Give Joepa the Horrific, Silent, Back-turned Send off He Deserves

Submitted by xtramelanin on

Mates,

With as much as this blog and fan-base detests to our dying day the horror that Joepa knowingly allowed for decades under his watch, maybe we really can make a statement about it.   There are multiple mgobloggers in every section of that stadium come Saturday, and it just doesn't seem that difficult if a few per section took literally a few minutes before the game to relay a simple message:  When PSU comes out don't boo, don't make a sound, simply turn your back like Joepa did to the child molestor!

Even drunks would understand that.  It would be rather newsworthy and draw the proper attention - silence and backs turned by 100,000+ fans.  Shame the child molestors and their sex-offender-loving fan base.  

It might be pie in the sky, but heck, if WD can take Brandon down, why not let our voices be heard in the silence.  A few signs, a few encouragements to the crowd as they file in to get their tickets scanned, a bit of yelling in the stands between the rawk music selections during warm ups, and you just might get it done.   

What do you think?

XM

MGoBoard
Football

BeatIt

September 21st, 2016 at 5:42 AM ^

all involved denied those allegations. not saying its not true that they knew. as long as johnson was there he must of heard somehing. initially when the story broke in 2011, canit remember if it was a current player or former, one mentioned there was a campus wide joke about the showers and sandusky. never heard any mention of it after psu circled the wagons.

Joined: 06/11/2016

MGoPoints: 930

bronxblue

September 21st, 2016 at 4:24 PM ^

It was my understanding those were court documents filed by the plaintiff if the court action.  They weren't necessarily an objective description of facts.  I think what we know happened at PSU is bad enough, but claiming other people covered up the same sexual assaults is a pretty heavy accusation.  

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171035

rob f

September 20th, 2016 at 10:07 PM ^

Penn State, too. And I'll also be glad to join in any "Joe knew!" chants that anyone can get started. But I also recognize that it's going to be difficult to get enough participation to be effective unless something is done to publicize and promote our efforts. Is there a chance Brian can promote this on the MGoFrontPage each and every day leading up to the game? Another thing that might help our cause would be for the Michigan Daily to get the word out to students and the rest of the University community by giving it the front page treatment. Does anyone on the MGoBoard have connections with the Daily's editorial staff?

Joined: 11/11/2010

MGoPoints: 193875

Muttley

September 20th, 2016 at 11:09 PM ^

 

 

  • JoePa Hid It?
  • JoePa Covered It?
  • JoePa Concealed It?
  • JoePa Permitted It?
  • JoePa Shielded It?
  • JoePa Protected It?
  • JoePa Watched It?
  • JoePa Buried It?
  • JoePa Guarded It?
  • JoePa Supported It?
  • JoePa Sheltered It?
  • JoePa Harbored It?
  • JoePa Suppressed It?
  • JoePa Withheld It?

Joined: 07/07/2009

MGoPoints: -73245

Number 7

September 21st, 2016 at 9:50 AM ^

at some point planning "cheers" of various sorts trivializes the crap that went on.  Silently turning one's back on the team is an outstanding protest (even if the kids on the team presumably had nothing to do with it).  But incorporating cheers of various sorts might make it seem like we oppose the enabling of child molestation only because we happen to be playing a football game against a specific team at that moment.  

Joined: 06/09/2009

MGoPoints: 5256

Everyone Murders

September 21st, 2016 at 9:04 AM ^

Board Members -

I will gladly donate $100 to some enterprising board member attending Saturday's game for #JoePaKnew flyers for folks to hand out at the game.  The front would read

  • "#JoePaKnew"

in as large font as possible, preferably navy blue font on white paper or vice-versa.  The back would have instructions for use - setting forth for the fans inclined to participate a statement along the lines of:

  • "Fans of college football, please join us in protesting efforts of Joe Paterno apologists by turning your back and displaying this sign during (A) the introduction of Penn State to the field, and (B) at the beginning of the third quarter (i.e., after halftime). 
    When displaying the sign, please aim the front of the sign toward the field while facing away from the field.  
     
  • We want to make a statement that children's safety is more important that protecting a football coach's legacy.  We think that this message will be especially powerful if PSU fans take the opportunity to show that, while they support their school, they are also appalled by efforts to cover up the crimes of Jerry Sandusky, which were abetted and knowingly hidden by Joe Paterno and the PSU administration.  We think that PSU is larger and greater than Joe Paterno, and hope you agree."

I won't be in A2 for the game, but if some enterprising MGoBoarders want to do the legwork, I'm happy to sponsor the first $100.  And if I know this board, others will donate too.

Maybe one of the board members in a frat could take the lead, given their institutional ability to (a) sneak things into the stadium and (b) ability to dispatch sufficient numbers of gentlemen to distribute flyers?

What do you think? 

