By Not Kowtowing to Columnist Blowhards, Penn State is Finally Moving On

Black Shoes Diary ^ | 1-10-14 | Devon Edwards

[FlJoePa]

At some point, you almost have to wonder if maybe this isn't about James Franklin, that it's really about Penn State, that these schmucks would have had a problem with anybody we could've tabbed to coach our team, that they would've found some dirt on Al Golden or Mike Munchak or even Larry Johnson, that it's really a cause for their affronted wrath when we win a damn game or two, or threaten to become the national powerhouse we once were. This university can do no right, because then what would they have to write about?

The only good news is that, finally, after two long years of catering to those voices, our administration is no longer afraid of offending them. They're as exasperated as we are. They're willing to fight back, if albeit silently, and to do right by us all.

By Saturday, James Franklin will be the head football coach at Penn State. I'd tell Dodd and Brennan and Olbermann to take that and shove it, but the sad thing is, I really doubt they even really care.

[eyedigress]

Honestly, I want everybody to tell the court everything they know. I don’t lie to folks and I expect the same from others.

We know when people are not shedding the truth. They ummm just a bit much.

I believe that Coach Paterno knew that Sandusky was molesting children in a sexual manner. I also believe that the regents knew that Sandusky was molesting children.

Sandusky is in prison now. Explain your defense.

[FlJoePa]

Don’t you think your statement about Joe Paterno flies in the face of his impeccable character exhibited over 61 years at Penn State? I do.

[eyedigress]

Penn State has a remarkable record. I have seen them play many times. They were the first to play under the lights at Neyland Stadium.

You must let this go as this controversy has reached the top.
Joe had a responsibility and dropped the ball.
I can’t help that.

[eyedigress]

BTW I think your getting Franklin from Vanderbilt. He is a very disciplined coach.

[JennysCool]

Can you describe this “cloud” that “keeps me from recognizing normal discourse”?

Just guessing: You're juiced again?

[FlJoePa]

And I disagree. I will NOT let this go. There is no evidence anywhere that Joe did anything wrong.

The freeh report has been proven to be compost at best.

GS/GS/TC have been hung up on charges for THREE YEARS. How can the state convict js of 40 some charges in 7 months, yet they can’t bring a few perjury/obstruction of justice/failure to report charges to trial in 3 years?

I know why. Because they have zero evidence to back up their incredulous charges. Think about it. Why wouldn’t one of the three of these guys turn on another? Especially Curley on Spanier? Or Schultz on Spanier?

The reason is simple. They’re all telling the truth.

Spanier was also in court the other day re his defamation suit against louis freeh. That is moving forward as well.

[eyedigress]

I take it that this man in prison never did anything and nobody ever knew he was doing nothing. Correct?

[eyedigress]

I’m gonna head to the Canteen and get some music.

Good Night Florida Joe

[wardaddy]

Well....they got a good coach today

But be warned he left a gang rape scandal that could follow him...the usual CYA garbage to cover thug behavior...something you frankly would have hoped Vandy would not fall for

pretty sordid affair...the white boy who handed his drunk woman up for the dogfart rape should be hanged from the Shelby St Bridge...pitiful cracker punk...left in a gibbet for the world to view

the weirdest thing is ...and i swear to Gawd....at my druggist here in middle TN yesterday I had a conversation with a woman who was Sandusky’s next door neighbor at State College

She said you woulda never believed it possible just in passing..he was the nicest most approachable man

She detested him and the way it was handled

but I like her felt it wrong to punish players who nothing to do with any of the crap

[FlJoePa]

Joe was an honorable person and Penn State (sans it’s current b.o.t. + president + AD) is an honorable institution.

Franklin is just coming home to PA. If it wasn’t him it would have been Golden or Munchak.

I feel for the Vandy fans, but we just went through the same thing 10 days ago. Forgive us PSUer’s - we’re not so used to coaching searches. Not since the Truman administration anyway.

[ShasheMac]

Wow, did you ever think of applying for the Spanish Inquisition?

