Statement from Joe Paterno after his dismissal
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Statement from Joe Paterno after his dismissal
Joe Paterno issued the following statement after being dismissed as Penn State's football coach:
I am disappointed with the Board of Trustees' decision but I have to accept it. A tragedy occurred, and we all have to have patience to let the legal process proceed.
I appreciate the outpouring of support but I want to emphasize that everyone should remain calm and please respect the university, its property and all that we value.
I have been incredibly blessed to spend my entire career working with people I love. I am grateful beyond words to all of the coaches, players and staff who have been part of this program.
And to all of our fans and supporters, my family and I will be forever in your debt.
Comments (35)
in inceptum finis est— Eagle1Vegas- This incident reminds me of the movie “The Caine Mutiny”, where Bogart (Paterno) is canned and the real culprit gets off. No matter how this ends, one thing is for sure. McQueary screwed up royally. Imagine if Paterno was out of town when the 2002 incident unfolded. He would still be coaching today, because the idiotic "should have done more" accusations would have never materialized. Dad and lad McQueary essentially sunk Paterno by first not taking immediate action in the shower and by second not going to the police that night. Sandusky would have been caught dead to rights by DNA samples and by testimony from the Victim.
Well, here we sit and the Board of Trustees looks diplomatic in their decision. It was like shooting fish in a barrel, but the wrong man was on trial and I wish I had a glass of Champagne to throw in the right man’s face!
— Eagle1Vegas - Eagle1Vegas, read what you just wrote. Do you actually think JoePa wasn't aware of the investigation regarding Sandusky abusing kids that took place in 1998?— jtj06
- Read it, spell-checked it, and posted it. The Grand Jury report on the 1998 Victim 6 indicates a Detective Schreffler advised Sandusky not to shower with any child, to which he concurred. This incident was not reported to Paterno, though yes, through a grapevine he may have heard about it. Yes, I believe that was why Sandusky was later told he was not Paterno's successor and why Sandusky was forced to retire in 1999. In 2002, armed with two hearsay incidents what "more" was Paterno to do about it? Legally, he could not act on hearsay. In similarity, we all have access to sex offender data concerning their proximity to our homes. What can you do about it if your neighbor is listed?
— Eagle1Vegas - Honestly, this is the lamest excuse in defense of Paterno I have ever read. Do you really think Paterno wasn't aware of the 1998 allegations? In 2002 PSU banned Sandusky from bringing kids onto campus. Think Paterno didn't know that, either? Paterno and PSU did NOTHING to prevent children from getting raped. They simply prevented it from happening on their campus. Paterno might not have the most blood on his hands, but he surely is culpable. — JSaq
- Sigh! It is conceded in my reply that Paterno probably heard about the 1998 incident. It is also fact he heard about the 2002 incident. In either case, he legally could not spread slanderous accusations against Sandusky and common sense dictates that he was told to not concern himself with legalities by the Administration at some point. People wanting him to do more and firing him because he failed to do more is nothing short of throwing the baby out with the bath water. — Eagle1Vegas
- The Board of Trustees made the right decision.
Now FIRE the Board of Trustees.— croozn - My opinion of Paterno has been changed forever. It's clear to me he knew about this behavior yet did not use his position to make sure it was stopped. Paterno really did put the image of PSU, the football team and his public personna above the abuse and rape of children. He's just as much of a pig as Sandusky imo. This is Paterno's legacy...he allowed children to be raped in his lockeroom.— greenflyer
- Absolutely disgusting that Paterno did nothing. Amazing how he seemed to be infallible when in reality he is an egomaniacal phony. Shame on him and everyone involved that did nothing. Never thought I would say this but he is a real POS.— Jonny U
- Why would you fire the Board Croozn. Let's just shut down the college tell all the students to go home who had nothing to do with this. I just see pure hatred for PSU coming from your post. The ones who had something to do with this should be punished to the full extent of the law. By the way Croozn why don't we shut the whole town of State College dowen. Then the the county its in and the state of PA!!!— slade1955
- Still all about Joe. He won't get it unless he has to sit in jail. One thing, that university he loves??? He cost them millions. What about the kids Joe????????????????????????— mlwmlw
- the court of public opinion is a tricky thing. lets look at it from a personalized viewpoint... has any one of you ever witnessed something that was totally wrong but said nothing? have you ever known that a close relative or friend was cheating on his/her spouse? has any one of you witnessed the beating of a child by the hands of his/her mother or father and did not contact the department of human services? has anyone one of you ever witnessed a co - worker abusing drugs? what about ignoring a resume because the name looks black or latino, or for that mater, female? what happened at PS is horrible. I agree. but before we cast the first stone at JoePa, lets look in the mirror and remember... we have ALL done something on the same lines that JoePa has and were never publicly ridiculed. the court of public opinion is a mother.— ceage
- Seems to me there is a HUGE difference between catching someone cheating on their spouse and witnessing someone raping a 10-year old boy.
