I have seen this in many, many places. Not just in football. Loyalty is great, but it can blind you to great evil.
Agreed. I think it is because once you put someone up on a pedastal and idolize them (as many, many did with Paterno and Penn State in general) and when they fall, then you are faced with a choice. That choice is either to defend them, or to realize and come to grips that you backed the wrong thing/person/idol for the wrong reason. Sad to say, not many like to admit they are wrong, so they take up the defensive position with all they can muster because it means they don't have to face the fact that they idolized evil which appeared to them as something good.
You see it all the time in cults and fans of others who have proven to evil appearing as light. Many examples come to mind. They always show the same behavior.
Gator football has been a big part of my life, but believe me, if this happened in Gainesville, I’d be the first one to say “shut it down.”