It appears as if the illustrious 46-year career of Joe Paterno may be concluding sooner than expected. At 84 years of age, loyal followers of the football legend had already begun to assume that Paterno’s exit was imminent. However, many are in disbelief over the circumstances that have led to his, seemingly, inevitable departure. The pristine image that placed Happy Valley on a pedestal has forever been tarnished by the lewd and salacious acts of a man once believed to be Paterno’s successor. Jerry Sandusky, a former defensive coordinator under Paterno, has recently been charged with 40 counts of sexual abuse.
Jerry Sandusky, a football legend in his own right, was a defensive minded genius that helped Paterno’s Nittany Lions become one of the most successful college football programs to date. Subsequently, his defensive prowess helped Paterno become the winningest coach in Division I history. His accomplishments on the defensive side of the ball helped Penn State earn the unquestionable reputation as “Linebacker University.”
However, a recent indictment imposed by the state Attorney General’s office has tarnished his once legendary status at Penn State. On November 5, 2011, Sandusky was indicted on eight counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and numerous other charges, including aggravated indecent assault, corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of a child. According to the Penn State sexual abuse lawsuit, Sandusky spent the better part of 15 years as a sexual predator.
It was not until 1998 that the proper authorities were made aware of Sandusky’s salacious actions. The mother of an 11-year-old boy, who claims Sandusky showered with her son and may have had inappropriate contact with him, alerted school officials of the misconduct. The following year, an investigation by the Pennsylvania attorney general began once a Clinton County, Pa. teen boy told authorities that Sandusky had inappropriately touched him several times over a four-year period. Allegedly, Sandusky had been committing lewd and heinous acts with children since 1994. However, it was a 2002 incident that involved coach Paterno.
Mike McQueary, a graduate assistant, claims to have witnessed Sandusky sexually assaulting a child in the shower room of the football facilities. In response to the heinous acts he had witnessed, McQueary immediately notified coach Paterno. Accordingly, Paterno notified Tim Curley, the school’s athletic director without notifying the police.
Paterno alleges, to this day, that McQueary had told him of something disturbing that happened between Sandusky and a young boy that may have been sexual in nature. Thus, he reported the incident to the athletic director. However, Mr. Paterno has been widely criticized for failing to involve the police when he learned of the 2002 incident involving the young boy.
Additionally, two top university officials, Gary Schultz, the senior vice president for finance and business, and Tim Curley, were charged with perjury and failure to report to the authorities what they knew of the allegations, as required by state law.
Paterno’s day-to-day stats with the football program remains in jeopardy while the state attorney general’s office continues it’s investigation into the Penn State sexual abuse lawsuit.
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