- Hes known about Sandusky being a rapist since at least the late 90's and never did anything in an effort to protect his legacy and that of the University. This has been a massive coverup led by Paterno and the Administration. The Trustees did the right thing.... for the first time, in this sad despicable mess— HAROLD Eskin
Comment removed.- From all reports, Joe did do the right thing by reporting it to his supervisors. This is nothing more than a witch hunt and this provides an excuse to kick an old man, who happens to be a legend, to the curb using the absolute BS line that this is "for the children" or has anything to do with "justice" or "innocence". We are innocent until proven guilty and Paterno in no way abetted the crime that took place nor had knowledge that such activity was continuing. Truthfully, the line about "for the children" is an absolute farce. The children are now legally abused in every way possible from P.D.A. (e.g. hugging = suspension), to Monsanto's genetically modified poisons readily available in the the schools, to the mandatory vaccines (mercury toxifies the human body, especially in children). In some states, schools are now allowed to administer vaccination shots without a parent present. And THEY talk about "innocence" and "abuse". Excuse me while I vomit. As for Jerry, any punishment he receives will be a trifle of the eternal one that awaits him in hell.— Bluegrass Funk
- I don't think there is any way McQueary will be anywhere near that stadium on Saturday— HAROLD Eskin
- I agree that Paterno's legacy is that he allowed children to be raped in his locker room.— Edward L Norton
- -that rally for joe was the perfect ending to the GMAS
- that's cmas and it was a joke. those dopes on college ave is REALLY making IT hard for people to take a psu graduate seriously. PUT THE PITCH FORKS DOWN YOU DOPES!
- Paterno's disappointed that he couldn't finish the season? Poor baby. But that's what citadels like Penn State have wrought: sycophants of football and coaches like Paterno who are reflections of the school's "winning" formula: chauvanism, paternalism, misogyny.
The place is an Old Boy network through and through. It is rife with feudal values, the kind that demean all of society except the high priests who run it. The pathetic truth is that society continues to revere these corrupt dinosaurs. No doubt, they will continue to do so -- even after this outrage -- because people need their "heroes."
— Delving Eye - First, I am not a Penn State fan. However, what I saw last night from the Board was a bunch of rats deserting a sinking ship. I feel so sad for the game of football that this is how Joe leaves the game. He built a po-dunk school in the middle of nowhere into the university it is today. Why isn't McQueary gone? He's the one who SAW the crime being commited and didn't go to the police?— Vote for Dickie
- How can you honestly say you feel bad for the game of football? It was football, the money it generated and the greed associated with it that caused this whole mess. It allowed a child molester access to children, it caused a GA to go to the Pope of PSU, Joe Pa with what he saw rather then beat the hell out of his, and caused 6 figure administrators to perjure themselves. It was all done to protect the football program and the money train it generated. — blackknight
Does anyone believe that no one else in positions of authority, including the board, didn't know? Another question: What would JoePa have done if it was his grandson? He would have ripped out the guy's lungs and then called the police - if he had any integrity. All those who support that he should have followed up or called the police have it totally correct. This has turned into no more than what happened throughout the Catholic Church - passing the buck. It's also typical of a large bureaucracy; i.e., I've taken my action, it's in my out box; it's up to the next person. Never mind that, in the meantime, destruction of lives will take place. AND, HE DIDN’T ACT ANY FURTHER WHEN HE SAW UNIVERSITY AUTHORITIES WERE NOT TAKING ACTION??!! Joe Pa's integrity is really suspect when he gave all those 'inspirational' speeches given before and at halftime about integrity, doing the right thing, etc. Joe Pa is as guilty as the actual perpetrators.- I disagree. If this had happened to Paterno's grandson, he wouldn't have done a bloody thing. His generation left things alone -- particularly when their livelihood was at stake.
I'm 58 and I witnessed the "let sleeping dogs lie" ethos many times from people of the so-called "greatest" generation, where protecting one's livelihood was paramount.
These guys lived through the Great Depression and that deprivation stuck. They may have known how to win a war but they still make up an Old Boy network that has yet to die (think the Catholic church, of which Paterno is a member).
