The red flag was that Paterno wanted to stay, I think he knew that if he left, the secret was going to come out. I wonder if behind the scenes the deal was made to only let the story out once Paterno passed Robinson.
Doubt it. Spanier and a group of the trustees wanted Paterno out. If it had been anything other than a pedophilia -- homosexual pedophilia -- case, then Spanier would certainly have pulled the trigger on Paterno by leaking it to the Press. But Spanier was definitely in the sway of the LGBT crowd and so he, Curley & Shultze conspired to bury this deeply and for all time. It was not their intention to let this out, ever.