Paterno firing was right thing, now let's get back to real issue
Published: November 09, 2011 @ 9:51pm
John P. Surma, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Penn State Board of Trustees, center, announces the firing of university president Graham Spanier and head football coach Joe Paterno, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, in State College, Pa. At left is Steve Garban, senior vice president for finance and operations. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Effective immediately Joe Paterno is out as football coach at Penn St.
This is not about football.
This is not about anything being good. If anything, it's bad. Terribly bad.
This is not a celebration.
This is sad.
This is the Penn St. Board of Trustees doing the right thing. I am expecting and hoping more dismissals will follow.
Did others do wrong along the way and should they be held for their lack of actions? Absolutely.
This is about young boys being sexually victimized by an adult. An adult that was in a powerful position.
Jerry Sandusky. A name I think some are looking past in getting all caught up in the Joe Paterno fracas.
Now that Paterno is officially out of his position I hope the story and attention turns to where it belongs.
Sandusky's disgusting criminal acts are what started and have led to this.
Do these victims care if Paterno is on the sidelines Saturday? What do they think as they see students parading around Happy Valley based on these announcements? The last thing I want to do is try to put myself in their shoes.
The focus needs to be on stopping anyone who was -- and is -- involved in these crimes. Help these victims. Raise awareness. Make it known this behavior is unacceptable and the guilty will be held accountable to the highest extent of the law.
Joe Paterno is out of his leadership role. It was the right thing to do. As far this story is concerned, let's move past this quickly.
Let's get back to the real issue at hand.
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TY's Outtakes
What I learned this week…
I now know what it's like to be in the same room as a 20 foot, 200 pound python. I guess the learning was that not all pythons are ready to bite your head off on a moments notice. I still didn't get within 15 feet as others were all over it.
Tweet of the week…
@PaulCalvisi: Paulie Breaking News: "AP source: Penn State football coach Joe Paterno has decided to retire at end of the season."
With all that was going on I really didn't expect Paterno to have any timetable about himself stepping away from the program. I really thought he was going to have to be forced out the entire time no matter what. We now know he tried to hold on for the next two months but that wasn't acceptable.
Suggestion of the week…
I Told My Kids I Ate All Their Halloween Candy
This is hilarious.