The problem here, one that we as conservatives ought to recognize right off, is the Cult of Personality. (Can someone insert one of those little trademark thingies here?)
In this case, the cult of JoePa who happens to be a senile relic of a football coach, being propped up in the press box a la Weekend at Ernie's while younger men in their 70's profit from the rape of young boys.
If it were an endemic problem to college sports, wouldn't we be seeing the same scandal at (fillinthenameofsomeoneelsesschoolormaybeyourschooltoo)?
Frankly it gives cashing in with some signed memorabilia or getting cut a little slack in calculus a bit different perspective, don't you think?
Joe Pa was shown the door promptly when the cover-up was revealed - his legendary name was of no help to him. And that’s my point - big-time college atheletics is full of cover-ups already regarding financial payments, gifts and support to atheletes, so covering this up came naturally to them.
It's a very good point. From an institutional standpoint, the big mistake made by the PSU Board of Trustees was in allowing one man to remain in position for 40+ years. While it is seemingly a good story, in reality that sort of longevity allows someone to consolidate power and put "his" people in place, which is exactly what happened here.
Sandusky was there for 30+ years. McQueary was a State College resident who played at Penn State, became a grad assistant and then an assistant coach. Tim Curley grew up in State College and attended Penn State. Gary Schultz is a "local" as well.
All of these people were put there by Paterno, and it's debatable whether they'd be in place if there had been some turnover at the football head coaching position. And this ended up being the group of people who aided and abetted Sandusky in order to protect the institution and Paterno - to which their own future was heavily tied.
Terrible governance...and if/when the bleeding stops, that's what the Board of Trustees has set about fixing.