Penn State University coach Joe Paterno's half-century of employment at the school ended with a simple phone call last night. That's all he got. You're fired. Go away. Did his actions, or rather inactions, in the sick pedophile Jerry Sandusky affair warrant such treatment?
Wow...I'm torn. He did right by reporting what he knew as soon as he knew it, but he didn't follow up when he should have, which was his downfall. "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem." Still, it looks to me like the Penn State Board of Regents are just throwing any and everyone they can grab under the bus in order to deflect scrutiny away from themselves, even before all the facts are out. And doesn't a lifetime of exemplary service to the university at least deserve a face-to-face, man-to-man delivery of the sad, bad news? Apparently not at Penn State University, where the operative strategy seems to be "cover your ass".
And the students rioted. There's a lot of anger in America for a lot of reasons these days. I guess we can add this to the list, too.
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Well, Joe issued his "retirement" statement the day before without consulting his higher ups. And I don't believe he did enough with the original charge about Sandusky. Still, a phone call seems pretty cold. Seems like the Board of Trustees could have done the deed in person. But one would think they and Joe would have talked prior to their decision. I don't know. It's a sad day, any way you look at it. And the rioting? Stupid. And it doesn't help the image of Penn State at all.
ReplyDeleteAfter continuing their lives for years as if nothing happened, these guys were lucky to be treated to firing by any means. I won't be surprised if others come forward after all of this.
ReplyDelete"Did his actions, or rather inactions, in the sick pedophile Jerry Sandusky affair warrant such treatment?"
ReplyDeleteYes. Absolutely. And the resulting apologetics are disgusting.