Hey Chappydog,
Joe Paterno was not a "damn football coach." Joe Paterno was a football coach, and a very good one. For most of his lifetime, Joe Paterno was an exemplary human being. I think he made a mistake by not reporting what he knew to police authorities when his superiors were not willing to do so, but he was obviously conflicted by his loyalty to his overall Penn State "Community." Was that loyalty wrong? Certainly, but if you are going to measure a man's life by that error in judgment, that error of omission not commission, you better get ready to find out that most folks measured with the same yardstick are likely to stand far shorter than Joe Paterno.
While I am a graduate of Penn State, I was never caught up in the whole rah-rah football thing, and I never even went to a Penn State football game. I dislike the whole magnification of sports; I hold this silly idea that college sports should be played by college students, not paid college athletes. When someone complains about the "terrible" Penn State football mentality, however, it is pure sophistry. Go to any big university town, and you will see the same thing you see in Happy Valley. Do you seriously think Nebraska, Alabama, Notre Dame, or any other big football schools are somehow different from Penn State? They are not. It is the way of life in big college sports; it is the way of life in the NCAA.
Paterno became head coach at Penn State during my last years as a student there, but I could never get caught up in the "Saint Joe" and "Joe Pa" mentality of the sports crowd. While I am not one for hero worship, I do recognize that Joe Paterno was a good man. He was not personally motivated by dollars, and while working within the world of NCAA sports, he served as a good example for those he coached. Again, if you are going to judge Paterno by his one lack of good judgment, the rest of society is going to fail you terribly.
The punishments inflicted on Penn State by the NCAA were flawed and shameful. Penn State University did not violate the kids; Jerry Sandusky did. Penn State University did not hide the Sandusky crimes. The Sandusky crimes were compounded by a few individuals who should have represented Penn State and the kids better. Let the state criminally prosecute those individuals for the wrongful deeds they did. The NCAA had no business there.
If piling on Joe Paterno makes you feel better, do it. I would bet Paterno could take it better than the ones piling on him. Paterno never walked on water, and I doubt if he ever did anything to encourage that visage. He was a good man, and the balance of his life's work shows that. If only the rest of us could have as few errors in our lives.
Best wishes,
Dave Wile
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SirHenry
8 years ago
They were huge errors! Forget about silly football game decisions, this was the biggest of his life - and he *beep* up. His family should be ashamed of him.
No excuse for what he did - children got abused due to his actions, or lack of. He should be remembered for that above all else. The Paterno name is dirt and
rightly so. If he is an example of a good man then we are in serious trouble!
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tyboulder
7 years ago
I appreciate your comments Dave, they are very thoughtful. I agree with your opinion on how we judge others. Seen as a human being, it seems Paterno was a great guy- and that's how he should be measured- by human standards. I wouldn't downplay the way he mishandled the situation, obviously, but there should be some consideration for what the man achieved. I certainly don't believe in hero worship since we're all mortal, but that's another issue.
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