I decided that before I made any sort of comment about the allegations involving Penn State and members of it's football program, Athletic department and higher I needed to become informed as to the level of the allegations and the severity. So I read the 23 page Grand Jury findings that Sports Illustrated has posted on their website. I'm a huge college football fan, and have long admired Joe Paterno and his longevity as Head Coach. I have been reading on Twitter and other social media sites of people calling for his job, and I found it hard to believe that he had any involvement in this problem and I wanted find out for myself before I jumped to his defense or grabbed a pitch fork and torch.
To say it was a struggle to get through is an understatement. But I wanted to read it all, so I will remember what people in certain positions are possible of. As a parent these are the types of incidents that you have nightmares about. Almost "worst case scenario" type things. You never expect to have it happen, but for some reason it is in the back of your mind. Disgusting what people are capable of.
I can not imagine how the parents of the children sexual assaulted by Jerry Sandusky haven't come out about it until now. The first investigated allegation against him was in 1998, from assaults dating back before 1996. So, the first documented victim has been dealing with this in relative silence for 15 years? That is completely unimaginable to me, as a parent, that these allegations have been quietly investigated while Sandusky went on about his life and assaulting other children, at least 7 other children. Its one thing to have to hear your child tell you about the things that were done to them, but then when you come to their defense and bring it to the attention of authorities, and little or nothing is done, it's hard for me to imagine those parents just setting by idly wait for him to "get his due." I know I for one would not be able to.
I have pitchfork and torch in hand and am with the masses marching to the door of Jerry Sandusky and Tim Curley for sure. With what I've read so far I do not feel I will be marching with them to JoPa's door though. When allegations were presented to him, he testified that he went to his boss with them, AD Tim Curley. At that point JoPa reported the allegations to his superior. I'm not clear on Pennsylvania law, especially in 2002 but I would guess being an employee of the state at a University, some sort of mandatory reporter standards were in place. If they were Coach Paterno should have followed those. I do not feel that Coach Paterno did everything in his power to discover weather the allegations were true or not, so I am with the masses in expecting him to step down as coach and remove himself from the PSU football program. But I'm not ready to torch him at the stake. Not at this point. I might be later if more comes to light though.
As a father to, in my opinion, the coolest, most amazing little boy I've ever met, the possibility of him every having to deal with anything like this not only disgusts me, but enrages me. I warn anyone that has any thoughts of hurting my little boy, that if you are scared of "Mama Bear" syndrome, I'd get out a new pair of pants for when this Papa Bear comes knocking on your door. I am not the most religious, or spiritual person in the world, but I do on occasion find myself praying for things. The one thing that always is prayed for is the health and safety of my son. It is something that will continue to be prayed for as long as I am breathing. I am saddened for the children who had to endure this abuse and have had to live with it, to this day. I am also saddened for the parents of these boys. That have to live with not only the pain that their children were hurt at the hands of someone who was supposedly trust worthy, but the pain that they must feel for not being able to protect them.
I will add to my next prayer that God makes a special place in hell for Jerry Sandusky. Unfortunately it won't be an isolated place as there are far to many residents who have done similar or worse things than him, but make sure there is a special place for him, extremely hot, and painful.
I hope to post more often, and obviously, those that know me well, know they will be more upbeat than this one, but I had to get this off my chest.
