College Football, once a great spectacle to watch and believe in has now turned into a disgrace. Since 2009 several dominant college football programs have been exposed of committing major NCAA violations. The violations ranged from contacts with agents to trading memorabilia for tattoos to Nevin Shapiro running Miami. In some cases it was implied as “lack of institutional control”.
With the recent sexual-abuse report involving former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky the problem is far beyond the lack of institutional humanism that Athletic Director Tim Curley, President Graham Spanier and Vice President Gary Schultz possess in the matter. While head coach Joe Paterno and Graduate Assistant Mike McQuery cannot be in trouble legally they face a harsher punishment.
A moral guilt.
The man who is Penn State is now being smeared by media, and the schools own board of trustees. Joe Paterno, 84, is in the final year of his contract with the university and will have been at University Park for 45 years. In the case of the board of trustee’s their worried more about covering for the university than a man that has more say over the school than anyone on campus.
Now Joe Paterno did fail in his moral obligates to report what he saw Sandusky doing local, state and/or federal police. Telling your Athletic Director is expected but letting it go after that is inexcusable. However the blame does not fall just on Paterno’s shoulders.
Athletic Director Tim Curley heads the list of parties responsible but it’s unbelievable how inhuman a group of men could be with a mater as heinous as this. When you read the Grand Jury’s report its something you just can’t imagine not only happening but being covered up for several years.
Sandusky is charged with 40 counts relating to sexual abuse, sexually assaulting nine young boys over a 15-year period, corruption of a minor along with several other charges. Athletic Director Tim Curley and President Gary Schultz were also charged for perjury and failure to report the allegations.
The action of one man, the failure to act of five other men, has caused the biggest scandal to hit college sports since Southern Methodist University’s death penalty in 1987. Even though the two are polar opposite in mater the volume is equal. The death penalty took away one of the most storied college football programs this country has seen. Now the acts of Mr. Sandusky could tarnish not only one of if not the best coaches college football has seen but one of the biggest and most prestigious programs we’ve seen as well.
In the end Joe Paterno is still the man in the headlines and taking it on the chin for a university throwing him under the bus. Peterno was willing and wanting to address the allegations with the 150 plus members of media Tuesday but Penn State officials called it off.
In reality it’s disappointing to know that there’s something wrong behind every great story or program. The dominance of “The U” now connected with Nevin Shapiro, USC connected with Reggie Bush’s scandal along with the less severe acts of Ohio State and Terrell Prior, Rich Rodriguez and Michigan. The list goes on and on but the reports and allegations made about Jerry Sanduksy trump any rogue booster or any selfish player.
The truth is Joe Paterno’s legendary status as head football coach at Penn State will always stand but the personal legacy of Paterno has taken a hit. A man who’s never had a blemish now has an asterisk next to his name. One thing is certain for Paterno: Even with the severity of this mess, Paterno is still one of the most respected and beloved coaches in college football and the fans chanting “Joe Pa-ter-no” outside his house back that up.
Note: I would like to make clear that I am not defending Joe Paterno, or saying his non-actions were the right thing to do. Paterno dropped the ball, just as everyone else did at the university. However Joe Paterno is one of the most beloved coaches in college football history and his legacy will take a severe hit but he remains Joe-Pa. The records are there to remind everyone the coach he was and the scandal will take its tole on his legacy overall.
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I thought the cloistered world of higher education was there to help our emerging citizens to become better human beings… upstanding citizens… that college sports was there to teach, instill values and judgment. We are taught to think for our selves, to question and challenge.
Paterno’s response to this travesty demonstrates a lack of moral conviction or courage? It would seem that he and they operate under the code that winning a game is more important than the wellbeing of our most vulnerable? Or is it that money is more important, money from the Commercial Enterprise of college sports? The sums and egos are huge. That there is even a debate regarding Paterno’s legacy is pathetic. Of course it’s in ruins… not that it is just now ruined… it was ruined the moment he turned his conscious from his duty and obligation as a father and a citizen of our community. We are only now learning how much of a ruined human he is, and everyone in that organization that knew about this and failed to act or follow through with conviction and moral certainty.
College Sports should teach and instruct or be stricken from the campus. This commercial industry has no place in our education system.
Ken Lipsmeyers
Kenneth, I agree and it’s beyond sad that the world of college sports is now portrayed and supported by wins and championships than what it means to be a student athlete.