The stupidity is greatest with those who try to defend the indefensible. Defending someone who basically looked the other way (at best) in a matter that destroyed young men’s lives is simply despicable.
He received hearsay testimony from an intern about a well-respected former associate, and reported it to the head of University Police.
It could have been false; we know now it wasn't. But Paterno didn't know that at the time. Had he run around screaming a false accusation from the rooftops, you and all the other haters would have wanted his head for that instead.