1971 Sandusky victim says Paterno told him to drop his allegation; six PSU coaches reportedly saw abuse

Submitted by Erik_in_Dayton on
This is not the same reported victim as the one identified in the 1976 insurance document that referenced a claim that Sandusky had abused a child. There is also evidence that PSU coaches witnessed Sandusky abusing children in 1987 and 1988. EDIT No. 1: The man says Paterno threatened to call the authorities if he didn't drop his claim. EDIT No. 2: NBC reports that six total PSU coaches witnessed Sandusky abusing children from the '70s through the '90s. http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/06/us/jerry-sandusky-victims-paterno-penn-st… http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/sandusky-case-bombshell-did-6-penn-…-

Mr Miggle

May 7th, 2016 at 10:16 AM ^

They never put that statue back up, despite plenty of pressure from the Paterno loyalists to do so. I don't want to give them too much credit. It took way too long for them to take it down in the first place and putting up a statue of your current coach was a symptom of the problem there.

WolverineHistorian

May 7th, 2016 at 1:45 AM ^

The Paterno family will probably now release yet another statement through their lawyer about how Victim A is lying for attention and that THEY are the real victims. As for JoePa himself? He's 100 times more evil than I could have ever expected. This was a man who had 16 grandchildren. I'm sure he never wanted any of them to hang out with Sandusky. But 40 years of raping other kids, well, that's OK. Disgusting.

NittanyFan

May 7th, 2016 at 2:32 AM ^

I have no immediate thoughts on these 2 new stories.  But something seems odd, something may be up.

Things have been relatively quiet for 46 consecutive months (since July 2012) on the "new allegations" front.

And now, three stories seemingly out of nowhere.  All potential BOMB-shells.  And all three stories drop within 24 hours.  Perhaps a coincidence.  Perhaps also that someone/something is driving this wildfire flare-up.  Though I have not the slightest idea who/what that would be.

We'll see where this goes.  SIX assistant coaches.  SIX?  Simply from the POV of "most human beings are fairly decent people", I struggle to immediately believe that.  Six is not a small number, and these are serious accusations.  Given such, I think they'll have to name the supposed coaches eventually.  Story could go in many different directions from there.  A HUGE, unexpected left turn in the current story may occur soon.  We'll see.

NittanyFan

May 7th, 2016 at 11:34 AM ^

Between the CNN and NBC stories ... the CNN story is, overall, the less "interesting."  It's the same general story (someone told Joe about Sandusky, nothing happened), just a different year. That story is believable.  Fits the same overall narrative.

The NBC story is more interesting.  SIX assistant coaches, and they're all involved in the cover-up also.  That's a BOMB-shell if true.  This is no longer "Joe knows but is keeping things secret."  This is now "Everyone knows and is keeping it secret."  Big difference.

But there are legitimate questions.  (1) What would be their motivation for behaving so immorally?  (2) Not one of them had a moral epiphany over the ensuing years, and spoke up?  (3) According to the article, many of these 6 assistants would coach in the NFL or elsewhere in college - why not say something when PSU/Paterno are in the rear-view mirror?  (4) Paterno allowed a Washington Post writer full access to the program (for a book) in the 1988-1992 era, isn't that risky in an environment where everyone in the program is keeping an awful secret?  (5) Don't cover-ups generally become less successful as more people know the truth?  (6) Who are these 6 assistants?  Greg Schiano, current Detroit Lions' coach Jim Caldwell, Dick Anderson, Fran Ganter, they all were PSU assistants in the early 1990s.  Go down the list, ask them all.    