[Colofornian]

Well....they got a good coach today But be warned he left a gang rape scandal that could follow him...the usual CYA garbage to cover thug behavior...something you frankly would have hoped Vandy would not fall for pretty sordid affair...the white boy who handed his drunk woman up for the dogfart rape should be hanged from the Shelby St Bridge...pitiful cracker punk...left in a gibbet for the world to view

(Yeah, not everybody's happy in Happy Valley: Penn State professor starts petition against coach prospect James Franklin)

...at my druggist here in middle TN yesterday I had a conversation with a woman who was Sandusky’s next door neighbor at State College She said you woulda never believed it possible just in passing..he was the nicest most approachable man She detested him and the way it was handled but I like her felt it wrong to punish players who nothing to do with any of the crap

OK, let's hit the rewind button a year and a half ago when the NCAA came out with its sanctions vs. Penn State.

I can recall a FREEPER who asked then the question, "What did those [then-current] Penn State players do?" -- to be saddled with such penalties?

My response then was to say: "as if you didn't know, college rosters turn over every 4 yrs...and practically are new teams starter-wise every 3 yrs...under this new standard you propose, the ncaa statute of limitations for punishing teams for violations would be about 3 yrs...perhaps every 2 yrs if a given roster could be proven to have 'enough' turnover."

Sorry, but the NCAA -- no matter what college scandal we're discussing -- always has to penalize the given school's PROGRAM involved...

Anybody saying that starters can't be impacted by decisions made before they got on campus isn't living in a real world.

[Colofornian]

...at my druggist here in middle TN yesterday I had a conversation with a woman who was Sandusky’s next door neighbor at State College She said you woulda never believed it possible just in passing..he was the nicest most approachable man She detested him and the way it was handled but I like her felt it wrong to punish players who nothing to do with any of the crap

Btw, again retracing all this to a year-and-a-half ago when I was reading a local Happy Valley article (the article isn't posted online anymore, but originally was: http://www.centredaily.com/2012/07/23/3270222/community-leaders-we-need-to-start.html ... I found an excerpt of the article still posted at: Penn State sanctions: ‘We have been rocked,’ community leaders say

Anyway, as of even THEN, that article showed a LOT of the local Happy Valley community leaders still didn't "get it."

In that July 2012 article, one local commissioner was blaming the NCAA for these problems -- which just shows an extended failure for Penn State to accept responsibility -- one of the "fundamental values" specifically covered under NCAA bylaw 2.4 that Penn State badly stewarded.

Another commissioner claimed they were the ones now "victimized." (Yeah, cue the violins for Penn State drama queens at-large! To me it showed GREATLY how representative 'twas re: Penn State never really understanding that term, "victim!")

In that article...

* One person quoted claimed it was unfair to blame the "entire community";
* another person claimed it was unfair to blame the "entire university";
* another person claimed it was unfair to punish student-athletes part of the program ... as if the NCAA would ever have the ability to ALWAYS hand down punishments during the exact seasons in which violations occur (what a ridiculous conclusion...to think there would be some perfect tit-for-tat roster alignment re: sanctions...)

Those Penn Staters were in denial then; and likely still are today!

[Colofornian]

And I disagree. I will NOT let this go. There is no evidence anywhere that Joe did anything wrong

This Sporting News nugget gets to the nub of the matter quickly:

"...the heart of the matter, as relates to Paterno's role in the Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal and his legacy, isn't going to change. For most who have followed this story over the past 15 months, the question hasn't been how much Paterno knew. It was, if he knew anything at all why didn't he make sure the full truth was uncovered before Sandusky could prey on another child? Team Paterno has done NOTHING to prove the late coach did all he could — or should — have done."

In effort to clear Joe Paterno's name, latest report conjures up same questions

[Colofornian]

This guy is on here all the time trying to polish Paternos reputation. It would be pathetic if it were not for all those poor defenseless children who were brutalized by those monsters from “happy “ valley.

