Post by cotgfb on Nov 11, 2011 4:27:53 GMT -5
When I saw on Wednesday that JoePa had announced his retirement at the end of the season I figured it was in response to an ultimatum by the university: retire or be fired. Given the actions by the university Board of Trustees on Wednesday night, I was obviously wrong.
Let's get something clear here. Paterno did not SEE any crime being committed. He was told by a then graduate assistant, and he did what he was legally required to do. He told the Athletic Director. Morally he probably should have followed up to see what was being done, and even gone to the police when he found out that it was being covered up. But understand if you witness a crime being committed, you are not legally required to report it, but if you take actions to cover up the crime, you have committed a crime yourself. This is why the AD and a vice president at PSU are also under indictment, for perjury.
After 46 years of service to the university should the coach have been allowed to finish the season and retire? Maybe. Obviously, the PSU Board of Trustees decided to take a hard line and fired not only Paterno, but also the President of the University.
One other thing, the Graduate Assistant who witnessed the crime and reported it to Paterno evidently never followed up to see what was being done about it either, and if I heard correctly, he is currently an assistant coach with the team, and has not been fired as far as I know.
While a long time Paterno assistant has been named interim head coach, I would really be surprised if the college doesn't bring in an outsider as the new head coach next year, and the new coach would bring in his own staff, effective giving the boot to all of the current assistants.
Let's get something clear here. Paterno did not SEE any crime being committed. He was told by a then graduate assistant, and he did what he was legally required to do. He told the Athletic Director. Morally he probably should have followed up to see what was being done, and even gone to the police when he found out that it was being covered up. But understand if you witness a crime being committed, you are not legally required to report it, but if you take actions to cover up the crime, you have committed a crime yourself. This is why the AD and a vice president at PSU are also under indictment, for perjury.
After 46 years of service to the university should the coach have been allowed to finish the season and retire? Maybe. Obviously, the PSU Board of Trustees decided to take a hard line and fired not only Paterno, but also the President of the University.
One other thing, the Graduate Assistant who witnessed the crime and reported it to Paterno evidently never followed up to see what was being done about it either, and if I heard correctly, he is currently an assistant coach with the team, and has not been fired as far as I know.
While a long time Paterno assistant has been named interim head coach, I would really be surprised if the college doesn't bring in an outsider as the new head coach next year, and the new coach would bring in his own staff, effective giving the boot to all of the current assistants.
