By most accounts, including his own, Joe Paterno should have done more. But, while it might be a small point, his error was one of omission, not commission. But we should all be judged on the totality of our lives. Paterno did a great deal of good in his life as well. He built a football program by supporting and improving the lives of thousands of young men. He supported minority athletes when many of them were not given a fair chance. Millions of fans and alums loved the entertainment of his teams. He was a great father and grandfather. He gave millions back to the school.
I’m not advocating that he should be completely forgiven, or even forgiven at all. Only that there is much more on the positive side of the ledger than is being acknowledged here.