Free Republic

The Penn State horror story has taken a twist for the sicker. And Joe Paterno's legacy is now more clearly defined. E-mails have been uncovered by NBC. Three scared sheep - Penn State's president, vice president and athletic director - were going to alert the real authorities to the possible misdeeds of Jerry Sandusky, until the athletic director spoke with Paterno and persuaded the other two Sheep not to be so rash. Subsequently, at least four more young boys were molested by Sandusky. Paterno apparently persuaded the group to go easy on old Jerry. The athletic director, Tim Curley, e-mailed...

Penn State coach Joe Paterno, who turned 81 last week, jokingly dismissed the comments of a Texas A&M yell leader Thursday night that Paterno was “on his death bed” and “someone needs to find him a casket.” But it’s no joking matter to the Aggies, who sent the yell leader home and have issued numerous apologies to various Penn State officials. The remark came at an Alamo Bowl-sponsored pep rally for fans of both schools. Penn State fans booed loudly after the remark from the yell leader, one of five A&M upperclassmen who fill the high-profile spirit role at the...

A Penn State chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity has nominated Joe Paterno for a national award, citing the coach's support for athletes who were "wrongfully accused" of crimes. The graduate chapter, Iota Lambda Lambda, also noted Paterno's "leadership, community uplift, manhood, scholarship and perseverance" in nominating him for the Citizen of the Year honor, member Andrew Jackson Sr. wrote this week. "I thought Joe was deserving," Jackson said Friday. He said that Paterno "stuck by" Rashard Casey, a former Nittany Lion, and Anwar Phillips. Casey was accused in May 2000 of beating an off-duty police officer, but a grand...

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno's salary should be made public because people have the right to know how money is spent by the state retirement system, attorneys for a newspaper argued yesterday. The Commonwealth Court heard arguments on whether the State Employees' Retirement System board was right to rule last year that Paterno's salary and those of three other top Penn State University officials are public record. An attorney for Penn State told the court that the case is really about The Patriot-News of Harrisburg's tabloid-like curiosity about how much Paterno makes. "That information doesn't shed much light on...