Paterno dies at 85

[haveacigar]

Jayeburg, if Paterno did the right thing by calling his superiors, how can you criticize McQueary when he did the same? You're making all the same speculative claims against McQueary that you are decrying people for making against Paterno.

If focusing the entirety of blame for the situation on McQueary makes you feel any better, go for it, but few outside of the state of Pennsylvania are buying it.

[free2131]

Yeah, Paterno was clearly in the wrong (if not legally, then morally) by not calling police about what he was told, but he DID tell his boss. I don't see how that makes him an enabler. He would be if knew about it and told no one.

[dickay]

Yeah, Paterno was clearly in the wrong (if not legally, then morally) by not calling police about what he was told, but he DID tell his boss. I don't see how that makes him an enabler. He would be if knew about it and told no one.

1. Paterno was in a position of significant authority. He's responsible for following up on McQuery's complaint. He was running the program for crying out loud. Yes, his first responsibility was to report it to his superiors but morally, and i'd argue legally, he has a responsibility to follow-up on it and see what was being done.

2. How was he an enabler? He had knowledge that an employee saw sandusky fondling a young boy...and yet he completely ignored any follow-up while sandusky had continued access to children for years. And even if he didn't run to the police immediately after finding out that his superiors didn't act, he had a responsibility to at least confront Sandusky on it. After all, Paterno had responsiblity for the young men on the football program which Sandusky had access to.

3. The worst part to me is that it's obvious at some point Paterno and/or Penn St. believe the accusations were likely true as they revoked Sandusky's access to the football program and facilities (they likely knew much earlier which resulted in his "retiring"). How in the world can they do that and not go a step further and notify authorities knowing full well that Sandusky frequently had young boys in his care from his organization?

The whole thing is just abhorrent, and those who want to completely exonerate Paterno of wrongdoing like Jayeburgh are just a level below that at disgusting.

[OregonDuck1989]

Sounds like someone wants to blame everyone but JoePa. Or, as we sometimes call it these days, a Penn state fan.