See 45. We have only Tim Curley’s say-so that Paterno told him to cover it up. Or, to be more accurate, that they AGREED to urge a coverup.
Even if true, that does not excuse the top guys for not reporting it. But we have only one of the guys who covered it up as evidence that Paterno said that. Maybe Curley just dragged Paterno into the argument to give his plea for a coverup more force.
The President of the university, who publicly pledged when he was hired to do more for gay rights at Penn State, was the guy responsible for making this decision. He didn’t have to go along with Curley, Paterno, or anyone else.
Why would Curley lie in an email to Graham Spanier about meeting with Paterno?
Basically, you have this. Curley and Schultz have met several times, with McQueary and without McQueary. They've communicated with the PSU President. It appears that multiple parties discussed the 'contact three' solution and Curley was to make the final recommendation.
When? Apparently after running it by Joe Paterno.
So Curley was sent to Paterno, or went to his de-facto boss, Paterno, or went to Paterno because he knew Paterno had to go along with the decision.
Curley talks with The Godfather Paterno and, as you say, either Paterno said 'keep this between PSU and Sandusky and don't contact child welfare' or the two reached that decision.
Either way Paterno was there when the decision not to contact child welfare (and therefore, law enforcement) was made. He either made it or participated in it.
He had the power to originate the cover-up and it appears JoePa did.
Should the others have gone along with JoePa's plan? No.
Spanier expressed concern about going along with this decision not to contact child welfare. I guess the person who made it must have pretty powerful. Like . . . JoePa in his meeting with Tim Curley.