LNP editorial “This much is indisputable: Paterno knew he should have done more to protect children” goes on to say:
“Even Paterno, in an interview shortly before he died, said he wished he had “done more” when McQueary told him in 2001 he’d seen Sandusky sexually abusing a child in the football showers.”
However, Assistant Coach Mike McQueary did not tell Coach Joe Paterno that “he’d seen Sandusky sexually abusing a child in the football showers.” According to a doctor who was with the two of them at Paterno’ home on a late Friday when McQueary came by, McQueary spoke vaguely and simply mentioned questionable activities between Jerry Sandusky and a boy. Paterno promptly reported what McQueary told him to the Penn State security authorities on Monday, the next working day.
McQueary report’s on the incident grew and became more specific by the telling.
Sandusky had not been a coach for some time. He was using the field house because he was entitled to do so as a tenured professor.
Although a very successful assistant coach, Sandusky was forced out of the football program. Charges and rumors had been circulating about his character with boys for some time. The local DA and other ervices investigated but brought not actions. Perhaps this was behind Paterno dispensing with this able aide.
We don’t doubt that Paterno in retrospect felt he should have done more about Sandusky, perhaps even before the McQueary episode. But once again we need to be careful not to try people without regard to the context of their times.
McQueary failing to be more explicit about what he allegedly saw, Paterno’s response and follow through seem appropriate for the times.
This is complete bullshit. Appropriate for the time? Tell that to the victims. It was NEVER the appropriate action. Stop glorifying this man who allowed dozens of young boys to be violated at the hands of one of his friends and assistants, just because the guy could put together a good game plan. I used to respect your work as an alternative to LNP. No more.
EDITOR: We didn’t say it was appropriate. We presented facts concerning what Joe Paterno was actually told and what he did.
Today everyone is super sensitive to this issue and likely to show even more initiative. There were red flags ten to fifteen years earlier, as we pointed out, which the duly appointed law enforcement and child welfare authorities investigated but proved ineffective.
Again, given the context of our times retroactively, Sandusky likely would have been removed from his role in child care and likely imprisoned.
Paterno was not law enforcement. He followed protocol. He did everything he was supposed to do. He was not in charge of Sandusky, the university was.
Haters will never let the facts change their negative opinion of JoePa. Doubt they even read the Freeh Report or the subsequent facts pointing the mostly false “assumptions”. Some folks just hate good people. Sad.
…Want to know why Paterno said “He wished he could have done more”? Because he knew he couldn’t. If tried to do more he would have impeded the PA State Police investigation which in turn Paterno could have been arrested. If you media people done your homework you would know this. I’m really fed up with the media. You people don’t do your jobs CORRECTLY!
The same people who can’t read and grasp the facts in this whole fiasco will most likely be the people who will vote hillary…blind people can’t see, but people who can see don’t open their eyes!
EDITOR: Did you mean Donald?