These guys are anachronisms: paternalistic, chauvinistic, misogynistic.— Delving Eye - McQueary's cover up participation was rewarded with a job position which was bought and paid for with the rape of a 10 year old boy (which he could and should have easily stopped). That innocent child and everyone abused thereafter rests on McQueary's shoulders and lack of conscience.— patdanimal
- i think mcq did go to the police. i think the police was on the the line when sandy admitted his quilt but the police didn't press charges. and somehow, psu wants us to think that mcq is a hero, even though he walked out on a 10yr old being raped.
-then the board replaced paterno with another informant, and wants us to blv that too is ok.
-the board sat up there last night as if in their feable minds, they think this is over.
-considering the scandal, it is not out of the question for the team to forfeit their remaining 2 games(both on the road)if they lose on sat. they really haven't beaten anybody anyway, despite the 8-1 record. why put those kids through the the hell they're gonna get up at Ohio State/Wisc. - I've said it 100 times.. the sad part is this the focus is on Paterno, football, McQuery, etc. The focus should be on the victims. All of those holier-than-thou types casting hate and judgement should remember them. This is the organization providing many of the victims with free counseling. www.letgoletpeacecomein.org. I encourage all to donate, as I have.— JWB109
- the rage is for all responsible parties. it's a sensitive topic to speak indepth about the victims. espcially since we don;t know much about them specicfically. but no one has forgotten about them. as an alum, i think they should forfeit all their remaining games,but the Big Ten won't have any of that.
- The most disturbing thing of all is that McQuery walks in on a child being raped and didn't even stop that???? What the hell is wrong with these people?? I don't care you are or who is involved, anyone with any kind of decency can't see something like that and walk away. As for JoePa I feel that somehow he is feeling the brunt of this debaucle more than anyone and to some degree righly so as he's essentialy the CEO of football and this happened on his watch. That said its very sad that this will overshadow all the great things he's done not just for PSU but for the families of all the players and the level of standards acedemically that you can't find anywhere outside of State College for a program at this level. Its also sickening that all the haters of PSU are just loving that this iconic legend is being disgraced. Now they dont' have to feel bad about their school and how pathetic the morals and ethics are there.— JuanSamuel4prez
- As a teacher, we are all required by law to report suspected abuse of children...hearsay does not play into it and reporting to our superiors does not meet the requirements of the law...we must report to social services division of child welfare...JoPa's crime is one of omission and he is fortunate to have only lost his job and reputation... those kids lost a lot more....— jmac21921
- As a teacher, we are all required by law to report suspected abuse of children...hearsay does not play into it and reporting to our superiors does not meet the requirements of the law...we must report to social services division of child welfare...JoPa's crime is one of omission and he is fortunate to have only lost his job and reputation... those kids lost a lot more....— jmac21921
- In 1998 Joe fired Sandusky from his staff, after the police did nothing in answer to a PSU complaint. So far as I know this is the only punitive action taken against hi. Police Commissioner Frank Noonan should explain what action he or his police took in response to the 1998 allegations and in view of Sandusky's continued connection with the Second Mile organization. Reading that organization's statement, they stress the alleged crimes took place off their property. But they were all their kids. Does not their stewardship extend to them as well as to their property?— Billbe good.
- what w're loving is that something is finally being done. not enough, but it's start.
- Bubba is waiting for you Joe Pa, and he's angry.— Tyrone Biggums
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About this blog
Joe Juliano has been a staff writer for The Inquirer for 20 years, covering college sports, golf and the Penn Relays.
This season is Joe's fourth season on the paper's Penn State beat. He previously covered the Nittany Lions for United Press International from 1976 to 1984.
Emily Kaplan is the Inquirer’s fall intern covering the Nittany Lions. She is a senior at Penn State and has covered a variety of sports for the university’s student-run paper, The Daily Collegian. Over the last two years, she has reported for The Associated Press from State College.
A Montclair, N.J. native, she has also interned at MLB Network, NHL.com and covered the 2012 Olympics in London. Follow her on Twitter here @EKaplan24.
Joe Juliano
This season is Joe's fourth season on the paper's Penn State beat. He previously covered the Nittany Lions for United Press International from 1976 to 1984.
Emily Kaplan is the Inquirer’s fall intern covering the Nittany Lions. She is a senior at Penn State and has covered a variety of sports for the university’s student-run paper, The Daily Collegian. Over the last two years, she has reported for The Associated Press from State College.
A Montclair, N.J. native, she has also interned at MLB Network, NHL.com and covered the 2012 Olympics in London. Follow her on Twitter here @EKaplan24.
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