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Paterno Dead at Age 85

I think there's no doubt that Paterno bares some responsibility for the Sandusky scandal and I think Penn State made the right move by firing him. The part that really damns Paterno is that Sandusky was allowed to stay around the program for years after the incident Paterno was told about, so Paterno obviously failed to go to the people he reported it too and say, "hey, what's going on I reported a really bad thing to you guys and seemingly nothing has happened to Jerry?" and after that of course reporting it to authorities on his own. However, I also think Joe Paterno did a whole lot of good during his life and that shouldn't just be swept under the table. The man messed up on the handling of the Sandusky scandal and it was a bad mess up, but I don't think it's beyond reason to realize his faults, while also realizing the good. I was saddened by his passing, but not surprised. As soon as he got fired, I said he won't live another year, because I think he was in the Bear Bryant mode of football and coaching almost making up his entire existence and at age 85 with that taken away there was nothing else for him.
 
liveanddiedeac said:
I think there's no doubt that Paterno bares some responsibility for the Sandusky scandal and I think Penn State made the right move by firing him. The part that really damns Paterno is that Sandusky was allowed to stay around the program for years after the incident Paterno was told about, so Paterno obviously failed to go to the people he reported it too and say, "hey, what's going on I reported a really bad thing to you guys and seemingly nothing has happened to Jerry?" and after that of course reporting it to authorities on his own. However, I also think Joe Paterno did a whole lot of good during his life and that shouldn't just be swept under the table. The man messed up on the handling of the Sandusky scandal and it was a bad mess up, but I don't think it's beyond reason to realize his faults, while also realizing the good. I was saddened by his passing, but not surprised. As soon as he got fired, I said he won't live another year, because I think he was in the Bear Bryant mode of football and coaching almost making up his entire existence and at age 85 with that taken away there was nothing else for him.
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I agree with this top portion. For me, the underlying issue around the entirety of the PSU scandal is that someone needed to be the adult there. Anyone (ANYONE) that had knowledge of the events or supposed events had an absolute responsibility to raise the flag every time Sandusky was on/near campus or the football program and it's ancillary facilities. And at some point, someone needed to start asking, is anyone keeping an eye on him at Second Mile. It's irrelevant if folks did the minimum required by law, they needed to do more than that. That goes for the Tim Curley, Gary Schultz, Coach Paterno, Mike McCreary, Mike McCreary's father, etc ...

It IS sad that any man's life ends in this sort of morass of moral ambiguity. It's sad that one's family has now more to answer for and more time to do it than the individual that most folks are going to want answers for. But in the end, IF he had done right (by my and apparently a lot of other people's standards), he would have had near nine years to leave an impeccable lasting impression. One in which we could say "and you remember how he drummed that perverted coach out in the open too? And remember what (good) that led to with that charity?" ....

But he didn't come up big when this happened and that will be what most people recall. So it is sad for anyone's family when they lose a loved one and this is no different. There's a lot of hurt by Paterno's own making however and that's going to be something unfortunately his family will have to sit with for a long, long time.
 
"I think there's no doubt that Paterno bares some responsibility"

I see what you did there
 
liveanddiedeac said:
I think there's no doubt that Paterno bares some responsibility for the Sandusky scandal and I think Penn State made the right move by firing him. The part that really damns Paterno is that Sandusky was allowed to stay around the program for years after the incident Paterno was told about, so Paterno obviously failed to go to the people he reported it too and say, "hey, what's going on I reported a really bad thing to you guys and seemingly nothing has happened to Jerry?" and after that of course reporting it to authorities on his own. However, I also think Joe Paterno did a whole lot of good during his life and that shouldn't just be swept under the table. The man messed up on the handling of the Sandusky scandal and it was a bad mess up, but I don't think it's beyond reason to realize his faults, while also realizing the good. I was saddened by his passing, but not surprised. As soon as he got fired, I said he won't live another year, because I think he was in the Bear Bryant mode of football and coaching almost making up his entire existence and at age 85 with that taken away there was nothing else for him.
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What "good" did Joe do anyway?

Like many other others JoePa was a highly paid college football coach who helped raise money for his respective school. Did he change the lives of many players? Of course he did. So did thousands of high school coaches and high school counselors across the country. I don't understand why people are saying such things as he's such a once in a lifetime human being (Millen said that yesterday) and that he was such a great man. The whole Sandusky incident totally outweighs the good things he did IMO.
 
texasdeac said:
What "good" did Joe do anyway?

