PATERNO TO RETIRE AFTER SEASON AMID SCANDAL

[MineralMan]

Source: NBC Sports

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Penn State football coach Joe Paterno has decided to retire at end of the season, a source tells The Associated Press.

More details to come on this breaking news story.

Read more: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/45186257/ns/college_football/t/paterno-retire-after-season-amid-scandal/

---

That is, unless he gets fired sooner, I hope...

[SoCalMusicLover]

1. Has Decided?

More like had the decision made for him. I love these public figures and their BS statements.

[MineralMan]

4. I posted what was in the story.

That is all the information I have. Good luck to you, and welcome to DU.

[Ruby the Liberal]

8. They are 'lucky' he let them in on the decision making process.

As if anyone was going to tell him what to do.

[SkyDaddy7]

24. That is the entire problem!

We allow sports figures & players far too much privileged in this country! I know I played sports in school & I was very good & could get away with far more than a regular student could.

Paterno should be fired & his reputation forever trashed! I use to be one of his biggest fans but NOTHING disgust me more than a child molester & his/her enablers!

[rocktivity]

2. He needs to be fired NOW.

If his what his superiors did was worthy of arrest, he's certainly worthy of being dismissed

:headbang:
rockivity

[MineralMan]

5. I agree. nt.

[VWolf]

10. But, but,

Penn State is 8-1 !!!

:sarcasm:

[MineralMan]

11. 8-2 after Saturday.

Go Big Red!

[Cirque du So-What]

3. K & R

Penn State is doing their reputation no favors by retaining the guy until the end of the season. It sends the message that they consider a shot at a bowl game more important than sexually abused children. I know where their priorities lie, and now they're showing their ass to the world.

[creeksneakers2]

27. Keeping Joe on until the end of the year doesn't harm any

children. Joe had nothing to do with harming children. The only complaint against Joe is that he didn't do more to stop Sandusky. Joe was not the person responsible for doing that.

[Cirque du So-What]

35. Joe Paterno had it within his power to notify the police

once it became obvious the University was going to cover-up any hint of scandal and do nothing. He is complicit in the abuse of children. He put his career, football, the school & his reputation ahead of the welfare of children being raped. The only truth in any of your statement is that the words 'Joe' and 'nothing' are in the same sentence; Joe Paterno did nothing - that is true. May his name always be associated the horrific crimes committed by that pedophile.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

39. If true, Joe Pa is an accessory after the fact ...

... and should be measured for an orange jumpsuit, along with the grad assistant, the A.D., the university president and anyone else involved in covering up the crimes.

[creeksneakers2]

52. An accessory takes part in the crime

Not reporting a crime does not make one an accessory.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

54. Wrong.

Knowledge of a crime and failure to report ... where that failure to report will assist those who commit in evading or covering up a crime ... is chargeable as accessory after the fact in a commission of a crime.

Joe Pa (and others) covered up for this guy, which enabled him to evade and perhaps commit more crimes.

Getting fired looks to be the least of Joe Pa's problems, which are still nothing compared to the children preyed upon in this case.

[creeksneakers2]

55. Did you graduate from law school with Orly Taitz?

Joe did not assist in the crimes. If you want to call everybody everywhere who doesn't report a crime an accessory who is responsible for every act the criminal commits after that you must want a hell of a lot of people in prison.

Perhaps you can specify what Joe did to cover up. Covering up involves taking steps to make it less likely that that truth would be discovered. What steps did Joe take? He turned Sandusky in.

[catbyte]

6. Not good enough. If what Olbermann said is true he needs to go NOW

[MineralMan]

9. I agree, and hope that is what happens.

[rocktivity]

25. You're welcome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ryraNUXVfjI

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Blue_Tires]

7. that was expected

for years the school had been trying to devise a delicate exit strategy for him anyways, so the scandal makes that easy...

The president also needs to follow him right out the door...

[badhair77]

12. ESPN just reported the "rumor" that Spanier may be

replaced by Tom Ridge, Now there's an opportunist. Again, a rumor.

[Eddie Haskell]

16. This may be more political than we'll ever know.

?

[connecticut yankee]

13. He should resign

or be dismissed NOW!!!

[Botany]

14. Please! Stop the bullshit now.

Not one more game not one more practice he has to go now.

***********************

The President of PSU knew, Joe Pa knew, and the A.D. knew about "it" from as far back as 1998 and their in action let more little
boys be raped by a serial child a serial child molester. Why the President of PSU and Coach Paterno still have jobs at the University
is beyond me.

[HereinDC]

15. NOW...not later.

Just as Pope Paul II and Pope Benedict "pretend" they didn't know ALL THOSE priests were playing with boys.......

I don't believe he PATERNO DIDN't KNOW!

[iandhr]

17. Wow just wow.

He says on until the end of the season even though he shielded a child molester

[creeksneakers2]

28. Joe didn't shield anybody

Joe reported Sandusky to his superiors, which is what he was expected to do.

[Lars39]

29. A crime like that should be reported directly to the police, not his superiors.

[creeksneakers2]

31. The university he worked for had rules and procedures

Joe did what he was required to do. It was up to his superiors to call the police. If you read the whole story, there were dozens of people who should have called the police. While what Joe did was wrong, its how most people handle situations when they aren't the person responsible for doing something.


I can see how you can say he should have called the police. Are you saying he shouldn't have contacted his superiors?

