Penn State Football and Child Abuse

As The Sensible Conservative, I do not believe that the application of common sense should be restricted to politics and public policy. 

I’m not a PSU graduate and, thus, this question is not posed defensively:  What does Penn State football have to do with child abuse?  Nothing.

Of course, public commentary is to the contrary, but simple truths have either been ignored or are unknown to those jumping to that conclusion.   

The reported facts: a decade or so ago, an assistant coach named Jerry Sandusky sexually abused a 10-year-old in the Penn State locker room.  A witness on the team’s staff told head coach Joe Paterno about the episode (in what detail, we do not know), who then reported that information to his administrative supervisor, and up the chain of command it went.  Nobody called the police.

Penn State football players were not involved, that assistant coach wasn’t focusing on team members as targets, and there is no suggestion whatsoever that the football program fostered or tolerated a culture of child abuse.

To be sure, if former coach Sandusky is indeed the sexual predator as charged (remember, I’m a lawyer) and Penn State personnel knew that, they personally are properly condemned for not reporting him to law enforcement officials.

But, if so, how does that qualify as an indictment of the PSU football program for which it and its players should be punished (“cancel the season; no bowl game”)?

Was the failure to report what may have been known as a serious crime motivated by greater concern for reputation than the victim?  Very possibly.  But remember, that knowledge up the chain was dependent upon what was conveyed.  Did the initial witness tell all to Joe Paterno, for instance?  And was the witness “sure” about what he had seen? 

Keep this in mind:  even if the knowledge acquired was more definitive, people want to believe the best of their friends (and Joe Paterno and the subject assistant had had a long term relationship).  They wish to ignore or downplay that which reflects poorly.  And wouldn’t the same factors and considerations be in play in any organization (in and out of sports)?

Yes, human nature has less agreeable qualities, too.  So Joe Paterno, if he knew then what so many claim to know now, undoubtedly should have done more.  Maybe he’s no longer worthy of adulation as an exemplary human being. 

But what do Joe Paterno’s personal failings have to do with Penn State football?