# It's time to officially Pit Joe Paterno and the Penn State football program. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 7, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167 "2011-11-07T14:23:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 137
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/2722 "2012-02-07T19:59:01Z")
> [@Huerta88](#): > > And – Paterno was fired after a two and a half year highly professional investigation of his and everyone else’s conduct and inaction. Lets stay real. Yes, he was fired after the investigation. But he wasn’t fired _because_ of the investigation’s findings. He was fired because of the uproar of public opinion. Rightly so, but still… ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/2723 "2012-02-07T20:29:11Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > However, I note FTR that he didn’t actually say “secret message”. He said “not so secret message”. That means the opposite of “secret message”. You’ve got me on that. And his evasion still doesn’t make the least bit of sense as anything except evasion. ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/2724 "2012-02-07T20:40:02Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > Lets stay real. Yes, he was fired after the investigation. But he wasn’t fired _because_ of the investigation’s findings. I didn’t say the investigation was about him, or was the sole cause of his dismissal, but the facts unveiled in the investigation were what the Board faulted him for. **SA** ’s claims that any outcome other than letting Paterno be coach for life with no censure is “not due process” aside, if there had been huge public outcry but **no** facts (presumably, facts from the investigation) painting Paterno in a negligent light, the Board would not have fired him (because again contra **SA** there was no free-floating let’s-lynch-Joe-P. animus anywhere, let alone in Happy Valley). The bigger point is all the bleating about “due process” from **SA** is stupid in view of the fact that Paterno had months and months to reveal to the investigators and the Board and the public any “real evidence,” countervailing facts, legal or moral excuse, that would trump the undisputed fact that he only did the legal minimum. Paterno came forth with no such facts or arguments (in fact his attempts at exculpation, such as they were, make him look worse, as in “I didn’t want to ruin Curley’s weekend, so I delayed calling him.”). The Board decided that wasn’t good enough and was not going to try to defend the position it was good enough to the public, the victims, the authorities. They relied upon their business judgment in all the circumstances, as the culmination of a long process in which it became clear Paterno just didn’t have any **good** excuse for his minimal actions. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/2725 "2012-02-07T23:40:59Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > However, I note FTR that he didn’t actually say “secret message”. He said “not so secret message”. That means the opposite of “secret message”. Is that the one about the Ovaltine? Because I’m warning you, it’s a goddamn commercial. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/2726 "2012-02-07T23:42:57Z")
Not to mention “due process” doesn’t apply in Paterno’s case. Penn State isn’t the government. In theory, they could fire the guy for wearing white after Labor Day. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2012, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/2727 "2012-02-07T23:54:47Z")
> [@Huerta88](#): > > You’ve got me on that. > > And his evasion still doesn’t make the least bit of sense as anything except evasion. It’s not an evasion. The answer you seek is to be found all over this thread, plus I reiterated it last night in a single post to see if you could spot it there. The problem, you see, is that you’re fuming, and like that other great detective Nero Wolfe once observed, “One cannot think when one fumes.” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/2728 "2012-02-08T00:28:26Z")
Archie was the smart one. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/2729 "2012-02-08T02:16:07Z")
Nah, Archie was funny, smart, clever and resourceful - plus, he got all the wimmens, easily the most important quality of all 😃 - but he was no match for Wolfe’s genius, and he knew it. ---
**Author:** ![Robb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Robb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robb)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/2730 "2012-02-08T02:30:38Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > Lets stay real. Yes, he was fired after the investigation. But he wasn’t fired _because_ of the investigation’s findings. He was fired because of the uproar of public opinion. Rightly so, but still… He was fired because the governor, who started the investigation when he was a prosecutor, told the Board of Trustees to fire him. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/2731 "2012-02-08T03:41:41Z")
Update. Now this: [http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-pennstate-abuse](http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-pennstate-abuse) Overreaction? Maybe. However, the guy has been charged with **52** counts. That’s takes him out of the “give the guy a break” mode. Look, as the OP, I’m quite amazed that this thread has gone viral in the SDMB sense. I’m not trying to stoke it. But nonetheless, the story continues to evolve. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/2732 "2012-02-08T03:44:51Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > BC: Fine! _slams down badge_ But you haven’t seen the last of Bizzaro Columbo! I’m going straight to the defense attorney! My favorite part of this is imagining Bizarro Columbo waddling out of the office with his pants still around his ankles and a cardboard tube jammed onto his dick. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/2733 "2012-02-08T04:02:38Z")
Sandusky: “The best way to describe it is I feel very violated.” Lololol. Yes. I’m sure you do. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/2734 "2012-02-08T04:10:19Z")
Can none of the natterers read for comprehension in this thread? It was Sandusky’s neighbor Jody Harrington who, though neither he nor his children have been harmed in the slightest, stated that he “felt violated”. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/2735 "2012-02-08T04:14:23Z")
You’re right, I did think that quote was attributed to Sandusky. But I merely thought it was a poor choice of words, given the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/2736 "2012-02-08T04:19:29Z")
She couldn’t feel violated; she’s way too short. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/2737 "2012-02-08T04:32:13Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > My favorite part of this is imagining Bizarro Columbo waddling out of the office with his pants still around his ankles and a cardboard tube jammed onto his dick. LOL! So good it has to be true! I left out this part though, before the paper tube test… BC: Imagine if you will, 100 young boys all lined up in a row, and you ask them, “Would you rather be fondled or raped in the ass?”… Mayor: BIZARRRROOOOOOO!!! ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/2738 "2012-02-08T04:41:51Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > You’re right, I did think that quote was attributed to Sandusky. But I merely thought it was a poor choice of words, given the situation. At least you can admit it when you’re wrong. **Huerta** should take lessons. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/2739 "2012-02-08T05:07:29Z")
You are a beacon to us all. ---
**Author:** ![Lubricious\_Integument](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/82dd89/32.png) [@Lubricious\_Integument](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lubricious_Integument)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/2740 "2012-02-08T05:13:21Z")
Mmmmm bacon ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/2741 "2012-02-08T05:18:07Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > At least you can admit it when you’re wrong. **Huerta** should take lessons. Oh, oh, I’m dying here. Oh dear god, I just about choked on my popcorn reading this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167.md?page=136) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167.md?page=138)