Penn State...what did Paterno know?

[Montsta]

I agree with everything in this post. Everything. I'm not defending anybody but I don't have teh answers as to who "opens investigations", who "bans" professors from campus? How do you know JoPa washed his hands and skipped down the field? Who knows what he felt, what he was told and what he thought was being done about it?

Joe Paterno RUNS State College. He has clout and say-so. Did you notice the thousands of blissfully naive college students rabidly running to his defense when he was terminated? Did you notice the supposed "press" spitting venomous questions towards John Surma during his press conference on Paterno's ouster? These people follow Paterno as if they witnessed him turn water into wine. It is insane to think that he couldn't have told the AD, campus police, and the police of Centre County that this guy, albeit allegedly, did something with a child that was deplorable.

Instead, he put the image of Penn State University above the crimes that happened. I can't speak for everyone here, but I don't think Joe was 'skipping down the sidelines' after this. He may very well have been conflicted and torn up about it. But he never asked anyone why nothing became of Sandusky. He never took the initiative to ask Curley or Schultz why it was reported to TheSecond Mile, but not anyone with some authority to prosecute. Nope, instead they took away his keys to the building and assured McQueary he wasn't allowed to bring kids onto campus anymore. Top notch work guys. But at the end of the day, he made the choice he did, and in my personal opinion, that choice trumps anything positive that he ever did at PSU.

The innocence of children, especially children that have already been dealt a sh*t hand in life, is greater than a thousand national titles or Heisman trophies in Div. I college football.

[sunbunny]

I'm confused about something. When the boys mother went to police, was it the campus police or the city police? Regardless, the DA closed the case, but still. Just how far does this coverup go?

[Dpantherman]

I'm confused about something. When the boys mother went to police, was it the campus police or the city police? Regardless, the DA closed the case, but still. Just how far does this coverup go?

IMO, deep. We still don't know who all knew, but there is so much that has yet to come out. What I was saying was, once the hammer starts coming down, and the bright lights come on, the roaches will come out. People start pointing fingers once the pressure builds.

[pstall]

I still say Sandusky had some dirt on Joe as leverage. I hope Joe was not so bull headed in being loyal that he allowed this crap happen.

There is going to be jail time for several adults. There IS going to be some suicides from this. From those not even on the radar yet.

This is like some sick Stephen King novel. Disgusting on so many levels.

[Kitten Diver]

I've worked with SACS (Southern Association of Colleges & Schools) several times & while its on the table, I highly doubt that particular action will be taken. 1. It would wreck the degrees for current students & might go retroactive to 02 (possibly 98). 2. It would create chaos because all profs with tenure would likely leave meaning the accreditation association would have to help find them jobs. Also, non-tenured would have to be helped due to the absolute fuggin plunge in enrollment (not sure if MSACS would help though). Last but not least, the money sunk into buildings & equipment would likely go to waste.

Its more likely that they will force the admin, regents, & trustees to step down.

Oh. Well that is probably what will happen. Good insight.

[Montsta]

I'm confused about something. When the boys mother went to police, was it the campus police or the city police? Regardless, the DA closed the case, but still. Just how far does this coverup go?

Transcribed as best I could from the indicment:

When Victim 6 was dropped off at home, his hair was wet and his mother immediately questioned him about this and was upset to learn the boy had showered with Sandusky. She reported the incident to University Police who investigated. After a lengthy investigation by University Police Detective Ronald Shreffler, the investigation was closed after then-Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar decided there would be no criminal charges. Shreffler testified that he was told to close the investigation by the director of the campus police, Thomas Harmon. That investigation included a second child, B.K., also 11, who was subjected to nearly identical treatment in the shower as Victim 6, according to Detective Shreffler.

Detective Shreffler testified that he and State College Police Department Detective Ralph Ralston, with the consent of the mother of Victim 6, eavesdropped on two conversations the mother of Victim 6 had with Sandusky on May 13, 1998, and May 19, 1998. The mother of Victim 6 confronted Sandusky about showering with her son, the effect it had on her son, whether Sandusky had sexual feelings when he hugged her naked son in the shower and where Victim 6's buttocks were when Sandusky hugged him. Sandusky said he had showered with other boys and victim 6's mother tried to make Sandusky promise never to shower with a boy again but he would not. She asked him if his "private parts" touched Victim 6 when he bear-hugged him. Sandusky replied, "I don't think so...maybe." At the conclusion of the second conversation, after Sandusky was told he could not see victim 6 anymore, Sandusky said, "i understand. I was wrong. I wish I could get forgiveness. I know I won't get it from you. I wish I were dead." Detective Ralston and the mother of Victim 6 confirm these conversations.

