Posted on 11/26/2012 11:09:48 PM PST by FlJoePa
Much has been written, and will be written, about the tremendous job Coach Bill O'Brien did in guiding Penn State's football team, the university and all of Nittany Nation this season and it will all be well deserved. Similarly, Michael Mauti, Michael Zordich, Matt McGloin and others will be lauded as the embodiment of leadership and excellence and, like the accolades given to O'Brien, it will be well deserved. However, there is another person to whom we owe a bit of gratitude for the great season that was 2012 and that is the late Joe Paterno.
When recruiting young men to come to Penn State to play football, Paterno always focused as much on the character and academic capabilities of a young man as much as 40-yard dash times and bench presses. He would then mold those young men into the leaders that became the embodiment of the "Grand Experiment." In so doing, he would create a team that would often out-heart, as well as out-talent, other teams.
Over the course of the last thirteen months, the "Grand Experiment" has been transformed from a badge of honor to a punchline by many in the national punditry. They have mocked Joe's legacy of teaching young men how to be leaders in their communities. Yet, since Mark Emmert handed down his "crippling sanctions," the young men who comprised this year's senior class have led this team, this school and this community in a manner that befits their distinction of having been Penn State football players and have restored honor to that distinction. In short, the young men who led this team, this year became the outstanding men Paterno promised their parents they would be. It is not only a testament to the outstanding character of these Seniors, but also to the vision employed by Paterno since the 1960s.
In the years ahead, as the sanctions wane and Coach O'Brien is able to recruit a full compliment of players and compete for bowl games, B1G titles and National Championships, the 2012 Senior Class' accomplishments on the field will blend into the tapestry of Penn State football history. But their vital role as links in the chain between the Paterno and O'Brien eras will ensure that the Grand Experiment continues to be bigger than any one player, coach or team. It will be about a university, nestled in the mountains of Pennsylvania that continues to thrive by a code of conduct that places wins and losses in their proper perspective. That is Joe Paterno's legacy and it lives on today. For their role in healing a community, the 2012 Senior Class may be Paterno's finest recruiting class and, as such, is the greatest gift he ever gave to the university he loved so much.
You have to wonder if the lynch mob that went after Paterno with such glee will ever feel any shame or embarrassment.
They won’t.
Even the biographer (Posanski) who almost lived with him for the last 1.5 years of his life says out LOUD that if Joe knew any harm was being done to any kid, at any time, he would have walked to the police station immediately.
Anyone that knows anything about the man doesn’t believe the things that have been written about him. It’s a sad state when dishonest people like louis freeh dishonor honorable people like Joe Paterno.
It’s an ever sadder state when people gobble it up as truth with absolutely no evidence to back it up.
Good thing you started this thread now rather than during the day when the Paterno haters would be out in full force.
I still feel very bad that JoPa was not sent away in prison jammies with his buddy, Sandusky.
Never had any use for JoPa before the scandal much less during the scandal when he pretended to not have any knowledge of what was happening to those little kids.
But then his court time before God was probably swifter than Sandusky's. Nothing but my deepest sympathy for those families of the kids who were subjected to JoPa and company all those years.
I’ll be here tomorrow. Just up late. I don’t sweat the onslaught. If you saw my freep mail and the hateful stuff I’ve received simply due to my nickname, you’d be shocked.
Haters hate. Those that speak the loudest hated Joe even before the second mile (not the Penn State) scandal.
This was just their (like the media) chance to tear him down.
The truth will come out. The trials will be delayed again and the b.o.t. will continue to misuse their power. But the truth will come out.
61 years wasn’t an act.
Why don’t you click on a couple of the links I provided and see what people that know a HELL A LOT MORE THAN YOU about it have to say?
Aside from that woman in the late '90s NOT ONE VICTIM, or relative of any victim, of Sandusky ever came forward. Who can point a finger at a man and proclaim him a homosexual child molester unless, at the very least, a couple of victims come forward or they see something with their own two eyeballs? Sandusky was, like most predators, very sneaky. He fooled everybody.
Not only did no victims ever come forward to accuse Sandusky, but neither did anybody else close to Sandusky during the 14 years since he left the football program - - not his friends, not his family, not his business associates, not his Second Mile associates... Nobody. There had to be 20, 30, 50(?) people who were relatives or regular associates of Sandusky during the past 14 years who never said jack about any suspicions they may have harbored. Nope, nobody saw nothin'.
But it's all Paterno's fault. Let's tear down the statue and erase hime from memory. I lived at Penn State for 5 years and graduated in the mid '70s. Guess what? This is the last time I will ever admit that. I want no association with an institution that has not a shred of loyalty or common decency. The actions of Penn State as they relate to Joe Paterno have been aa absolute disgrace. The very thought of that place makes me sick to my stomach.
By the way, did you happen to watch the Spike Lee tribute to Michael Jackson on ABC last Thursday night?
FRegards,
LH
Some universities exist only as life support for a foorball of basketball program. Just look at where the cash is spent. We fund lavishly what we value most.
Some universities exist only as life support for a foorball or basketball program. Just look at where the cash is spent. We fund lavishly what we value most.
Freeh’s report is a prosecutor’s closing statement - - totally one-sided and self-serving. What Freeh claims as “reasonable to conclude” is strictly his opinion, with zero input from anybody who could speak for (the then deceased) Joe Paterno. The report is short on balance and long on “reasonable to conclude”s.
“Even the biographer (Posanski) who almost lived with him for the last 1.5 years of his life says out LOUD that if Joe knew any harm was being done to any kid, at any time, he would have walked to the police station immediately.”
Horsepuckey! He knew and he didn’t; his legacy, pay and rep were more important to him than those abused kids that he ignored and abandoned!!
JC
Never! May the pedophile enable sizzle in hell forever!
AMEN
Go Penn State! The entire episode should be an embarrassment to EVERYONE! I never saw such nonsense in my life. Thankfully Penn State will survive this and go on to play great football and turn out some damn good students and tax payers for our future of the United States! Penn States students just might help the United States to get out of the mess we are in financially (with the help of many others).
Paterno passed before he had an opportunity to defend himself. We will never know the context of his actions or inactions. I trust that he received a fairer hearing before his Maker than the witch hunt trial he received on earth.
Never.
People have it in their heads Paterno knew what was going on and protected Sandusky and nothing will ever convince them otherwise.
I hate Penn State admin and board for what they did to Paterno before and after his death. By their actions they are scapegoating a dead man who never had his day in court. And would not have even if he lived because there is no evidence against him.
They even took away the family's ability to clear Joe's name through legal means with their rediculous agreement with the NCAA.
Bunk!
Didn't Joe Paterno say to a large group of students that had assembled outside his home, "I wish I had done more"?
If that wasn't a flat-out admission of his participation in a cover-up, I don't know what is.
If a person has knowledge of a crime they are supposed to report it to the police. Not their superiors at work.
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