Everyone who knew Joe, called him Joe (His own kids even called him Joe). Even in the emails they sent him - They called him Joe. Those emails were not sent to "Joe". They called him coach. They also do not implicate joe in anything. It is all one persons word against another. I'm not saying that Joe didn't do enough. But the simple fact is that there is no solid proof that he did anything. There are three sides to every story; your side, their side, and the truth. 1+1 can not equal three unless all parties are available to state their case.
And like I said earlier. It didn't matter to me whether they took the statue down or not. Being a student there, I am looking at the school as more than a football program. There are thousands of great people who graduated from there and there is a lot of good the university has done. Football has never been the reason I went there, as is not the reason why thousands of other people went there. The academics are the number one reason why people go there. And if you read some of the latest tweets by the players, you will see that to be the case.
As for Sandusky, he got what he deserved. I am ashamed to admit that I know the man. Gram Spanier should also be in Jail. As he covered this whole thing up. If you look at the time line: When Joe found out, he did what he was supposed to; go through chain of command (Per union rules) and went to Tim Curly and told him about it. Curly in return said that he will handle it and talk to Spanier. Neither one of them went to the police, or did anything about it. So if anyone is to blame as much as Joe is, it is Curly and Spanier. Why aren't they getting crucified? Because Joe was a very popular figure and they are looking for a scape goat. Spanier was more interested in protecting the schools rep than he was kids. He should rot.
Kyle...
First of all, before I address the items I bolded in your post..... I'm a mother of a son who was active in sports when he was in high school. I enjoy and look forward to college football season every year, I grew up and went to college in the midwest, and have lived deep into SEC territory for 30 years, and only really cared about PennState when it came to bowl games. I'm a whole lot older than you and since I'm a woman, I'm sure my view of the world is quite different from yours.
With regard to your comments:
I don't care that people referred to Paterno as Joe or JoePa or Nice Guy or Asshole. Your comment that there is no solid proof that he did anything. Yep, you are right. He did NOTHING! That, Kyle, is the whole point! Joe Paterno did nothing.
So what that he told the higher ups? Because that was the "right thing to do per union rules"? What union? What UNION is going to ALLOW A CHILD TO BE RAPED!!!
Paterno a "scape goat"? Paterno is NOT A SCAPEGOAT!! PATERNO FAILED THE COURSE IN HUMAN DECENCY! IN HUMAN COMPASSION! IN DOING THE RIGHT THING FOR THOSE CHILDREN EVEN IF IT WAS JUST ONE CHILD!!
Anyone, ANYONE, who sees or learns of a child being raped or sexually abused, from an EYE WITNESS (who had no axe to grind) has an obligation to call the cops! Not wait for it to go "through the proper channels".
Do you honestly think, if Paterno's report of the abuse - following the proper channels - had been properly processed, he would not have heard about it? And when there was nothing done, do you honestly - HONESTLY believe - Paterno thought it was investigated and resolved with no actiion being taken against Sandusky? NO followup back to Paterno?
You cannot possibly be that naive! Though if you are, you certainly are not alone based on the remarks I have seen on numerous websites - ESPN, FOX, MSNBC, my local paper and tv stations. PennState, by Paterno's and the Administration's handling of the "problem of Sandusky", failed in human decency.
I don't give a rat's patoot that Paterno was a great football coach and a humanitarian!
When it comes down to the bottom line, Paterno failed.
He failed in human decency.
He failed a child who was being raped.
Not just one, but many.
Nothing, NOTHING! can overcome that one failure, as far as I am concerned.
Kyle, you and all the other people who are defending Paterno.....ask yourself one very simple question.
"IF it was YOUR CHILD who was RAPED, would you still defend Paterno?"