Jerry Lauro, an investigator with the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, testified that during the 1998 investigation, Sandusky was interviewed on June 1, 1998, by Lauro and Detective Shreffler. Sandusky admitted showering naked with Victim 6, admitted to hugging Victim 6 while in the shower and admitted that it was wrong. Detective Shreffler advised Sandusky not to shower with any child again and Sandusky said that he would not.

The Grand Jury was unable to subpoena B.K. because he is in the military and is stationed outside the United States.

So here is this DA, who by all accounts is a total hardass, and he has a confession eavesdropped by detectives as to indecent behavior with a child, and the case was closed? I think when it's all said and done, A LOT more is going to come out of this. Oh, and FYI, the DA Ray Gricar who didn't prosecute has been missing since 2005 and is presumed dead.

DA who didn't charge Sandusky missing since 2005

[Kitten Diver]

Well he is either in the carribean or he had a hit put out on him....

[sunbunny]

Am I off base thinking he now has a new identity and is on a private island somewhere? That he was told from someone even higher up to close the case?

[Montsta]

Well he is either in the carribean or he had a hit put out on him....

I'm not much one for conspiracy theories and such, but there just sooo many people who did nothing in this case that it makes me sick. How much money does Penn State make off football every year? It has got to be in the tens of millions at least. That kind of dough pumped into the local economy effects everybody in the area. Again, I'm not big into cover-ups and all, but there are a lot of people that had a vested interest in sweeping this whole thing under the rug.

[sunbunny]

Oh oh oh, I saw how much profit they made somewhere. Let me see if I can find it. It was something like $52 million.

[sunbunny]

According to this report, the Penn State football program brings in $50 million dollars a year. In the 2009-10 academic year, the football team generated $70.2 million dollars in revenue and $50.4 million of that was profit.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/934291-penn-state-scandal-how-much-of-the-football-teams-50-million-a-year-is-lost

Another report

Its revenue of $72.7 million from football last season was the fifth highest of any college program in the country, according to a CNNMoney analysis of figures reported by each school to the Department of Education.

And when comparing revenue to total expenses, Penn State football's profit of $53.2 million was second only to the University of Texas' total of $71.2 million.

Penn State reported an additional $24.1 million in athletic revenue not specifically assigned to one team or sport. Much of that is in general merchandise sales and sponsorships, and much of that revenue was driven by the popularity of football, according to Marc Ganis, head of SportsCorp Ltd., a sports marketing firm.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/11/10/news/companies/penn_state_football_scandal/?hpt=hp_t1

[Montsta]

Am I off base thinking he now has a new identity and is on a private island somewhere? That he was told from someone even higher up to close the case?

It's interesting that they found his car and laptop, but he and the HDD were gone. What was on it? Case files? Pretty much only judges and politicians are above a DA. Somebody higher up maybe procure the services of Mr. Sandusky? Who knows?

[Montsta]

According to this report, the Penn State football program brings in $50 million dollars a year. In the 2009-10 academic year, the football team generated $70.2 million dollars in revenue and $50.4 million of that was profit.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/934291-penn-state-scandal-how-much-of-the-football-teams-50-million-a-year-is-lost

I've seen people killed for a lot less than $50,000,000. My brother-in-law was murdered at 24 years old on October 13th of this year over $150 and a pit bull puppy.

Maybe people over the DA's head didn't want their names eventually getting back to this thing. I will tell you this though, whether the NCAA intervenes or not, Penn State football will probably be getting a 'death sentence' from all this. Like I said in another thread, if you are some superstar high school player, are you going to want to go to Penn State anytime in the next decade? Not me. No ma'am.

[sunbunny]

They later found the hard drive, but it was so damaged they couldn't get anything off it. Can't remember where I read that, though.