Decanonized Mythologized Disgraced Ped State Monster Coach Joe Paterno (Zombie Icon)

[Jaxbuck]

Nice reminder that, just like OSU and any other fanbase, not all PSU fans/alumni are idiots.

PSU alumni raise $ for RAIIN

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

I am amused that one of the dumbest fan bases in sports - who took plenty of glee in our problems - is being served and acting like assclowns in response to it.

Yabba Dabba Do! How many of these self-righteous Ped State F*cktards were planning on donning their "Legends and Liars" t-shirts when they rolled into Columbus next week. Funny how life can kick you in the balls, Barebacker U.

 

[Bucklion]

I just watched a portion of the PSU BoT meeting on BTN where the new president was introduced. He has been at PSU 34 years. My first thought was, "He has been there 34 years and had not heard any of the rumors?" In listening to his introduction and then a portion of him addressing the BoT, it appears this is another example of their continued inbreeding. I believe if they truly want to clean up the mess they need to have someone from outside their "family" come in to do the cleaning. This just looks like bringing in someone who is familiar with their CYA philosophy.

I wasn't sure where to post this, so if there is a better place feel free to move it.

Spanier was from Nebraska before, so he really wasn't an "insider" when he got there. The problem with him is he had no power and seemed perfectly content that way. If they bring in someone from the outside, they would have to allow them to rule with an iron fist. I don't know that the BoT is willing to grant anyone that much power right now.

 

[Muck]

Nice reminder that, just like OSU and any other fanbase, not all PSU fans/alumni are idiots.

PSU alumni raise $ for RAIIN

Even the way that is being handled rubs me the wrong way.

It comes across as more of a publicity move (and a chance for Penn State fans to go back to the usual "see how much better we really are?" nonsense they are so fond of spouting) than anything else.

 

[buckeyegrad]

I just watched a portion of the PSU BoT meeting on BTN where the new president was introduced. He has been at PSU 34 years. My first thought was, "He has been there 34 years and had not heard any of the rumors?" In listening to his introduction and then a portion of him addressing the BoT, it appears this is another example of their continued inbreeding. I believe if they truly want to clean up the mess they need to have someone from outside their "family" come in to do the cleaning. This just looks like bringing in someone who is familiar with their CYA philosophy.

I wasn't sure where to post this, so if there is a better place feel free to move it.

I get what you are saying about the problems at Penn State, but you don't just bring in an outsider to run a major university in the matter of a few days. As the current Provost (i.e. head of academics), Erickson is the logical person to appoint as interim President. In addition to this unholy mess, there is still instruction, research, and other educational endeavors to manage.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

I just watched a portion of the PSU BoT meeting on BTN where the new president was introduced. He has been at PSU 34 years. My first thought was, "He has been there 34 years and had not heard any of the rumors?" In listening to his introduction and then a portion of him addressing the BoT, it appears this is another example of their continued inbreeding. I believe if they truly want to clean up the mess they need to have someone from outside their "family" come in to do the cleaning. This just looks like bringing in someone who is familiar with their CYA philosophy.

I wasn't sure where to post this, so if there is a better place feel free to move it.

I'm sure this guy is an interim president. I can't imagine that they'd just plug some insider into the position immediately.

Agree with your sentiment though--at all levels: coach, AD and President. That place has become an isolated, insular cult to the JoePa legacy and needs to be flushed out with new blood.

 

[buckeyeintn]

I get what you are saying about the problems at Penn State, but you don't just bring in an outsider to run a major university in the matter of a few days. As the current Provost (i.e. head of academics), Erickson is the logical person to appoint as interim President. In addition to this unholy mess, there is still instruction, research, and other educational endeavors to manage.

I did not catch all of the introduction. If he is just the interim president, I can understand that move. However, I believe long term they need to bring in someone who has not been a part of that culture to do a thorough cleansing of the mess.

 

[Jaxbuck]

Even the way that is being handled rubs me the wrong way.

It comes across as more of a publicity move (and a chance for Penn State fans to go back to the usual "see how much better we really are?" nonsense they are so fond of spouting) than anything else.

Maybe but my impression was of a group (or at least one set of parents) who were thinking of the victims first, PSU reputation second. I don't think any parents are lying about this thing shaking them up.

Honestly if I'm in that spot that's pretty much how I'd be trying to handle it. I don't think its wrong to want to untarnish the image of PSU in the larger sense of the school (ie not engaging in blind idolatry of the football program).

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

I'd like to see the word McQueary become a synonym for moral cowardice and careerism in the face of evil.

How'd O'Reilly get promoted to VP so soon?

Word is he found a dead hooker in the CEO's trunk and McQueary'd the situation.