EM

Joined: 12/14/2010

MGoPoints: 65552

doggdetroit

September 20th, 2016 at 9:23 PM ^

I think this would be much more powerful. Even if a low percentage of fans join in the chant, people in the stadium and most importantly people watching from home will not be able to avoid it. I feel that if people turn their backs ESPN/ABC won't draw attention to it. If the chant is happening during the game, say in the 3rd quarter, they can't avoid it nor can any Joe Pa apologists. In fact, this should be a recurring chant at every PSU road game.

Joined: 09/05/2015

MGoPoints: 2337

doggdetroit

September 20th, 2016 at 11:31 PM ^

I disagree. This is from Game 6 of the 2010 ECF, when the Celtics fans mocked Lebron with a "New York Knicks" chant when he would not commit to resigning with the Cavs. Very clear what they are saying. If you chant "Joe Pa knew" over and over, it will become pretty clear that the crowd is not saying "Let's Go Blue".

 

Joined: 09/05/2015

MGoPoints: 2337

willywill9

September 21st, 2016 at 4:41 AM ^

Notre Dame does (at least used to) turn around when opposing team's starting line up is announced. I'd just be cautious to not go for funny or heckling someone, but go for taking a stand against sexual abuse (of any kind). A banner that sends that message would be incredible. Or handouts that collectively spell out a prohibit sign over the word abuse

Joined: 09/22/2008

MGoPoints: 13162

twohooks

September 20th, 2016 at 9:16 PM ^

Players, Coaches, et al who had nothing to do with the wrongdoings. There are many like me in the corners of the victims. Yes it is a mess but this passive torches and pitchforks approach is just...silly I guess. Donating to victims charitable causes would be more helpful.

Joined: 01/21/2010

MGoPoints: 4776

1464

September 20th, 2016 at 9:20 PM ^

It would be another thing entirely if the fan base showed some compassion for the victims and a remorse for building a culture that allowed it to happen. They still want to deify that piece of shit. The message should be sent that the world will not turn a blind eye, even if Happy Valley will.

Joined: 06/21/2010

MGoPoints: 37173

Ike613

September 20th, 2016 at 9:47 PM ^

.. to do that without also turning your backs on the players and coaches that were not involved in any of this mess, then I'd whole heartedly agree.  But there's no easy way to do that.  We don't know if most of them do or don't condone the JoePa support that's going on.

This feels to me like a stadium full of people putting on a display of convenient protest.

When more than just a few give up a minute of their day to actually do something to help victims of child abuse I'll change my tune, but this just sounds like something everybody wants to do because it's a convenient and easy way to use a football game they are attending regardless to voice their rage against the PSU culture.  If you care that much, do something more than piggybacking off your gameday experience and make a real difference.

Joined: 02/19/2009

MGoPoints: 381

Steve in PA

September 21st, 2016 at 8:54 AM ^

Those players could have done a Kaepernick and chosen not to honor 50 years of enabling child molesting. Sure, there may have been a price for them to make a stand but it would absolutely have been the right thing to do.

 

Maybe, just maybe, if some players took a stand the JoePa worship would come to an end. Obviously no one from administration is doing anything.

Joined: 08/10/2009

MGoPoints: 6327

MGoNukeE

September 21st, 2016 at 11:39 AM ^

is the target will seek to avoid getting shamed. Sometimes shame brings the target to internalize the criticism and take steps to improve themselves. For the rest, shaming simply builds resentment.

In this example, shaming fans that weren't involved with the Sandusky scandal won't reduce the likelihood that Penn State stops celebrating JoePa's legacy; at best it'll change nothing. Do whatever you want, but don't expect it to make a difference in peoples' opinions of the Sandusky scandal (or child rape, or any other cause this thread is seeking to advance).

Joined: 11/11/2009

MGoPoints: 3134

Mr Miggle

September 21st, 2016 at 12:28 PM ^

If it becomes part of the broadcast, if the announcers acknowledge it, then it has a broader effect. It's an effort to expose their horrible lack of judgment. It's not only the PSU administration you want to reach. There are all the parents who see no problem in sending their children to PSU, be they football players or not. The HS students who don't know what happened or who think nobody cares about it any more. The UM students thinking about where to apply to grad school.

You do have a point though. There is a significant portion of the PSU community that appears to have no shame. That doesn't mean you should give up on trying to reach those that do.

Joined: 10/07/2010

MGoPoints: 47532

denardogasm

September 21st, 2016 at 12:04 AM ^

It's got nothing to do with the players.  I can guarantee that they don't give a shit if the opposing fans are watching them enter the stadium or not.  The point is to raise awareness about the poor handling of a situation and lack of respect shown to the victims by an institution.  The football game is when the school is talked about, so that's when a demonstration should take place.  No player on PSU is going to be personally embarrassed or disrespected by such a demonstration.  They might be embarrassed of their school, and they should.

Edit: I will say that tshirts or chants would make it more a joke and about getting in the heads of the football players.  The silent crowd alone is a much better statement.

Joined: 09/11/2011

MGoPoints: 10688