8:45: Pennsylvania is going to the polls today. But most of the state also will be voting - at least around water coolers - on Penn State and legendary coach Joe Paterno.
JoePa finds himself engulfed in the saga of a sex abuse scandal involving his former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. Two school officials, including the athletic director, are facing charges they covered up the situation and failed to report it to police.
Paterno is not charged and investigators indicated yesterday he is not a target of the investigation.
But that's in a cour of law. In the court of public opinion, Paterno is getting savaged. And rightly so.
It seems fairly apparent that Paterno had to have some inkling of what Sandusky was doing. Even though at that point Sandusky was no longer a member of his staff, he still was allowed access to the campus - and more kids.
Paterno had to know that and should have done more than he did, including going to police himself if the school did not and sounding the siren about what he knew about Sandusky.
Paterno is expected to hold his normal weekly press conference at 12:30. Last night Penn State issued a statement saying the coach would only be taking questions concerning football.
They're kidding, right? Who wants to talk about football now. Everyone rightly is demanding to know what Paterno knew and when did he know it.
If the coach insists on trying to hardball the media, everyone in the room should get up and walk out.
Paterno has always been able to get away with his caricature of the irascible, irritable tyrant of all things Nittany Lion.
That won't fly today. Paterno will not be doing himself any favors if he tries to go down that road.
He should sit and answer every question. Everyone connected to Penn State has a right to those answers.
We'd expect no less of a legend.
JoePa finds himself engulfed in the saga of a sex abuse scandal involving his former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. Two school officials, including the athletic director, are facing charges they covered up the situation and failed to report it to police.
Paterno is not charged and investigators indicated yesterday he is not a target of the investigation.
But that's in a cour of law. In the court of public opinion, Paterno is getting savaged. And rightly so.
It seems fairly apparent that Paterno had to have some inkling of what Sandusky was doing. Even though at that point Sandusky was no longer a member of his staff, he still was allowed access to the campus - and more kids.
Paterno had to know that and should have done more than he did, including going to police himself if the school did not and sounding the siren about what he knew about Sandusky.
Paterno is expected to hold his normal weekly press conference at 12:30. Last night Penn State issued a statement saying the coach would only be taking questions concerning football.
They're kidding, right? Who wants to talk about football now. Everyone rightly is demanding to know what Paterno knew and when did he know it.
If the coach insists on trying to hardball the media, everyone in the room should get up and walk out.
Paterno has always been able to get away with his caricature of the irascible, irritable tyrant of all things Nittany Lion.
That won't fly today. Paterno will not be doing himself any favors if he tries to go down that road.
He should sit and answer every question. Everyone connected to Penn State has a right to those answers.
We'd expect no less of a legend.
Comments