Penn State University has faced more scrutiny over the last few days than they have seen in their long, illustrious history. Every ounce of the media attention is deserved.
When a school is part of what could be the most heinous acts in the history of college athletics, the school deserves much of the blame.
Especially considering how long they let this go on and the status former defensive coordinator and alleged rapist Jerry Sandusky still had with the school.
The allegations laid out in the grand jury indictment are enough to make your stomach turn, and there is no feasible excuse for Sandusky’s actions or the lack of action taken by the university.
Caught in the wake of Sandusky’s destructive ways were first and foremost the victims, but also the legacy head coach Joe Paterno had built over the last 46 years at PSU.
No program in the United States had a clean record like Penn State when it comes to strict academic requirements, personal conduct and the demeanor in which the students carry themselves. A big part of that perception was Joe Paterno.
Paterno is the face of the Nittany Lions and Penn State was Joe Paterno.
Not anymore, though.
The public perception, and rightly so, says while Paterno did everything he was legally bound to do in this situation, there is so much more he could have done to protect the safety of the children in his community.
On a moral level, there are so many people in this situation that could have done more and the fact Joe Pa is one of those men makes the otherwise spotless list of achievements seem tainted.
While it would be a PR nightmare for the people in charge of PSU, Joe Paterno needs to set up a table on his front lawn and address the people about every question they have in the honest way Paterno always has.
Paterno will pull no punches and if he speaks with truth and compassion people will listen and hopefully show us he doesn’t deserve this cloud over his head.
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