What would you have done?
In a CFAA post by Donn Walden for the Lancaster Eagle Gazette, Walden asks a very serious question: what would you have done if you had the knowledge Paterno had in the Sandusky scandal?
The scandal and its effects has had people across the spectrum up in arms– most are appalled by what Sandusky did, and many are upset at the way Paterno was fired. The big debate is whether a coach’s job relies at all on his perceived morality, or on what looks best for the school from a PR standpoint. The article posed really thought-provoking questions. Those who are upset about the way Paterno was fired argue that it was a waste of the winningest coach in college football solely for a PR move. He was drawing so much bad press that it was “in the best interest” of the program to fire him.
Those who agree with what happened, like Walden, look at the victims, what happened, and the basic morality of the situation. Understanding that Paterno did what he should have by telling the AD, but didn’t go above and beyond to set the situation right.
This article raised important questions– questions that many should be asking. The downside, though, is that it did not provide a lot of the research/background info to answer some of these questions.
Across many public arenas, from politics to sports, morality has become a deciding factor in job security. Should that be the case?.That’s the biggest question.
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College Sports and the Media 
If I was Paterno, I would have brought McQueary with me to the AD’s office and had a meeting and have him explain what he saw happen. I would then propose to call the police and bring them in, not emergency style (so as to not cause a lot of attention), but just casually to get the story. After that, there should have been an investigation into the matter, I would have done my duty, and the court would take care of Sandusky.
Regardless of Paterno’s involvement or knowledge of the Sandusky case the bottom line is that one of the biggest scandals in athletic history happened under his watch. It was obvious that the house needed to be cleaned in the Penn Sate football program from top to bottom. And Paterno’s handling of the situation has become worse and worse as he keeps saying the wrong things at the wrong time. Besides, we’re talking about an 84 year old football coach who has become more of a figurehead than anything in recent years. It was just time for the whole Penn State program, fans, and athletes to move on from the case and try to rebuild.