JoePa Dies at 85

[FirstTimer]

How about a shame the rape happened in the first place.

Which would be Sandusky's fault. Not Paterno's.

Joe Paterno brought this upon himself..

Yes, Joe Pa should be judged and have that issue talked about...but it also shouldn't cancel out all the other good he's done for thousands upon thousands of people. Concentrating only on one while ignoring the other is idiotic either way.

[FirstTimer]

I think you're too focused on the one Rhythmic Slapping incident.

No, I'm actually not.

[NAHSTE]

What is with the famous quotes in this thread?

And I have to agree with FT to a point...I highly doubt the "disgusted" people are as disgusted as they're acting. But hey, it's America so we all have to have some extreme stance I guess.

Not sure who is disgusted, but I could see why one would find it disgusting that our priorities and value system in America are so out of whack.

I've been pretty disgusted since the students rioted. Not so much at Paterno's involvement, but more at the lack of perspective displayed by those who think the tragedy here is that Paterno was fired unceremoniously or that his legacy is tarnished.

Oh, your legacy was ruined, eh? That's cool. Dozens of children (and counting) had their entire lives ruined in order to preserve that legacy for a few extra years, so let me go ahead and not care about your legacy anymore.

[FirstTimer]

I've been pretty disgusted since the students rioted. Not so much at Paterno's involvement, but more at the lack of perspective displayed by those who think the tragedy here is that Paterno was fired unceremoniously or that his legacy is tarnished.

Agreed.

[mgoblue2290]

What is with the famous quotes in this thread?

And I have to agree with FT to a point...I highly doubt the "disgusted" people are as disgusted as they're acting. But hey, it's America so we all have to have some extreme stance I guess.

It isn't an extreme stance. He is a bad person because of what he failed to do and the lives he helped ruin. He chose a football program over the safety and well being of children. The two quotes posted by Nahste and Goblin are perfectly relevant here.

[SethMode]

Not sure who is disgusted, but I could see why one would find it disgusting that our priorities and value system in America are so out of whack.

I've been pretty disgusted since the students rioted. Not so much at Paterno's involvement, but more at the lack of perspective displayed by those who think the tragedy here is that Paterno was fired unceremoniously or that his legacy is tarnished.

Oh, your legacy was ruined, eh? That's cool. Dozens of children (and counting) had their entire lives ruined in order to preserve that legacy for a few extra years, so let me go ahead and not care about your legacy anymore.

Eh, my point is that people probably don't care as much as they act like they do. Either positively or negatively. But it's America so some reaction is required since it's a public figure.

[SethMode]

It isn't an extreme stance. He is a bad person because of what he failed to do and the lives he helped ruin. He chose a football program over the safety and well being of children. The two quotes posted by Nahste and Goblin are perfectly relevant here.

Saying that it is an extreme stance is not saying that opposing child molestation is extreme. Don't be silly. It is extreme in that it is going to the far end of the spectrum in a way that I don't totally find believable. It comes across as as posturing as the pro-Paterno people come across.

[Aso]

I'm not just hating on Joe. It's insane that Penn St. didn't fire McQueary right when the scandal happened. He deserves just as much hate imo.

[SethMode]

And the students rioting almost makes me regret having gone to Penn State.

[Archer]

I find it amazing that nobody is defending what he did or didn't do in this case.

We are just willing to accept that he did many good things in his life and those things deserved to be celebrated by the people close to him (if they want to).

I hope calling somebody a bad person and hoping he rots in hell makes you all feel like you took a stance though.

[mgoblue2290]

Saying that it is an extreme stance is not saying that opposing child molestation is extreme. Don't be silly. It is extreme in that it is going to the far end of the spectrum in a way that I don't totally find believable. It comes across as as posturing as the pro-Paterno people come across.

You're right. Being a good coach and all that totally outweighs brushing child rape under the rug. These analysts on ESPN saying he was a hero, and a man of character and all that is garbage. I don't know how they can actually say those words knowing what he did, or rather what he failed to do.

[NAHSTE]

And the students rioting almost makes me regret having gone to Penn State.

Yeah I feel sorry for you and other sensible Penn State grads in light of that. College students need to realize that it's not about them (ever) and they are fucking useless and dumb.

No need for an entire university to be made out to look like idiots because of a couple hundred actual idiots.

[FedEx227]

Totally agree on that. I do feel sorry for the majority of PSU grads that will get eye rolls and laughs anytime they mentioned they went there. By all accounts it's still a great school despite the actions of a very small amount of people or at least one area of the university.

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

This is where I have an issue.

What about the people who have to put their lives back together after losing their innocence?

JoePa, as far as we know, didn't do any raping.

Its easy to point fingers at one guy and cast judgement on a situation where we can all simply project what we think we'd do and yet ignore the fact that this was an entire institutional breakdown...its deflecting attention from the rapist (Sandusky) and putting the blame on someone that wasn't involved in any of the actual wrong doings. Yeah, the old man had poor judgement in regards to the lengths he should have gone to reporting the crime, but so did dozens and maybe hundreds of people over the years involved with and around Sandusky.

It was poor judgement and a mistake, but lets not replace Sandusky's dick in those children with JoePa's.

[FedEx227]

You're right. Being a good coach and all that totally outweighs brushing child rape under the rug. These analysts on ESPN saying he was a hero, and a man of character and all that is garbage. I don't know how they can actually say those words knowing what he did, or rather what he failed to do.

America loves its football.