If anyone is to blame for all of this it is the university administration who not only accepted the homosexual lifestyle with open arms, they promoted it with university (i.e. taxpayer and student fee) supported homosexual fairs. With all of this homosexual pressure placed on you, what would you do differently?????
Paterno may have thought he was in a tight-spot just as you describe it. The LGBT students at PSU had run the Lady Lions head basketball coach out of town a while back. Paterno was also keenly aware that Spanier and a minority of the Trustees wanted him to retire as far back as 2 previous contract negotiations. Spanier very much brought the alternative lifestyles to the fore at PSU. I could easily imagine Spanier using this homosexual community against Paterno -- unless Paterno was willing to splash some headlines and go out in a blaze of glory.
Even so, I can't excuse Paterno. And it should be noted that I don't know any of this for a fact. Just speculation on my part having gone to school there.