Rockne's Roundtable

No matter the level of Paterno's knowledge, he was aware of a minor who was in harms way to some extent. You do not act the way he did unless he wanted it to go away with the least amount of publicity. That, and that alone, is cause for his release. This is a classic case of the man being bigger than the program. Hell, bigger than the university! Make no mistake.............Joe Paterno is king and master of PSU.

Just look at the president's comments. He says he feels the persons charged will be exonerated. No mention of internal investigation, no hint of pending suspensions, no conditional apologies and no concern for the victims. If that doesn't sum it up, nothing does.

Bingo, finally someone speaks the truth, he has no superior at psu in the real world.

No way in hell did paterno not know. He knew what happened in 1998 and when he was told in 2002 he claims he what wasn't told specifics? $hit even if you weren't told specifics Joe when you were told Sandusky was in the shower with a 10yr old boy did you not try to find out anything else? Just left it at that? OK... If he was told it was his 10yr old grandson in there I think he'd try to find out specifics, I think he may have told someone else other than his " superior ".

NDchris1 has got this 100% accurate!!!

The fact that Paterno had knowledge of the charges against his longtime DC and still allowed him to have use of the PSU football facilities to bring his victims into so he could continue to abuse them is enough for me.

This is what happens when you stay too long, Joe. Eventually, as Bowden learned, someone will tell you to leave.

Agree on all parts. It's just a reprehensible story on every level. I have to say I'm somewhat suprised/satisfied with the coverage and media response this story has gotten. I expected a huge shield over St. Paterno or somebody absolving him. The State Police commish's statement today said it all. No matter what sort of legal coverage his reporting the incident satisfied, it doesn't even approach the level of human decency you would expect. He outright protected his coach or buried his head in the sand as if nothing happened. The fact that Sandusky has adopted children makes me cringe.

Three things really stand out:
1. Like Jason Whitlock's Fox sports article today pointed out, the coincidental timing of this coming to light after Paterno broke the wins record just screams scandal. The incidents happened in the late 90s, that's a decade ago. Yet in between somehow Sandusky simply retired that summer and McQuery has risen to the level of recruiting coordinator/QB coach. If there is any sort of OSU or Miami like inquiry and it is discovered that anybody held this out to protect Paterno, his reputation, or the program I don't even know the level of perversion you would attach to that.

2. The GA, assumed or confirmed as McQueary must have gotten about 5 nights of sleep in the past decade. If it was me, and I witnessed that but didn't do hardly anything to intervene I couldn't live with myself. The notion that he walked in on a man and 10 year old boy in the shower but didn't know what to do? Really? How about screaming WHAT THE @!#& ARE YOU DOING?! Running to the nearest supervisor, running in there and grabbing the kid out, anything. Like watching somebody getting mugged or murdered and standing idly by. If you have a soul that has to haunt you.

3. The response from the fanbase is stone silent, a stark contrast for the chest thumpers and Paternophiles. The alumni base is revolted. They're trying to either distance themselves or scream for change. The University is trying to mend the hull. On top of the quick decisions on those involved, they have announced a raise for College of Medicine Staff and plans for a Med program of some sort at University Park.

As far as football goes, I just don't think I can imagine him quitting mid-season no matter how hairy this gets. I think he finishes his last season quietly and retires. I think it is going to be an extremely pathetic atmosphere this weekend; with Paterno on the sideline and a stadium packed with liquored up fans screaming, singing their stupid songs and doing their stupid "white-out" business like nothing happened.

As a post-script, I am awaiting a leak or after the fact note when or after Paterno steps down soon that he is suffering from some sort of dementia or or cognitive decline as a way to save his rep and not allow this to be his legacy.

Not sure if anywone read the report but it is a stomach-turning account of a series of "inappropriate behaviors" (give me a break), and I would agree with everyone's thoughts, that there isn't any other decision than to remove Joe and all involved immediately.

The timing of his release from psu is also pretty ironic too right? BS! He's let go after 99 when paterno says it was just time for a coaching change? Really? You finished no lower than 17th in the country in the last 5yrs the rapist was there. Or is it because the incident in 1998 had come to your attention?

And this so called horse$hit ban from campus that could never even be enforced as it clearly states so in the indictment is ridiculous. I'm waiting for someone to finally bring that to light as well.

I hate to bring ND into this at all, but it's comical that there were people who wanted Kelly fired for turning purple and dropping F-bombs on the sidelines. Every news outlet should be calling for his head.

When Mike Vick came back with Philly you had all the protests and picketing at the stadiums. I'd like to see the scene this weekend for the psu game.

Paterno new this for over 11 years and all he did was tell the AD. It won't happen but he needs to be thrown in jail for knowing this for so long and not telling the police. I wish he would die in jail, we are talking about raping multiple little boys as young as 8, and Paterno and psu did nothing.

It is on Joe and the administration, if he tells them and they do nothing he must do something and get that monster off the streets.

Robert please get a clue. Joe pa admitted to knowing things were happening, the grad assistant admitted to seeing a 10 year old boy being raped and he admitted to telling Joe pa, at that point the police should have been involved. Joe pa told 1 person above him and that was it. Everyone that knew about this and stood by and did nothing should fry right along with sandusky. We are talking about raping young boys that are innocent and could do nothing to stop it. Sandusky is a monster but so is everyone else that let him get away with it.

Nd homer read the Paterno's testimony in front of a grand jury, he admitted to knowing something sexual was going on in the shower. He is going to get a pass because he told the ad but did nothing else with the information. So Paterno has already admitted to knowing what happened, what else do you want.

Klord you are completely wrong and I can't believe people actually think this way. First of all Paterno has already admitted in front of a jury he was told about a sexual incounter in the locker room shower and he went and told the AD. Good job on telling the AD however he did nothing after that. Anyone that new this should be fired and done so asap. Let him finish the year with dignity, now that is the dumbest thing I think I have heard, Joe Pa new something sexual went on and did not confront Sandusky or call the cops and no one called the cops. If the Grad assistant or joe pa or the ad would have gone to the cops it would have saved many many children from being raped. Let me ask you Klord if you found out your 10 year old son was raped and then you find out that Joe paterno the grad assistant and the ad new about another kid being raped 1 year before your son, would you want anything to happen to them then? I promise you one thing is Sandusky would have raped Jay paterno, joe would have called the cops then. Joe paterno and others could have prevented many other rapes and saved many other little kids lives and the fact that they didn't is unreal. Joe paterno deserves to be fired without dignity, he has no dignity and he is a scum bag.