 

[jlb1705]

I just watched a portion of the PSU BoT meeting on BTN where the new president was introduced. He has been at PSU 34 years. My first thought was, "He has been there 34 years and had not heard any of the rumors?" In listening to his introduction and then a portion of him addressing the BoT, it appears this is another example of their continued inbreeding. I believe if they truly want to clean up the mess they need to have someone from outside their "family" come in to do the cleaning. This just looks like bringing in someone who is familiar with their CYA philosophy.

I wasn't sure where to post this, so if there is a better place feel free to move it.

First of all, the new president has been elevated from Provost. He deals with academic affairs, not athletics, business or police. As far as promotions from within go, this is probably the best one they could have made in this case.

Secondly, he is only the interim president. Presidential searches can take several months up to a couple years, and involve more constituencies than just the Board of Trustees. The institution I work for has a president that is retiring at the end of this school year. It's a planned transition with no turmoil, and they are taking the entire year and using a headhunting firm to find the successor. Real hirings for top administration positions never happen overnight - this is just a band aid to keep things running until they can get their ducks in a row and get the process of finding a successor started.

 

[Muck]

Maybe but my impression was of a group (or at least one set of parents) who were thinking of the victims first, PSU reputation second. I don't think any parents are lying about this thing shaking them up.

Honestly if I'm in that spot that's pretty much how I'd be trying to handle it. I don't think its wrong to want to untarnish the image of PSU in the larger sense of the school (ie not engaging in blind idolatry of the football program).

I'm just going by how I've seen it handled within the Penn State blog/online community. I've seen more "See, see this is the REAL us! Are you seeing this?!" than "God how can we help make sure this never happens again".

The fact that the one behind it is an advertising guy will always make me suspicious.

All that being said if it raises money for a worthy cause...then good.

 

[BigWoof31]

I'm sure this guy is an interim president. I can't imagine that they'd just plug some insider into the position immediately.

Agree with your sentiment though--at all levels: coach, AD and President. That place has become an isolated, insular cult to the JoePa legacy and needs to be flushed out with new blood.

This is why I don't think they'll look to Al Golden.
They need fresh blood. Someone who doesn't give a damn about their tradition and history and is more interested in making their own history.

 

[Jaxbuck]

I'm just going by how I've seen it handled within the Penn State blog/online community. I've seen more "See, see this is the REAL us! Are you seeing this?!" than "God how can we help make sure this never happens again".

The fact that the one behind it is an advertising guy will always make me suspicious.

All that being said if it raises money for a worthy cause...then good.

Good point on the advertising guy angle, I missed that initially.

Like you say though at the end of the day a good cause is getting some money.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

I'm just going by how I've seen it handled within the Penn State blog/online community. I've seen more "See, see this is the REAL us! Are you seeing this?!"

I wouldn't worry too much about that ever changing, Muck.

What if McQueary's memory only filled in the details years later, under questioning from a prosecutor who by then knew, cold, that Jerry was a pedophile. The slapping sound referenced in the report is certainly a powerful detail, but what if McQueary didn't mention it, wasn't even really thinking about the meaning of it at the time -- but only put it together later.

What if McQueary really didn't know what he was seeing at the time he witnessed the incident?

Will people recognize that what happened this week in Happy Valley was a frenzy, a panic, a witch trial?

Just remember the McMartin Preschool. The world believed every word of the prosecutors' story, no matter how bizarre, right up until the time the whole thing fell apart as a pack of lies.

People, particularly those who hate Joe, are jealous of Joe, whatever, and wanted him gone, want to believe the worst. People live for tearing down an institution that had a stellar reputation. Look at all the people making fun of this, spreading lies, etc. Look at the jokes and misinformation.

Many people want to believe it's true, and that in and of itself is extremely sad. People are not thinking about this logically, they are thinking about it emotionally. Emotion fills in the numerous blanks in whatever way best fuels their emotional anger. Compound that with the sensationalistic media fueling the fire as much as possible, and it's the perfect storm for what we now see. So much of this story is a sad, sad commentary on our society as a whole. This isn't just about our university, it's a reflection of how messed up our entire country is.

I put it to you Muck, is not the indictment of Joe Paterno an indictment of our entire American Way of Life. Well, I for one, am not going to stand around and let 99.9999999% of Americans bad mouth the United States of America.

As I have continued to say, we don't have all the facts. I have seen situations where there was a rush to judgment and everyone was absolutely certain as to what occurred only to later find out later, with additional facts, that things were not as everyone thought originally.

 

[Gatorubet]

JoePa, Sandusky, etc etc will all be spending a ton of time in a courtroom over the next few years. Say hello to civil suits, emphasis on the plural, and obscene attorney fees.

It may be tough to get around the statue of limitations in Pennsylvania for abuse victims, as they have to file within a few years of their turning 18. But nothing helps a lawsuit like bad press.

Are the judges elected up there?

I assume the lawyers will get their third of recovery if they settle or win at trial. I do not know if they have damage caps or if sovereign immunity applies to a state college up there.

I hope they do recover money for the victims.