# 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:** 182
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/3622 "2012-06-13T13:22:42Z")
You could check that hypothesis fairly easily with a cardboard tube or two. ---
**Author:** ![martu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@martu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/martu)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/3623 "2012-06-13T13:38:36Z")
> [@albeit](#): > > okay I came here as I googled how a 6’3" man with his arm around said boy with his hands up against wall can bugger a small ten year old?. The Ads you are now seeing must be ‘interesting’ to say the least. The answer to your question in in this thread. Somewhere. We have had discussions of the physics, a suggested ‘experiment’ (which must not be tried at home) and even the testimony of someone who experienced something similar. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/3624 "2012-06-13T13:39:12Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > You could check that hypothesis fairly easily with a cardboard tube or two. Two? You’d need 100. All lined up, shish-ka-bob style. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2012, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/3625 "2012-06-13T13:43:13Z")
> [@albeit](#): > > okay I came here as I googled how a 6’3" man with his arm around said boy with his hands up against wall can bugger a small ten year old? Hey, tell us what Chris Hanson is really like after you meet him. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/3626 "2012-06-13T13:49:36Z")
I hope there were at least some hits for Yahoo! Answers and eHow before ours came up. ---
**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:** [June 13, 2012, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/3627 "2012-06-13T13:52:35Z")
> [@albeit](#): > > okay I came here as I googled how a 6’3" man with his arm around said boy with his hands up against wall can bugger a small ten year old? Despite that this kind of horsing around is not appropriate, it isnt illegal . As it turns out, it is. It’s already been discussed earlier in this thread. Happy reading! ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/3628 "2012-06-13T13:57:33Z")
> [@albeit](#): > > We might as well Pin a large M on Sandusky as did the mob in the Scarlet letter pinned an A on that poor woman. Hester Prynne actually did commit adultery. She was treated horribly by a lot of hypocrites because of it, but if you’re trying to argue for Sandusky’s innocence that’s not the example you want to use. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/3629 "2012-06-13T22:29:58Z")
> [@albeit](#): > > okay I came here as I googled how a 6’3" man with his arm around said boy with his hands up against wall can bugger a small ten year old? Despite that this kind of horsing around is not appropriate, it isnt illegal . Horsing around, is that what the young folks are calling that these days? Anyway, you are aware, are you not, that Sandusky has been charged with 52 counts involving at least ten victims, right? Just sayin’, the whole case doesn’t hinge on this one detail. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2012, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/3630 "2012-06-13T23:00:36Z")
> [@martu](#): > > The Ads you are now seeing must be ‘interesting’ to say the least. > > The answer to your question in in this thread. Somewhere. We have had discussions of the physics, a suggested ‘experiment’ (which must not be tried at home) and even the testimony of someone who experienced something similar. What page is this experiment in? I’m curious and I have a large teddy bear I can use ---
**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:** [June 13, 2012, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/3631 "2012-06-13T23:42:54Z")
Teddy bear? Your over-reaching, young man. Have you no Bounty lying about? Perhaps a Brawny? ---
**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:** [June 13, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/3632 "2012-06-13T23:59:14Z")
I’m not reading the transcript of the trial and I’m not on the jury but, based on what is being reported, is there any way Sandusky gets off and the PSU reputation isn’t further sullied? Despite what **GIGObuster** thinks, I’m not trying to milk the thread. He’s the one that returns to the punch bowl with the turd in it. The tread has been hijacked every which way but sometimes when you enter “Bizzaro World” you should just ride with it and see where it takes you. Fasten your seat belt and enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/3633 "2012-06-14T01:32:34Z")
> [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > The **tread** has been hijacked every which way but sometimes when you enter “Bizzaro World” you should just ride with it and see where it takes you. Fasten your seat belt and enjoy. Are you suggesting we put this thread on a treadmill? ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/3634 "2012-06-14T01:35:48Z")
Has anyone been following the trial (or seen a summary from someone who has)? From what I’ve seen of media reports, it does not look like Sandusky’s lawyers have put up much of a defense. (The only thing I saw favorable was that one of the accusers admitted that some of his accusations were recovered memories, recently recovered with the help of his therapist.) ---
**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:** [June 14, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/3635 "2012-06-14T02:36:22Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > Are you suggesting we put this thread on a treadmill? No, I’m suggesting that with the trial having actually started it might be a good time to put it back on track. So far, what I’m reading is that Sandusky is getting toasted, and he should have copped a plea a long time ago. You can’t trot that many witnesses up there and expect a jury to think that they are all lying. It seems to me that Sandusky has very incompetent legal representation. That’s his problem. Someone tell us where the prosecution’s case might be falling apart. From what I’ve seen it is worse than what was earlier reported and PSU looks horrible in this. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2012, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/3636 "2012-06-14T02:40:28Z")
On the local news someone commented that it’s unlikely they’d have offered him a plea bargain in the first place – the charges are simply too heinous. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2012, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/3637 "2012-06-14T05:32:59Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > On the local news someone commented that it’s unlikely they’d have offered him a plea bargain in the first place – the charges are simply too heinous. You may very well be right. It’s just that usually when a case is pretty much a slam-dunk the attorney for the defense cuts some kind of deal. The prosecution will listen just to save time and money. I guess what I’m asking, is there anyway, based on the current testimony, that the jury could come back with anything other than a guilty verdict and have the judge throw Sandusky’s sorry ass in prison for the rest of his life. That life might be shorter than Jeffrey Dahmer’s. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2012, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/3638 "2012-06-14T05:40:11Z")
Dan Patrick was saying on his show earlier today that he thinks Sandusky’s a sick fuck and that he belongs in prison. (Well, he didn’t exactly call him that, but he wasn’t too complimentary) ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/3639 "2012-06-14T13:07:55Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > Has anyone been following the trial (or seen a summary from someone who has)? I started [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=654425) at the time of the jury selection and it has kind of followed along with the trial so far. > [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > You can’t trot that many witnesses up there and expect a jury to think that they are all lying. It seems to me that Sandusky has very incompetent legal representation. That’s his problem. Yup, I’m calling it now. Sandusky is toast. After reading the testimony from McQueary and the janitors who were allowed to relay conversations with a now severely disabled former coworker, there is plenty of damning testimony beyond that of the actual accusors. The witnesses, by most accounts, have managed to paint an even more disgusting picture of Sandusky than had been anticipated. The defense probably didn’t have much of a chance in the first place, but they have made some blunders in their cross examinations. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2012, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/3640 "2012-06-14T13:33:59Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Yup, I’m calling it now. Sandusky is toast. Nice work, Nostradomus. I think most of us figured that out some where around “rhythmic slapping sounds.” ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2012, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/3641 "2012-06-14T13:38:05Z")
The problem with any plea deal is that anything he copped to would essentially mean life in prison anyway, so that leaves them very little to lose by going to trial. Plus, if Sandusky chooses to continue denying the allegations, his defense team has no choice but to try the case, no matter how much of a dead-dog loser the case happens to be. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167.md?page=181) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167.md?page=183)