From the beginning, people clamored that this was not the Joe Paterno scandal, but the Jerry Sandusky scandal or at its worst a Penn State scandal. It still is, but at its heart is a football coach who I personally believe tried to sweep a child molester's violent, perverse acts under the rug. Was Paterno of such an innocent mind that he did not understand what was being said to him? Did others try to soften their comments out of respect for Paterno's position/age and not clearly communicate what was happening? We may never know.
The Freeh report was commissioned by PSU's Board of Trustees. Louis Freeh was an FBI agent, federal prosecutor, and judge before taking the reins at the FBI. I doubt PSU's trustees wanted any of that report to be true anymore than Joe Paterno's family doesn't want it to be true. However, by constantly heading back into the spotlight, the Paterno family looks desperate to cling to their rose-colored glasses. Joe Paterno was a man with all the imperfections and fallibility of Adam; he was not a god. I am sympathetic they and legions of fans mourn Joe Paterno's death, but lots of people who do bad things die before their mistakes see the light of day. Death does not excuse those misdeeds.
As for the students, they chose Penn State based on academic (and athletic) status and legacy. Thanks to Sandusky's inexplicable actions and the silence of others, that fine reputation has been tarnished. It is true that the NCAA's sanctions take certain extras from the students' experience, but football has never been a necessity for education at any level!
It is up to the current and future generations to restore and polish that which is Penn State. If they are true Nittany Lions, they are proud to do just that.
Jennifer Lunt
Montoursville
Submitted by Virtual Newsroom
