Joe Posnanski's comments to a PSU Journo Class Today

[JonDMiller]

look at this kid's twitter timeline that was in the class:

https://twitter.com/#!/Devon2012

Joe has been at State College the last several months writing a book on Joe Paterno.

Here is one of his quotes:

"I think [Paterno] is a scapegoat. I definitely think that...I think he tried to do the right thing, and the right thing didn't happen."

What was the 'right thing'? the right thing is to make sure a sexual predator cannot harm any more children. Joe Paterno could have done anything he wanted to in 2002 and lived to tell the tale, professionally.

Once he learned how the AD wanted to handle this, which was endorsed by the president of the university, he didn't have to go along with it...which was to take away Sandusky's locker key, and report the incident to Sandusky's own foundation, and tell Sandusky he could no longer bring children with him on campus...something that the AD told a grand jury was 'unenforceable'.

No. If you learn that's all that's going to happen and do nothing more, you are not a scapegoat. You are an accomplice after the fact, or you are aiding and abetting a sexual predator. To do nothing, to remain silent?

Scapegoat is the last freaking term that comes to my mind.

 

[BSpringsteen]

look at this kid's twitter timeline that was in the class:

https://twitter.com/#!/Devon2012

Joe has been at State College the last several months writing a book on Joe Paterno.

Here is one of his quotes:

"I think [Paterno] is a scapegoat. I definitely think that...I think he tried to do the right thing, and the right thing didn't happen."

What was the 'right thing'? the right thing is to make sure a sexual predator cannot harm any more children. Joe Paterno could have done anything he wanted to in 2002 and lived to tell the tale, professionally.

Once he learned how the AD wanted to handle this, which was endorsed by the president of the university, he didn't have to go along with it...which was to take away Sandusky's locker key, and report the incident to Sandusky's own foundation, and tell Sandusky he could no longer bring children with him on campus...something that the AD told a grand jury was 'unenforceable'.

No. If you learn that's all that's going to happen and do nothing more, you are not a scapegoat. You are an accomplice after the fact, or you are aiding and abetting a sexual predator. To do nothing, to remain silent?

Scapegoat is the last freaking term that comes to my mind.

I didn't have the stomach to read the GJ report - but last night there was some chatter about what Joe was actually told by MM.

He wasn't a scapegoat. The Board of Trustees said this was in the best interest of the UNiversity. There is no question this is true.

 

[20eyes]

look at this kid's twitter timeline that was in the class:

https://twitter.com/#!/Devon2012

Joe has been at State College the last several months writing a book on Joe Paterno.

Here is one of his quotes:

"I think [Paterno] is a scapegoat. I definitely think that...I think he tried to do the right thing, and the right thing didn't happen."

What was the 'right thing'? the right thing is to make sure a sexual predator cannot harm any more children. Joe Paterno could have done anything he wanted to in 2002 and lived to tell the tale, professionally.

Once he learned how the AD wanted to handle this, which was endorsed by the president of the university, he didn't have to go along with it...which was to take away Sandusky's locker key, and report the incident to Sandusky's own foundation, and tell Sandusky he could no longer bring children with him on campus...something that the AD told a grand jury was 'unenforceable'.

No. If you learn that's all that's going to happen and do nothing more, you are not a scapegoat. You are an accomplice after the fact, or you are aiding and abetting a sexual predator. To do nothing, to remain silent?

Scapegoat is the last freaking term that comes to my mind.

Why the moral relativity?

If Paterno was of such high character, such a figure of great honor and high moral rigor why then when confronted with the information he was confronted with he becomes "Paterno did what he was supposed to do" as if he's some guy pushing papers in the athletic office.

The Paterno apologists need to get themselves sorted out; is Paterno a hero or Joe Schmukatelli the football coach. He can't be both.

 

[jozzer]

Jon, some people really don't get it. They really don't. Anybody that actually knew about this, should have gone to the police. Anybody, JoePa's wife even. Mcquery's dad, they are all wrong. Not guilty for the crime, but wrong, especially JoePa.

 

[silvanthalas]

Scapegoat is the last freaking term that comes to my mind.

I've seen it used in stupid comments elsewhere, and it really is nothing more than an insult to the victims, particularly those after 1998.

 

[BlackHawk]

I've seen it used in stupid comments elsewhere, and it really is nothing more than an insult to the victims, particularly those after 1998.

It is a slap in the face to the victims. I think that some people are having a tough time reconciling Paterno's inaction in this horrific incident and their long-held perception of Paterno as a good and decent person and their respect for him.

If this had happened to Joe Shmaternshmo at San Diego State Tech A&M University, they would view it more objectively and realize that Shmaternshmo failed. They really want to believe that Paterno is morally guilt free on this, even though an objective analysis leads you to a different conclusion.

 

[9YRPLAN]

you are assuming that the grand jury report is correct and that no one ever reported it to law enforcement.

at this point it wouldnt surprise me if they swept it under the rug as well. this is a good ole boys club at its finest and, personally, the victims are the only people the I fully believe.

 

[tksirius]

Even if the police swept it under the rug, Joe could have went public with it.