As I said, we'll see where this goes.  For the time being, I'm agnostic on the NBC story.  I need more.

gwkrlghl

May 7th, 2016 at 11:36 AM ^

Six assistant coaches? Seems almost unbelievable like borderline conspiracy/illuminati stuff. I find it tough to believe that literally the whole staff covered for Sandusky for decades, knowing he was molesting kids. Do I believe Paterno selfishly pretended it didn't happen? Yep. But it's harder to picture that the whole PSU staff was some kind of high level child molesting ring for 4 decades - as fun as it is to believe such a wild story

Rasmus

May 7th, 2016 at 4:37 AM ^

These look like things dug up by the insurance company's investigators. They have at least 90 million at stake, so unlike Freeh's preliminary work, they had the time, resources, and incentive to dig into the past and find what anyone with actual experience with these kinds of cases likely knew was there. Frankly, it all makes a lot more sense now. It never really quite added up.

a different Jason

May 7th, 2016 at 9:47 AM ^

Admit it, your university condones raping children. It will feel better when you accept the truth. That is the bottom line. Pennsylvania State University believes that raping children is ok if you win football games. Not only are you going to rot in hell, you are rotting in life, right now as you read this.

Brimley

May 7th, 2016 at 1:20 PM ^

Six isn't a huge number.  Please remember that there were hundreds if not thousands of otherwise decent people who were aware of abuse going on in the Church for many years.  Something kept them from speaking out (respect for power, suspending belief for someone they admired, whatever).  Also, remember that even late in the abuse cycle, McQuery's FIRST thought was "tell Paterno" not "call 911".  The culture of PSU was "protect the program" and "trust JoePa."  We'll see what the evidence is, but I absolutely believe that it fits the way the program operated.  I'd be surprised if this were NOT true, honestly.

NittanyFan

May 7th, 2016 at 1:39 PM ^

and the Catholic church (as I know from being raised a Catholic) --- they are not shy with the "you are going to hell for eternity if you don't follow the rules of our culture" type of sermons. 

The non-Sandusky Penn State Assistant Coaches from that era --- I can only think of 2 that grew up Penn State, were Penn State "lifers" of sorts.  Fran Ganter and Dick Anderson.  Anderson did go coach Rutgers for 5 years, came back.

But the others from that era?  They were like most assistant coaches: childhood in one place, played their college ball another place, various different schools as they moved up the coaching ladder, then some time at Penn State, many leaving after some time as they continue to try to move up the ladder.

Why would those guys buy into the "culture of PSU being protect the program and trust JoePa?"  What is their motivation?  There are times in their career when Penn State is LONG in the rear-view mirror, why would they still be part of a cover-up?

NittanyFan

May 7th, 2016 at 1:59 PM ^

of the "good ol' boys club of elite college football coaches."  You make it out like ALL of them are morally corrupt!  I'm not naive, but neither do I have such an all-encompassing negative view of everybody.

Given a few of the details in the NBC report, Jim Caldwell is a rather prime suspect to be one of these six coaches.  The guy played his college ball at Iowa, coached at a whole bunch of schools prior to PSU, spent his time at PSU, went on to Wake Forest, and the NFL.  Deeply religious guy, just like his NFL mentor, Tony Dungy.

He was covering up criminal activity, he was morally corrupt?  Sorry, unless I see more, I'm not believing that.

BlueDragon

May 7th, 2016 at 2:58 PM ^

However, they wouldn't look kindly upon a member revealing sensitive secrets.

Inaction is the easy way out. It's simply the nature of humans to protect what we have.

Let's try another wavelength. How do we treat whistleblowers in today's society? Are they:

a) celebrated as champions of human freedom;
b) reviled in the court of public opionion as snitches;
c) criminalized at the highest levels of government and forced to live overseas;
d) liable to lose their jobs, social standing, and livelihood;
e) b, c, and d but not a?

NittanyFan

May 7th, 2016 at 3:26 PM ^

were named Time Magazine's people of the year.  

I surmise your answer to your question is (e), but my answer would be (f): generally celebrated but likely to be reviled if they leak classified information and then run off to hang out with Vladimir Putin.  No, i do not defend Edward Snowden.

Anyway: if an assistant coach quits a job, steals the playbook on the way out then publicizes it --- that will get him ostracizied from the "good 'ol boys club."  That is "revealing a sensitive secret", and that is a possible career-killer.

