Comments about ‘Penn State's Joe Paterno latest to leave complicated legacy’

The Survey on Paterno is a FRAUDULANT Survey and I refuse to answer take part in it, BUT I answer here. Joe Paterno was a GREAT Guy, a brilliant coach and a man who faced with a decision which was made made less serious than it actually was, he reported it, AS HE SHOULD HAVE, to his superiors! His Superiors thought nothing of it and decided to down play it, so Paterno did as he was told, he didn't observe the abuse. The man who witnessed the ABUSE was placed on paid administrative leave while Paterno lost his job? This is obviously putting it on the Scapegoat! The man who witnessed the event simply told his father and Paterno, didn't interrupt the rape, didn't call the police, just called his dad, calmed down and down played it to Paterno and others. Paterno reported it to the Athletic Director as he SHOULD HAVE DONE, going up the chain of command, as I WOULD HAVE DONE knowing how certain things need to be taken care of when a chain of command is in place. Joe Paterno PROBABLY didn't know all the details that took place in that shower. Penn State Killed HIM!

Paterno should have gone to the police. The assistant coach that witnessed it, should have done everything to stop it and should have gone to the police. Unfortunately there were others - janitors and such that brought this to Paterno's attention and none of these people went to the police.

Penn State investigated this and they let him go because of what they found out. Anyone who knew about this monster and did nothing should face at least the same type of punnishment.

I agree that Joe was great coach but I would argue that he was also spineless and void of character when it came to protecting children. He turned the other way as many others did. We will never know how many children wouldn't have been abused if he and all others involved would have done the right thing years ago.

The innocent children must be protected no matter what type of "chain of command" is in place. Every adult shares the responsibility to protect those that can't protect themselves.

Joe was a really good man. He did so much for so many and you can't erase or minimize that. As the New Testament says "service covereth a multitude of sins" so I'm sure Joe is in good hands right now. However there is still a glaring mistake made by Penn State University allowing a coach to coach well into his 80's and have so much power. Joe should have been done - required to retire - at age 70. Joe was an untouchable God at Penn State and I think allowed to just put a blanket over unsavory things to protect the university and his own image. Joe did nothing wrong except he didn't do enough.

@patriot
It is wrong to not report child abuse. Any way shape or form, it is wrong to remain silent.

That doesn't mean he wasn't a good person in other ways, but he along with many others at Penn State did nothing while one of their own raped and molested children. Not only did they remain silent, but they covered it up for years to avoid the bad publicity.

If we dont stand up for those who can't defend themselves like innocent children, then abuse such as this will continue to happen.

"He will go down as a man who knew of allegations of child sexual abuse by an assistant coach, yet looked away."
-->Correction: Joe Paterno did not look away. I never thought Brad Rock would write such an intentionally inaccurate statement. I still like Brad Rock's columns. He's only human, not an all-or-nothing proposition. He's a person with good days and bad days. Whether writing that intentionally incorrect statement about a fellow human being is honest, or not, will probably remain un-adjudicated, unless Brad Rock adjudicates it himself.

The overall thrust of the column was well put, IMHO. But as a fan and reader of Brad Rock's columns, the statement above disappointed me. I was very surprised to see it in his column.

Many people keep repeating that Joe Paterno didn't do enough, something Paterno himself intimated months ago. I have a question for those people: Do they agree that they too should be fired from their jobs, if they do everything legally required of them, but if numerous others think they should have done more?

Are any of the critics aware that Paterno told the administration of the alleged crime, and that the VP was made aware, and the VP is the head of university police?

Not sure any of us would avoid getting fired, if any of us could be fired for doing everything legally required of us. But there sure are a lot of people willing to judge Joe Paterno and lecture the rest of us that he should have done more.

Joe Paterno himself said he wishes he had done more. If there were a machine that could determine what the rest of us would have done if faced with the same circumstances, it would be quite funny to see how all the Paterno critics would fare.

One thing I hope everyone agrees with: Pray for the victims to heal.