# 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:** 204
**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:** [July 20, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4062 "2012-07-20T19:41:52Z")
[Update on the Paterno statue.](http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/07/20/2904460/penn-st-president-weighing-paterno.html) > [@](#): > > Penn State’s president is methodically seeking input from trustees, alumni and other constituencies about the fate of the Joe Paterno statue outside the football stadium. I don’t get that. Make the call, prez. Don’t let all the jaded alumni and other defenders make a call that would continue to make the university look bad. ---
**Author:** ![PacifistPorcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PacifistPorcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PacifistPorcupine)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4063 "2012-07-20T19:50:02Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > [Update on the Paterno statue.](http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/07/20/2904460/penn-st-president-weighing-paterno.html) > I don’t get that. Make the call, prez. Don’t let all the jaded alumni and other defenders make a call that would continue to make the university look bad. Whichever way he goes, somebody is going to be pissed. Better to have somebody to blame for the decision later. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4064 "2012-07-21T07:01:35Z")
**F-P** , if you are interested in reading the actual 1998 police report, here’s a link: [1998PoliceReport](http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Sections/NEWS/redactedpolicereport.pdf). ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4065 "2012-07-21T07:23:46Z")
Seasock report: [SeasockReport](http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/sandusky-boy-shower-another-coach-present-30006) Chamber’s report: [ChambersReport](http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/1998-mommy-didnt-jerry-know-it-was-wrong-30003) ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4066 "2012-07-22T13:11:38Z")
CNN is reporting that not only is the statue coming down, it’s happening right now. > **[Source: Penn State to be hit with fines in excess of $30 million | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2012/07/22/us/penn-state-paterno-statue/index.html)** > > Penn State will be hit with more than $30 million in fines as part of penalties to be announced Monday by the NCAA, a source said. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4067 "2012-07-22T13:23:40Z")
Or not. Now it’s just a fence and a tarp. However, the statue is coming down. Library remains the same. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4068 "2012-07-22T15:11:30Z")
CNN says it “has been taken down” and is stored “in a secure location.” Possibly in a fully-stocked leather dungeon under the Sandusky home… ---
**Author:** ![jordanr2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@jordanr2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jordanr2)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4069 "2012-07-22T15:24:32Z")
I liked a comment I saw on Twitter about putting the statue in the library to remind everyone to keep quiet. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4070 "2012-07-22T15:39:25Z")
Good one! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4071 "2012-07-22T15:57:31Z")
NCAA will announce Monday what penalties they will impose. The measures will be “corrective and punitive.” ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4072 "2012-07-22T17:08:19Z")
I hadn’t thought the NCAA would really go with the death penalty, the identified culprits all being fired or dead now. But that statement sure sounds like it’s coming. If that’s an overreaction, given the NCAA’s scope of responsibility, it’s understandable anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4073 "2012-07-22T18:47:06Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > NCAA will announce Monday what penalties they will impose. The measures will be “corrective and punitive.” When asked what that means, NCAA president Mark Emmert cryptically said, “we had to go by the paper towel tubes told us”. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4074 "2012-07-22T19:09:10Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > CNN says it “has been taken down” and is stored “in a secure location.” Possibly in a fully-stocked leather dungeon under the Sandusky home… Isn’t that where they used to keep Dick Cheney? ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4075 "2012-07-22T19:10:36Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I hadn’t thought the NCAA would really go with the death penalty, the identified culprits all being fired or dead now. But that statement sure sounds like it’s coming. If that’s an overreaction, given the NCAA’s scope of responsibility, it’s understandable anyway. The linked article above says no death penalty but severe penalties, worse than just limiting scholarships and bowl ban. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4076 "2012-07-22T19:13:01Z")
Sources are saying that the death penalty would have been preferable to what the NCAA is going to do to them. I’m betting a loss of **all** football scholarships for quite a bit, plus no bowls this century, plus massive fines. I’d also like to think they’d put term limits on all PSU football coaches, so they can serve with the university for no longer than say 10 years. That would prevent the cult of personality from forming around anyone. If that means PSU football dies, so be it. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4077 "2012-07-22T19:21:50Z")
What’s been making me crazy today is the FB friends from around the State College area being OUTRAGED that the statue was removed. I certainly didn’t see that much outrage over the cover-up and enabling of child rape. I imagine my own FB post stating that is going to lead to a few unfriendings. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4078 "2012-07-22T19:34:27Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > What’s been making me crazy today is the FB friends from around the State College area being OUTRAGED that the statue was removed. I certainly didn’t see that much outrage over the cover-up and enabling of child rape. I imagine my own FB post stating that is going to lead to a few unfriendings. Yep. This is what I’ve been saying; the warped culture that allowed those crimes is _still there_, even with the leading individual figures gone. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4079 "2012-07-22T19:38:25Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > Isn’t that where they used to keep Dick Cheney? Oh, knee-slap and good-humored guffaw !!! Out there in reasonable proximity ( +/- 2 hours drive ) of State College, PA are most if not all of the men who were victimized. For them, the inability to stop shitting blood for a week and the memory of throwing up incessantly in a desperate attempt to get the smell of Jerry Sandusky’s cum out of their throat and mouth and nose are memories that are utterly humorless. How delightful that this is a source of lighthearted frivolity ! Feelin’ pretty good about yourselves, are you? Why not just admit it to yourselves and start up a separate thread called " Highjinks and Horseplay Penn State Syle " ? Then there can be a place all your own for the clever wordplay at the expense of others. Oh gosh, the witticisms. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4080 "2012-07-22T20:35:27Z")
You’re right. My sincere apologies for lowering the tone of this thread. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4081 "2012-07-22T20:42:18Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Oh, knee-slap and good-humored guffaw !!! > > Out there in reasonable proximity ( +/- 2 hours drive ) of State College, PA are most if not all of the men who were victimized. For them, the inability to stop shitting blood for a week and the memory of throwing up incessantly in a desperate attempt to get the smell of Jerry Sandusky’s cum out of their throat and mouth and nose are memories that are utterly humorless. > > How delightful that this is a source of lighthearted frivolity ! Feelin’ pretty good about yourselves, are you? Why not just admit it to yourselves and start up a separate thread called " Highjinks and Horseplay Penn State Syle " ? Then there can be a place all your own for the clever wordplay at the expense of others. Oh gosh, the witticisms. > > :mad: So it sounds like you are saying that nobody should ever make light of any situation, even tangentially, that caused someone else harm? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167.md?page=203) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167.md?page=205)