Penn State Must Fire Joe Paterno Now: Fan Opinion

Before you continue, before you react on this article, read the grand jury report on former Penn State football defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. The facts are there. Do not be satisfied with quotes and comments you read elsewhere. Do your research. Read the report on how Sandusky allegedly sexually abused several young boys. Read how in 2002 Mike McQueary, a graduate assistant at the time, witnessed Sandusky sodomizing a 10-year old boy in the showers of the Penn State football complex. Then read how the inaction by all those who knew about the incident allowed Sandusky to continue victimizing young boys. Among those who knew was Coach Joe Paterno. This is why Penn State must fire Joe Paterno now.

What Would You Do?

Imagine you drove to the office late one evening to pick up some things. The building is empty but you hear sounds coming from the bathroom showers. As you walk in, you see an older co-worker sodomizing a 10-year old boy. Both of them are completely naked and surprised to see you. There is no doubt in your mind about what you saw. What would you do? What is the first thing you would do?

According to the grand jury report, that was what McQueary witnessed in 2002. He states that he saw Sandusky performing this heinous act on a 10-year old boy. But instead of protecting the young boy, McQueary ran. He immediately called his father and they decided that McQueary should tell Coach Paterno. McQueary went to Paterno's home the next morning to tell him what he saw. The following day Paterno called Tim Curley, the Penn State Athletic Director at the time, to his home. The report states that Paterno told Curley that "the graduate assistant had seen Jerry Sandusky in the Lasch Building showers fondling or doing something of a sexual nature to a young boy."

What would you have done? I think the answer is obvious. You would have protected the boy. Along with possibly separating the boy from Sandusky, you would have immediately called the police. But this incident occurred on the hallowed grounds of Happy Valley. It happened in the football complex of the great Penn State Nittany Lions. Curley and Gary Schultz, former Penn State administrators, could have called the police. McQueary, who saw the act with his own eyes, could have called the police. Paterno could have called the police. That did not happen. Instead of protecting the boy, they chose to protect the university, the football team and Coach Paterno. Instead of turning in Sandusky to the authorities, they allowed him to continue to victimize young boys. As the grand jury report states, Sandusky claimed victims for years following this incident.

Do the Right Thing

This is why Penn State must fire Coach Paterno. Paterno knew there was a sex offender in his midst and he did not report it to the authorities. He received the information from McQueary, a credible source. McQueary was a graduate assistant at the time and is currently the receivers coach for the team. It is hard to believe that Paterno failed to get all the details from McQueary. The grand jury report states that Paterno knew the details but he backtracks in a written statement:

"As my grand jury testimony stated, I was informed in 2002 by an assistant coach that he had witnessed an incident in the shower of our locker room facility. It was obvious that the witness was distraught over what he saw, but he at no time related to me the very specific actions contained in the Grand Jury report."

The backtracking and damage control must stop. It is time for Penn State to make things right. They can start by firing Coach Paterno for not doing enough to stop Sandusky from committing more crimes. Penn State must stop trying to protect themselves. They must stop protecting Coach Paterno and the Nittany Lions football team. For the first time, they must think about the child victims. They should have acted swiftly in 2002. Instead, their lack of action and the alleged cover-up activities have put Penn State and Coach Paterno in the mess they are in now.

More from Edwin Torres:

Edwin Torres graduated from Rutgers College. During his time there, Rutgers Football had just one winning season and never qualified for a bowl game. The successful 2006 season was a long time coming for Edwin but well worth the wait. Edwin still attends Rutgers Football games wearing his scarlet and white jersey.

Sources:

Penn St. scandal should force Paterno out

Joe Paterno's support 'eroding' as Penn State launches investigation

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