PSU scandal reveals true colors

AP Photo

You see the true colors come out in people in the midst of institutional crisis and with only a handful of days passed since the initial breaking reports centering on former Penn State football coordinator Jerry Sandusky’s horrendous acts on children, the colors seem to run the spectrum.

Many journalists and key figures in college football are showing a complete disconnect from the human aspect in all of this; the irrevocable damage done to young boys by a trusted, and apparently protected figure who was part an institution built on money and reputation.  There are growing examples of this lack of perspective in comments made by some including former college football coach Bobby Bowden who seemed to offer advice to Paterno on how to prepare for the next game, to include ignoring questions about Paterno’s possible complacency in the matter of failing to report crimes against children to police authorities.  Yes Bobby, to you the game is far more important than some pesky criminal charges.

Then a story in yesterday’s USA Today focused on how Paterno’s legacy would likely be tarnished no matter his culpability in covering up or ignoring these crimes.  The sad part about that article was that exactly one line references any harm done to children or the crimes in general, while the rest lamented the ding on the head coach’s reputation.  I was appalled by the article and shared some comments with Detroit News reporter Jamie Samuelsen who tweeted to me that everyone involved should be cleared out, to include the janitor (alleged witness of one incident).  

I think we were both a little sick that so many initial story lines seemed to offer pity for a coach and an institution rather than the children who had been sexually abused and then ignored by so many who should have reported what they knew to the police.  One of the alleged victims was only 10 years old and the forced sodomy that was allegedly witnessed and reported to Paterno deserved to have someone stand up for him.  Apparently the coach, the witness, and the other senior officials that were told, were all more interested on protecting the reputation of their beloved program and the school than protecting a helpless child from being raped by one of their cronies. 

Then early yesterday the New York Times broke a story that university officials were working the process for removing Joe Paterno as head coach.  Some speculated that it may be immediate however, other sources indicated that the university would likely let him finish the season rather than further tarnish his dignity.  

What about the dignity of the 11 year-old who was forced to perform oral sex on Sandusky in the showers on campus, which happened to also be witnessed and reported to athletic department officials with no effort to notify police?  Who protected his dignity by seeking justice and an end to this empowerment of a pedophile?    

There were some however, who stepped to the forefront and took a human approach to include Detroit Free Press sports columnist Michael Rosenberg.  Notable for his wit-laden, humorous columns, Rosenberg was more direct in calling for Paterno’s ouster.  His focus was correctly on the criminality of this story, rather than recruiting impacts on the football program or Paterno’s place in college football lore as many seem to be concerned with.  Rosenberg called for justice for the children who were sexually abused.

ESPN Image

Former Penn State standout and NFL commentator, Matt Millen offered perhaps the most insightful comments during an interview on ESPN.  While calling for people to abide by the investigative process and not rush to judgment, he clearly made no excuses for what was alleged to have occurred and was poignant in saying that crimes against children demand justice.  He called on Penn State to be truthful about what happened and face the “locomotive” that is bearing down on them. 

While I rarely agree with many of Millen’s points on football, you cannot question his points as a man who was part of that institution and knows all of the individuals from the school who were apparently involved.  What gives me so much respect for him is that despite his connections and love of the institution, he approaches this as a human being and a dad, not a protector of a football program’s reputation.

People like Rosenberg and Millen have been the exception in whole disgusting affair and have clearly not been heard on the PSU campus where following the breaking story that Paterno may lose his job, hundreds gathered at the Paterno home for what has been characterized as a pep rally.  Another blow to the children Paterno likely left to a pedophile’s devices.  Another disgusting indictment on our society that seems to place a figure whose reputation is built on a “game” over the lives of young boys.  Yes, the fans at PSU seem to say it’s okay to look the other way when a child is raped so long as there is a solid team on the field next Saturday. 

In all this the NCAA stands silent.  No tattoos were purchased and practices didn’t exceed the standard time limits.  No recruits were called or texted more than allowed by the rules so the NCAA has no bone to pick.  That business about young boys being sexually assaulted in an NCAA-sanctioned facility isn’t worth talking about.  

Right, now tell me the NCAA isn’t solely focused on multi-million dollar television deals among other lucrative projects.  We’re only talking about a few kids versus an institution build on cronyism and money but happens to be one of those schools that has been the poster-child for the NCAA. 

Silence is consent.

So the university is faced with coming up with an exit strategy on its own.  Does the coach finish the season, while authorities continue to investigate?  Does he get canned based on what has already been reported to the grand jury?  I’ll take something Millen said to heart, about following a process, even though it seems no one at the school followed any legal process in this matter.  Maybe Paterno should be suspended while facts are sorted out.  There clearly seems to be more than enough pointing to his complicacy.  

At some point it has to be about the kids who were hurt and not about a football program.  At some point real leaders need to step up and offer a role model for the masses at PSU because turning the other way in the face of a crime is inexcusable.  Empowering someone to rape children to save face for a football program is inexcusable and after the rally at Paterno’s house yesterday I am certain there are hundreds at PSU who cannot possibly differentiate between right and wrong.    

AP Photo at Paterno Rally Tuesday

Joe Paterno did come out of his house to address the crowd and said, "It's hard for me to tell you how much this means to me. I've lived for this place, and I've lived for people like you guys and girls, and I'm just so happy to see that you could feel so strongly about us and about your school. The kids that were victims or whatever they want to say, I think we all ought to say a prayer for them. Tough life, when people do certain things to you. Anyway, you've been great. Everything's great, all right."

Right Joe, ‘or whatever they want to say’. 

At least now we’re seeing the true colors of your rainbow in Happy Valley.