Like many other others JoePa was a highly paid college football coach who helped raise money for his respective school. Did he change the lives of many players? Of course he did. So did thousands of high school coaches and high school counselors across the country. I don't understand why people are saying such things as he's such a once in a lifetime human being (Millen said that yesterday) and that he was such a great man. The whole Sandusky incident totally outweighs the good things he did IMO.
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The only point I'm making is good people mess up all the time. I'm sure many on this board are really good people but have done things in their life that they regret deeply. I'm just in the camp that thinks Paterno deserves all the blame he's gotten, but shouldn't be judged totally by that. I don't think he ever made near as much money as a lot of other coaches and it seems the man lived very modestly while giving back lots of money to Penn State. No it doesn't make him a saint, but it does make stand out a little bit from a lot of coaches in today's college football world. I can't think of a more miserable end of life for a man of his pre-Sandusky incident status. I hope he rests in peace, but even more I hope his family comfort, but even more hope the victims in this mess find peace.
 
liveanddiedeac said:
The only point I'm making is good people mess up all the time. I'm sure many on this board are really good people but have done things in their life that they regret deeply. I'm just in the camp that thinks Paterno deserves all the blame he's gotten, but shouldn't be judged totally by that. I don't think he ever made near as much money as a lot of other coaches and it seems the man lived very modestly while giving back lots of money to Penn State. No it doesn't make him a saint, but it does make stand out a little bit from a lot of coaches in today's college football world. I can't think of a more miserable end of life for a man of his pre-Sandusky incident status. I hope he rests in peace, but even more I hope his family comfort, but even more hope the victims in this mess find peace.
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some men want money and power; others are fine with one or the other
 
I can't believe Sandusky had the nerve to release a statement.
 
Marquee Moon said:
some men want money and power; others are fine with one or the other
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I will say this, I think it's bad when one person gets to be such a powerful, cult like figure like Paterno did at Penn State. I know they asked him to resign back in 2004 or something and he refused. When he refused they should've fired him then, I don't think any coach should have that kind of power.
 
Father-John-Geoghan.jpg

Hurry down, JoePa. I need a new lookout!
 
 
84Deac said:
An asshole? Really?

http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/7492873/rick-reilly-paterno-true-legacy

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/hard-hits/post/thoughts-on-the-passing-of-coach-joe-paterno/2012/01/23/gIQAt89OLQ_blog.html

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/lopresti/story/2012-01-22/joe-paterno-dies-penn-state-column/52740928/1

Why don't you stick to a topic you know something about. God help you if your life is judged as critically as you are so quick to judge others.
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In the first story, they have a line "what coach would come by twice a month to visit." My answer I'd think would be about 95% of college football coaches.
 
2&2 Slider To Leyritz said:
So will Sandusky try to show up at the funeral?
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Was gonna post this same question. As bizarre and mishandled as he has been since being charged, I bet he does. If I was his lawyer and he is insisting in going down in a blaze of glory, I'd probably recommend it or let him do it if he's gonna stick with the whole not guilty thing.
 
Below is a copy from a FB page of a huge PSU fan I am friends with. I'm not sure the validity of it, but if true thats pretty awesome.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________



I debated whether or not to share this, but as everyone has been sharing their "JoePa stories" lately, I thought it'd be appropriate to share mine.

Despite attending Penn State University Park for 4.5 years, I never had the opportunity to meet JoePa. I heard stories of friends that had - most memorably two friends who, while out riding their bikes, saw him driving home from practice on the eve of the 2005 Ohio State game. They decided to follow him all the way into his garage so that they could shake his hand and wish him luck. Instead of being weirded out (which would have been pretty understandable) he was very gracious and thanked them for the support.

The first weekend in this past December, I was visiting Penn State for a number of different reasons. While I was there, I wanted to show my support for Joe in light of his cancer diagnosis and how he had been mistreated by the University and the press (based on incomplete information and misinformation) in the last month. I decided to leave him a note expressing my support along with a blue & white bouquet of flowers. I felt awkward approaching the Paternos' home. I had heard stories of students and alumni that had walked right up, rung the doorbell, and been welcomed in by Joe and Sue - in some cases, even being fed by Sue - but having never met the Paternos, I didn't have the nerve. I left the note and bouquet on their doorstep and walked away. That was the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 4.

On Wednesday, Dec. 7, I received a text from my Mom:

"Does Joe Pa live on McKee St? If so, you got a card from him."

I think my jaw must have dropped about five feet. I was absolutely stunned that Joe and Sue would take the time to send me a card. Later, when I read the card, I was even more humbled by what it contained. Joe and Sue thanked me for the flowers and the note, and said that Joe was drawing strength in his battle with cancer from all the support he had received from Penn Staters. They said that it was "good to be reminded of what we were trying to accomplish at Penn State." They said that after they finished "getting Joe healthy," they would work to remind people of the values that Joe had tried to impart during his time at Penn State. The card was signed, "Very fondly, Joe and Sue Paterno"

But here is the most amazing thing about all of this and what shocks me even to this day: I DIDN'T LEAVE ANY CONTACT INFORMATION WITH MY NOTE. I had signed the note with my name, and mentioned my graduation year, but had been very intentional about not leaving an address, email address, phone number, anything. This means that Sue (I have to think it was her, given Joe's health at the time), despite receiving hundreds of letters from alumni per day, took the time to look me up in the alumni directory (which still contained my parents' address at the time) and send me a card. The Paternos had never met me before; I'm not a huge donor to the school; I'm not someone important who can do anything for them; I'm just another alum. And they went way out of their way to send me a thank you card THE VERY NEXT DAY.