I simply don't believe that if a coach saw criminal behavior, quit his job, and said "I quit my job because I witnessed Jerry Sandusky having sex with a boy, and other Penn State folk simply didn't care when I told them" --- that would be the end of his career.  I simply don't believe that.

BlueDragon

May 7th, 2016 at 3:42 PM ^

Time Magazine. Hahahahaha. 2002. Yes, and we've followed up on that legacy with, for example, the fun fates that Bank of America whistleblowers got (firing, or lengthy legal battles): https://www.propublica.org/article/four-whistleblowers-who-sounded-the-…

Or this spook with conscience: http://www.ibtimes.co.in/only-cia-officer-jailed-torture-program-whistl…

I too believe ignorance is bliss, and I'm mad that Snowden exposed the NSA spying on all Americans and "enhanced interrogation techniques". Dirty traitor. How dare he seek sanctuary in Hong Kong before being forced to move to Russia.

JoePa had lots of friends beyond his family, you know. I wouldn't want to cross him at the height of his power, or even in the 2000s figurehead era. Would I as a coach want to hire a known whistleblower with the baggage and stigma that comes along with that?

Mr Miggle

May 7th, 2016 at 5:45 PM ^

Perhaps that's the reason Time sought to honor them. In a close knit profession like coaching I'd expect that to be especially true. It might work out fine for a coach to report Sandusky if he got convicted, but I wouldn't be sure of it. What if instead, he never got charged? That's not an unlikely outcome. Good luck getting another job in that scenario. Paterno can assasinate your character to other coaches. Even if they might be inclined to believe you over him, hiring you brings controversy they don't want. They can't be sure you're telling the truth either. Why not hire someone else instead?

If these assistant coaches did get involved, the most likely way would have been to report it to Paterno. Puts them in a tough position when nothing happens. They're not just accusing Sandusky if they go further, but Paterno too. Frankly, I doubt six coaches with first hand knowledge would be so cowardly. Having second hand knowledge would be different. 

Wolfman

May 7th, 2016 at 10:25 PM ^

They all had earned college degrees. This, imo, is the worst type of crime that exists. We only have a short period in our life where not much is asked of us, only to be happy. We realize that all too quickly, even in what would be described as a normal, uneventful life. When you have some sick fuck, assisted by another sick fuck, supposedly the unequivocal leader of Happy Valley and all that is good, consideration of career advancement shouldn't - and I am stone cold serious - not even enter one's mind.

drzoidburg

May 7th, 2016 at 5:23 PM ^

yes, removing them from the conference is the only way to achieve some kind of closure at least when it comes to their vile football program, and to meat out justice where the ncaa totally failed. It would be more effective than the death penalty even, as what other conference will take them?

drzoidburg

May 7th, 2016 at 5:21 PM ^

no, they haven't been quiet. The USPS has been conducting an investigation into a child porn ring involving sandusky going back decades, and the victim is now revealing a lot of what he *testified in court* but was sealed due to statue of limitations and the settlement from penn st acknowledging he was a victim. This is NOT a new accusation. It's just being made public finally, despite he faces great risk.

Accusations going public all at once after many years is the nature of the trauma of child abuse and rape victims. It empowers them to know they're not alone, just as with bill cosby's accusers and many others. Might *some* of them be false to some degree? Sure. But all of them? Not a chance. I also find the amount of details, CNN's account of the accuser's difficulties, and corroborating accusation and evidence from the time of the incident in this case to be overwhelming. I'm a skeptical person, but it's really too much

And also penn st and joe paterno did everything possible to conceal the truth, so they get no benefit of doubt from me

Rasmus

May 7th, 2016 at 5:25 AM ^

Another thing that makes more sense in this light is Paterno's hanging on in his position of power, way past the point where he should have retired and taken up an emeritus role within the university. There was always something off about that. But now it makes a lot more sense -- he couldn't give up that power because he needed it to maintain control over the thing he had been suppressing for more than 30 years.

