This is Your Only Penn State Thread

Submitted by Zone Left on

This is your Penn State Thread for the next couple of days. The following items should not be posted in a new thread anymore and will be deleted:

1. Any media personality's opinion on the scandal

2. An article about the scandal

3. "WTF this is whack" reactions

4. Basically anything else about the controversy

Here's the deal--Paterno is out at the end of the year. Everyone else is getting fired or "resigning." The accusations are appalling and now that there are rumors of Federal involvement, the sledgehammer that is the criminal justice system is going to exact very angry revenge in the coming months.

As I type this, 40% of board topics are about this topic. The obvious lessons are to never forget and always do the right thing--even when it is incredibly hard. Please do so in your personal life going forward.

I'm not doing this to be a jerk. We just need to try and control the chaos.

Jon06

November 9th, 2011 at 9:25 PM ^

this might work for the 10 hours it takes the thread to move toward the bottom of the first page of results under MGoBoard on the front page. after that, it's not going to. if they really want it all here, they need to (a) sticky this thread to the top of the MGoBoard *on the front page* and (b) make subthreads collapsible so you can actually figure out what the hell entries in long discussions are responding to.

Chunks the Hobo

November 9th, 2011 at 9:12 PM ^

 

One thing I’ve wondered and I think I’ve seen only one other poster mention is the glaring absence of one figure throughout the narrative: Sandusky’s wife. I’m curious what she was thinking throughout this whole bizarre saga.

MadMonkey

November 9th, 2011 at 9:15 PM ^

with what is happening on this blog and thoughout the country.  Oh well, thanks for limiting free expression -- the "institutional control stuff" is kind of addictive, isn't it?

MGoBeer

November 9th, 2011 at 9:28 PM ^

This board is not for "free expression." It is Brian's board and he appoints moderators to keep it clean. It is a Michigan athletic fan blog. If you truly feel you have a great insight that needs to be heard there are probably better public forums for you. Sorry for going off but people claiming free speech in privately owned venues bothers me.
Of course this scandal is deeply disturbing but this is not the only place it can be discussed and maintaining a single thread allows discussion of Michigan athletics, the purpose of this site, to prevail.

WestMichiganMan

November 9th, 2011 at 9:18 PM ^

I'm not sure if there is a real answer to this, but if Joe Paterno is unfit to remain the head coach after this year, what makes him fit to remain the head coach for the completion of this season? What changes between now and January 3?

papabear16

November 9th, 2011 at 9:21 PM ^

 

I'd like to start a new thread to make one, PSA-type point.  But I'll make it here first.  Mods, you tell me how you want it done...

Abuse Victims Are Not Damaged Goods

There is one troubling statement I have seen in a number of sportswriter opinion pieces which I feel needs to be addressed.  These writers have made statements like, "These kids will never be able to love," or "These kids will never be able to trust anyone again," or "These kids' lives have been ruined."  I'm sure the writers are trying to convey the enormity of these crimes, to sypathize as best they can, but unintentionally, they send the message to anyone reading those articles (including, likely, many silent victims of these crimes) that there is no hope for a normal life after something like this.  And that is not true.

Recovery is hard.  Recovery is long.  But it can happen.  Victims can learn to love, can learn to trust, can learn to be wonderful members of our society.  I have personally worked with people who started off as "sexual abuse victims" and now consider themselves to be "someone who was abused as a child."  I'm sure I'm saying this inartfully, so let me try again.  While sexual absue will always be something that happened to these victims, it need not be the thing that defines their lives.

I think this is something we should all keep in mind as we talk about this case with the children - and the adults - in our lives.

ccdevi

November 9th, 2011 at 9:23 PM ^

why do you feel the need to effectively sensor the board?

If people don't want to talk about it, it will go away, if they do, why stop it? 

Not to mention that while its not directly Michigan related, its a monster college football story, maybe the biggest of all time, involving a Big 10 rival no less. 

Strange decision imo.

jcgold

November 9th, 2011 at 9:26 PM ^

It's about keeping it clean.  we can't have 500 threads started about the same topic.  It prevents other relevant news from coming thru.  We're better off with single daily thread to cover all new opinions (any real unexpected news can get its own thread).

 

MichFan1997

November 9th, 2011 at 9:34 PM ^

censorship only applies to the government. Brian, and by extension, the people he appoints to do his bidding, can do whatever he wants on his board. Nobody is stopping you from talking about the Penn State issue. They are only saying that all posting about it should be done in this thread.

bronxblue

November 9th, 2011 at 10:16 PM ^

This isn't censoring - it is consolidating.  While it is horrific what happened with PSU, the board doesn't need 30 posts with everyone saying "my opinion is y" or some offshoot of an already-discussed topic.  Post your thoughts here, then everyone can see them and respond.  I'm actually a fan of these style of posts - I love the morning/afternoon/evening game threads for this reason alone.  I know, different context, but it keeps all the thoughts in one area.

bdsisme

November 9th, 2011 at 9:41 PM ^

I would think this would warrant a new thread, but I guess here goes: Penn State Board of Trustees just scheduled a 10pm news conference for tonight.  I don't know if it will be covered on any live TV (any help?).

bronxblue

November 9th, 2011 at 9:48 PM ^

Thanks.  This was needed.

I will stick to my argument that Paterno probably knew less than some think, that he failings are more of omission than commission or even admission, but that he still failed everyone immeasurably.  I don't think that should wholly tarnish his legacy at Penn St. both on and off the field, but as Six Zero pointed out so well in his post, his era at PSU will never be viewed the same.

ixcuincle

November 9th, 2011 at 9:57 PM ^

Bradley taking over, as expected. Good for him. I wonder if PSU lets him walk after this season or not, he was always rumored to be the successor when Joe Pa would retire. 

iawolve

November 9th, 2011 at 10:12 PM ^

How could a player go back into those showers? How would a recruit view those facilities on a visit? Seems liked a damned area that could not be scrubbed enough to be clean. I would feel so dirty just being there. God knows how McCreary was able to look at that place again over the last 9 years without serious flashbacks. He is more cold blooded than I am.

bronxblue

November 9th, 2011 at 10:23 PM ^

Who would have thought that over the past 2 years, both OSU and PSU, two of the more stable programs in CFB, would undergo massive, unexpected upheaval due to off-the-field issues.  And yes, tattoos and payments to players are a massive difference than what happened with Sandusky, but it still shocks me how in a 12-month period so muc has changed in the conference and in CFB.

triangle_M

November 9th, 2011 at 10:32 PM ^

The national reporters want facts and the local media is angry they fired Paterno before he got his swan song.  With such a slack-jawed local media, its not a surprise that they allowed the program to go unchecked for so long.

triangle_M

November 9th, 2011 at 10:47 PM ^

have I seen (heard) such a gaggle of idiot reporters in my life.  I hope those fuckers like the middle of Pennslyvania, because they shouldn't ever get a job outside of that region.  Weird

 

Edit:  So according to some actual reporters there, the idiots asking the belligerent questions were students (wearing PSU t shirts).