Recently, Penn Staters have been characterized as football-crazed idiots for supporting JoePa despite the allegations made against him in the press. I can tell you that Penn Staters' love for JoePa has almost nothing to do with football. Chris Grovich of Black Shoe Diaries may have put it best when he wrote, "[JoePa] believed in all of us [Penn Staters], whether we knew it or not." Penn Staters are the Paternos' life work and legacy. Joe never missed an opportunity to remind us that success is only valuable when it comes with honor, and that all of us - football players or not - were at college primarily to gain an education, broaden our horizons, and become better people. It is not an overstatement to say that a part of who I am today is directly because of Joe Paterno and his love for Penn State.

Simply put, Joe loved Penn State. That's the only kind of thing that could keep him at Penn State, where he was paid a salary 1/8 the size of other college coaches with half his wins and rejected multimillion dollar offers from NFL teams. That's the only kind of thing that could cause him to donate $100,000 to Penn State a month after the administration fired him over the phone. That's the only kind of thing that could make someone of Joe's stature take the time to send a thank you card to an anonymous alum despite dealing with immense personal trials himself. Joe loved Penn State.

And Penn State loves him back. Thank you, Coach.
 

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tsywake said:
Below is a copy from a FB page of a huge PSU fan I am friends with. I'm not sure the validity of it, but if true thats pretty awesome.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________



I debated whether or not to share this, but as everyone has been sharing their "JoePa stories" lately, I thought it'd be ppropriate to share mine.

Despite attending Penn State University Park for 4.5 years, I never had the opportunity to meet JoePa. I heard stories of friends that had - most memorably two friends who, while out riding their bikes, saw him driving home from practice on the eve of the 2005 Ohio State game. They decided to follow him all the way into his garage so that they could shake his hand and wish him luck. Instead of being weirded out (which would have been pretty understandable) he was very gracious and thanked them for the support.

The first weekend in this past December, I was visiting Penn State for a number of different reasons. While I was there, I wanted to show my support for Joe in light of his cancer diagnosis and how he had been mistreated by the University and the press (based on incomplete information and misinformation) in the last month. I decided to leave him a note expressing my support along with a blue & white bouquet of flowers. I felt awkward approaching the Paternos' home. I had heard stories of students and alumni that had walked right up, rung the doorbell, and been welcomed in by Joe and Sue - in some cases, even being fed by Sue - but having never met the Paternos, I didn't have the nerve. I left the note and bouquet on their doorstep and walked away. That was the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 4.

On Wednesday, Dec. 7, I received a text from my Mom:

"Does Joe Pa live on McKee St? If so, you got a card from him."

I think my jaw must have dropped about five feet. I was absolutely stunned that Joe and Sue would take the time to send me a card. Later, when I read the card, I was even more humbled by what it contained. Joe and Sue thanked me for the flowers and the note, and said that Joe was drawing strength in his battle with cancer from all the support he had received from Penn Staters. They said that it was "good to be reminded of what we were trying to accomplish at Penn State." They said that after they finished "getting Joe healthy," they would work to remind people of the values that Joe had tried to impart during his time at Penn State. The card was signed, "Very fondly, Joe and Sue Paterno"

But here is the most amazing thing about all of this and what shocks me even to this day: I DIDN'T LEAVE ANY CONTACT INFORMATION WITH MY NOTE. I had signed the note with my name, and mentioned my graduation year, but had been very intentional about not leaving an address, email address, phone number, anything. This means that Sue (I have to think it was her, given Joe's health at the time), despite receiving hundreds of letters from alumni per day, took the time to look me up in the alumni directory (which still contained my parents' address at the time) and send me a card. The Paternos had never met me before; I'm not a huge donor to the school; I'm not someone important who can do anything for them; I'm just another alum. And they went way out of their way to send me a thank you card THE VERY NEXT DAY.

Recently, Penn Staters have been characterized as football-crazed idiots for supporting JoePa despite the allegations made against him in the press. I can tell you that Penn Staters' love for JoePa has almost nothing to do with football. Chris Grovich of Black Shoe Diaries may have put it best when he wrote, "[JoePa] believed in all of us [Penn Staters], whether we knew it or not." Penn Staters are the Paternos' life work and legacy. Joe never missed an opportunity to remind us that success is only valuable when it comes with honor, and that all of us - football players or not - were at college primarily to gain an education, broaden our horizons, and become better people. It is not an overstatement to say that a part of who I am today is directly because of Joe Paterno and his love for Penn State.

Simply put, Joe loved Penn State. That's the only kind of thing that could keep him at Penn State, where he was paid a salary 1/8 the size of other college coaches with half his wins and rejected multimillion dollar offers from NFL teams. That's the only kind of thing that could cause him to donate $100,000 to Penn State a month after the administration fired him over the phone. That's the only kind of thing that could make someone of Joe's stature take the time to send a thank you card to an anonymous alum despite dealing with immense personal trials himself. Joe loved Penn State.

And Penn State loves him back. Thank you, Coach.
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the cult of personality at that school is sickening.
 
Wait. Joepa never heard of man on boy sex before!!!

Give the sociopath a break peoples!
 
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