Rasmus

May 7th, 2016 at 10:43 AM ^

I don't know. I mean I always thought maybe he was hanging on because he wanted his son to replace him or something like that. Or maybe it was all about passing Bryant and getting his name on the NCAA title trophy like he did. There was something selfish about it. It never made sense that it was just about love of the program. No doubt his suppression of this thing was driven by more than just self interest. But he made a terrible mistake as a younger head coach and then repeatedly, every few years, was forced to perpetuate it even as the culture changed and the excuses (ignorance, whatever) he might have once had eroded away -- and the worst thing is the foundation, with Paterno standing by, knowing what he knew, while Sandusky was given access to large numbers of vulnerable youth.

drzoidburg

May 7th, 2016 at 5:30 PM ^

honestly, if he had came forward in say 1994, i would've thought his silence for so long was totally heinous, but at least you could say he told the truth in the end and stopped future abuses. He could've done the right thing at any point. Whoever says he "loved penn state too much and football program..." yeah, right, loved them so much he cost them 4 years of postseason, completely trashed their reputation, brought the university president down with him, and even discusses of removing them from the conference so they can become the next SMU, and god knows what will happen next, if the nightmare ever ends

he did this out of pure selfishness, not to protect the program or the college. At this point i wouldn't even be surprised if he had that prosecutor killed

DomIngerson

May 7th, 2016 at 5:56 PM ^

Welp. http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/04/ten_years_later_ray_… Buehner believes Gricar was killed, but doubts it had any Sandusky connection. "Who in the Sandusky case would have the motive to do any harm to Ray Gricar?" he said. "Gricar might have been the best witness [for Sandusky] had he been alive . . . and any victim probably wasn't old enough, I don't think, to be abducting the DA and making him disappear."

bacon

May 7th, 2016 at 6:17 AM ^

The more I hear about this story the more I don't want to know. Originally I was willing to give the PSU coaches the benefit of the doubt, but then it became clear Paterno knew this happened. Then Paterno died and Sandusky went to jail and I figured that was the end. Now I'm having a hard time believing anyone associated with that program (coaches, players, administrators, boosters) didn't know or at least suspect something was wrong. I'm not a believer in the idea that we should kick penn state out of the big ten, but anyone still around from the Paterno era should probably be told to retire.

bacon

May 7th, 2016 at 9:46 AM ^

You're right about not wanting to know in some contexts. However, in my case the statement is more A reflection of not wanting to lose more faith in humanity rather than deny that this was a problem. I'm glad people are investigating it and uncovering things. I will keep reading what they find, despite my statement.

gruden

May 7th, 2016 at 10:30 PM ^

The complicitness that multiple people in PSU's AD KNEW Sandusky was raping kids and did nothing for decades belies a morally corrupt organization.  If the conference has any value (or values) at all, it is far better to cut ties with a corrupt organization than to maintain ties and become tainted by association.

LSAClassOf2000

May 7th, 2016 at 7:08 AM ^

As allegations like this of Sandusky's crimes and Paterno's silence come out and it appears more and more that this can be traced back to events now over 40 years old, I sit in amazement that there are still a large number of people in the Penn State fanbase that can still speak glowingly about Joe Paterno or almost anyone on that staff. To enable Jerry Sandusky for all those years and to ostensibly be comfortable in doing so is unconscionable to me.

Now we wait for the Paterno family's disgusting effort to make this about them somehow.

mGrowOld

May 7th, 2016 at 7:26 AM ^

Agreed. I have reached the point where I honestly believe that if videotaped evidence was uncovered of Sandusky raping a child while Paterno held the kid down the PSU cult of denial would claim they were body doubles

Everyone there has SO much emotional investment in perpetuating this lie it makes me sick to my stomach.

Fuck them. Fuck all of them.

Mabel Pines

May 7th, 2016 at 8:31 AM ^

Due to the nature of the offense. They still love Tressel in Ohio, because he just cheated. But it just disgusts too many of us that he didn't help the kids whose lives were being destroyed. It does not seem to me, either, that many fans can separate joepa from Penn State, sadly. You can still love PSU and not love joe PA, IMHO.