Yeah, a week before Christmas, FlJoePa posted a Penn State wrestling piece (see A Long Simmering Feud: Penn State - Iowa Wrestling)

So I go on the thread and simply say for Iowa to "beat ped state".

The next thing I know FlJoePa is bringing up Penn State's Ed Ruth's name: "I’d love to see you say that to David Taylor’s or Ed Ruth’s face. That would be really fun to watch."

(I responded: "Why? Does Ped State have violent wrestlers? And that's something you sanction? Assault?)

Well, it turns out Penn State wrestler Ed Ruth was in the local "Happy Valley" news both in November and then again Thursday of this week -- all related to a DUI he got back in November when he was 3x over the legal limit:

Penn State wrestler Ed Ruth gets ARD on DUI charge

(It got me to thinking that maybe FlJoePa is the D.D.A. -- Designated Digital Apologist -- for whatever latest Penn State figure is in whatever latest...or earliest...Penn State scandal's goin' 'round)

[Colofornian]

Hey the article you linked to here mentions how the lawsuit identifies...

"...disparaging statements accusing Joe Paterno of enabling and concealing child sexual abuse and knowledge..."

So, hey, if anything, it's good to see JoePa's widow keeping the subject of JoePa's "enabling and concealing child sexual abuse and knowledge" in the public eye for years to come!

I was afraid the public and specifically other college coaches might soon forget and thereby turned a blind eye to their obligations to "be responsible" under NCAA bylaw 2.4:

The Principles of Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct. For intercollegiate athletics to promote the character development of participants, to enhance the integrity of higher education and to promote civility in society, student-athletes, coaches, and all others associated with these athletics programs and events should adhere to such fundamental values as respect, fairness, civility, HONESTY AND RESPONSIBILITY. These values should be manifest not only in athletics participation but also in the broad spectrum of activities affecting the athletics program.

[angcat]

My daughter attends Penn State Hazleton. She concentrates on her degree and has no interest in the Football. Maybe that will change when she transfers to main campus. I doubt it she is not a party girl.

[Daveinyork]

Communist blowhards? Penn State is a state supported institution. How much more communist does it get?

[Uncle Chip]

Here — get an education and prepare to wipe the egg off of your posts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyLVpbe9oXQ

[kabar]

The NCAA went far beyond penalizing the program. They imposed an unprecedented, Soviet-style revisionist penalty on Penn State and Joe Paterno. The NCAA vacated 111 wins (from 1998 to 2011) from Paterno's record, meaning he would no longer hold the title of major college football's winningest coach. This is pure vindictiveness.

Even major league baseball did not wipe out Pete Rose's records when they banned him from baseball.

The facts will come out based on the recent court decision to allow the Paterno family, Penn State trustees, former players and coaches and professors as plaintiffs, who seek to have a jury overturn the sanctions the NCAA imposed on Penn State last summer.

“This is a case that deserves transparency and due process,” Paterno lawyer Wick Sollers said in a statement. “It is a case that can never be resolved until the full truth is known. With this ruling the bright light of legal discovery will finally shine on the facts and records of all parties involved.”

All the plaintiffs are still able to pursue the civil conspiracy claims, or the allegation that the NCAA and the investigators on Louis Freeh’s team worked together to hurt Penn State.

The judge wrote: The “plaintiffs’ allegations that (the) defendants and the Freeh firm recklessly disregarded (the) plaintiffs’ procedural rights in imposing sanctions in a criminal matter unrelated to recruiting and athletic competition, accepted the flawed Freeh report knowing it was not the result of a reliable investigation, and falsely accused (the) plaintiffs of enabling and causing child sex abuse are sufficient to allege malice.”

On Twitter, another Paterno son, Scott Paterno, announced the judge’s decision.

“Ladies and Gentlemen — the Court just gave us Discovery in Paterno vs. NCAA,” he wrote. “Here we go.”

Let the facts come out so we can make a true judgment of what happened sans emotion and innuendo.