[Lars39]

32. Contacting his superiors should have been secondary to contacting the police.

I think his job as coach makes him a Mandatory Reporter of Child Abuse and Neglect

http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/state/index.cfm?event=stateStatutes.processSearch

Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect

To better understand this issue and to view it across States, download the PDF (380 KB) of this publication.
Professionals Required to Report
Citation: Cons. Stat. Tit. 23, § 6311

Persons required to report include, but are not limited to:

* Licensed physicians, osteopaths, medical examiners, coroners, funeral directors, dentists, optometrists, chiropractors, podiatrists, interns, nurses, or hospital personnel
* Christian Science practitioners or members of the clergy
* School administrators, teachers, school nurses, social services workers, daycare center workers, or any other child care or foster care workers
* Mental health professionals
* Peace officers or law enforcement officials

[creeksneakers2]

49. The law applies to persons who have children in their care

The child was not in Joe's care. Sandusky was retired at the time and Joe wasn't even there when the event happened. All he had was second hand information, which probably doesn't require reporting in any event.

In 2002 in Pennsylvania, failure to report was only a summary offense. There is little case law about who is required to do what.

[Cirque du So-What]

37. Simple question

How would you feel if it was your kid who was being abused and you became aware that a person with the power and reputation and responsibility to report it to the police did nothing? If you're capable, put aside your concern for the fucking football program and its 'living legend' for a moment and answer truthfully.

[creeksneakers2]

50. I'm insulted that you think I care more about the program

than the kids. Caring about the kids doesn't mean I can't care about the program.

If it was my kid, I would blame the persons who were responsible for contacting the police.

[Ruby the Liberal]

40. Dozens? What the what?

Not sure where you are getting that from. 2 have been arrested, JoePa will lose his last home game Saturday (fitting) and Spanier has just been told 'quit or be fired'. That leaves the "troubled" 6'4" 28 year old who is now on the coaching team - who did NOTHING. No police, didn't even bother to try to help the poor kid he witnessed getting ass raped.

What other 'dozens' to you potentially hold responsible?

Sorry your boyz are going down (and their legacy will be pedophilia, not win/loss records), but they created this mess - let them lie in it.

[creeksneakers2]

51. More than anybody, the staff at Sandusky's charity

called the Second Mile. Sandusky used the charity to recruit victims. The charity was notified at least twice. Continuing to run the charity enabled Sandusky.

Others were involved at other times.

http://blog.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2011/11/key_dates_in_the_jerry_sandusk.html

[defendandprotect]

44. Agree -- and evidently something was reported in '98 about Sandusky to University Police ....

who held an investigation but no criminal charges filed.

This is like victims reporting to the Vatican -- !!

Report sexual abuse to a university and what's going to happen???


Not much, obviously!

[creeksneakers2]

48. One of his superiors was head of the campus police

It hasn't even been determined how much Joe knew. His superiors told the grand jury that all that happened was horsing around. Perhaps they told Joe the same thing. Joe says all he was told was that something disturbing had happened that was PERHAPS sexual in nature.

Joe had every reason to believe when he referred the matter up the chain that it would be handled appropriately. It wasn't an either/or situation where he could only tell one party.

[hatrack]

33. What part of "Multiple cases of felony child rape" don't you get?

For that matter, what part of it doesn't Paterno get?

When an assistant reports catching another coach in the act of raping a ten-year-old boy in the shower at the athletic facility you run, don't you think maybe a little follow-up is in order beyond "reporting to his superiors"?

And now that the grand jury report has disclosed that this went on for YEARS, Paterno will deign to resign at the end of the season?

Jesus Christ on a ferris wheel . . .

[creeksneakers2]

53. Joe wasn't aware of any other incidents

And Joe says he was only told that something disturbing happened that might have been of a sexual nature on that one occasion.

It wasn't Joe's job to follow up. He trusted the people who were responsible.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

36. Sadly, including the victims. nt

[WoodyM90]

18. What if it had been your grandchild,

“Papa Joe” Paterno?

[SoapBox]

19. The hell with the retirement crap...

FIRE his ass.

He knew...and did virtually nothing. He let the sicko run...

[jwirr]

20. I suppose that it is too much to ask of sports fans but these games

should be boycotted until he is gone.

[Ruby the Liberal]

41. Would you believe record breaking ticket prices?

Mr Living Legend's last home game.

*sigh*

[jwirr]

47. Very sad situation.

[frylock]

21. ped state and joepa have forever sealed their fate..

way to tarnish your "legacy."

[freshwest]

22. Will live out his golden years in style, no doubt. Just sweep those kids under the rug. Typical.

[BiggJawn]

23. Our AD is flying to State College as I write this...

Wouldn't be surprised, our current coach is probably on his way out.

[City Lights]

26. How noble!

He should be forced out now. Fuck the rest of the season.

[abelenkpe]

30. He should be fired!

Sick bastard enabler.

[Crowman1979]

34. Get ready for empty seats and boos all around.

[Ruby the Liberal]

43. Not likely.

Tix are going for upwards of $500 for Saturday. Last home game of the season and 'career'.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

38. This is just what Paterno wants.

The board hasn't decided on when he will leave, yet. If public outrage is not satisfied with this, then he will be gone sooner.

[defendandprotect]

42. It's simply more scandal that anyone would let him stay around til end of season -- !!! GO NOW--!!

[Efilroft Sul]

45. Consider this sneaky tactic by PSU's Spanier

In 2007, Penn State president Graham Spanier lobbied the state legislature *not* to include Penn State, Pitt, Temple, and Lincoln University under the state's revamped Right to Know law. Penn State is currently claiming it is exempt from revealing which corporations are contributing to research at the publicly funded university, but is Spanier applying his twisted reasoning to L'Affaire Sandusky, too?

[JackRiddler]

46. I doubt he's going to last another week. The question is more whether...

the university administration will stand.