one of them, but it's pointless to rail against it.  Anyhow, since you have over 100 points, why not create a topic on a subject that does interest you?

oldcityblue

July 16th, 2012 at 5:17 PM ^

or even the relevance of the post; certainly the topic as a whole is significant and news worthy.

I simply want people to think twice before posting every single piece of PSU dreck that comes across the waves, regardless if they feel it is important to post.