# 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:** 205
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4082 "2012-07-23T01:32:59Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Oh, knee-slap and good-humored guffaw !!! I am Sandusky and Paterno’s biggest critics, but I’m not above a little gallows humor. Though the Dick Cheney reference was a little odd. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4083 "2012-07-23T02:01:21Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Oh, knee-slap and good-humored guffaw !!! It’s almost as funny as arguing that Colin Farrell should have been charged with rape for his role in a movie. [Link](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=355044), for those unfamiliar with what i’m talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4084 "2012-07-23T03:50:00Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > I am Sandusky and Paterno’s biggest critics, but I’m not above a little gallows humor. Though the Dick Cheney reference was a little odd. Everybody’s a critic. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2012, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4085 "2012-07-23T04:01:28Z")
> [@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: Jesus, get over yourself. ---
**Author:** ![DragonAsh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DragonAsh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DragonAsh)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4086 "2012-07-23T08:52:00Z")
> [@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: Good god. Could you be any bigger of a douchebag? Is it possible? Go play in traffic please. ---
**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 23, 2012, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4087 "2012-07-23T10:54:24Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > It’s almost as funny as arguing that Colin Farrell should have been charged with rape for his role in a movie. > > [Link](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=355044), for those unfamiliar with what i’m talking about. You’ve never remembered to thank me for this gift. Tisk tisk. **DragonAsh** , are you sure you’re old enough to be posting on The Dope? ---
**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:** [July 23, 2012, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4088 "2012-07-23T11:31:34Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > I am Sandusky and Paterno’s biggest critics, but I’m not above a little gallows humor. Though the Dick Cheney reference was a little odd. I laughed, and understood the Cheney reference. I don’t get the outrage for the statue removal. It’s sad that things have come to this \ but the statue will only serve to stir up ire (and on a practical note will be vandalized constantly, requiring either increased security or increased repair). It needed to go. I’m sorry his legacy has been tarnished like this, but it’s him wot tarnished it. ---
**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 23, 2012, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4089 "2012-07-23T11:46:54Z")
One wonders if the [Airplane banner incident](http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/17/12794241-airplane-banner-tells-penn-state-take-joe-paterno-statue-down) from last week prompted a more rapid decision. The school would be on the hook if a student were injured or killed while trying to knock down the statue. Ridiculous but true. It was quite the mess when they tried to pull down [Saddam Hussein’s statue](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWxszYK6IPU). Perhaps the Admin wanted to be proactive from a safety point of view, forget the political point of view. ( Which, depending on what side you’ve taken is a shrewd and respectful call or an insult to All Things JoePa ). ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4090 "2012-07-23T12:29:32Z")
I think that they got a head’s up that the penalties will be severe and they are trying to curry some favor by taking the statue down ahead of the announcement. I don’t see it likely that a) there are any sizeable group on campus who want the statue down; and b) the administration gives a shit about the well being of any kids. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4091 "2012-07-23T13:44:08Z")
Here you go . . . [http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/ncaa-announces-penalties-penn-state-including-four-bowl-131754169–ncaaf.html](http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/ncaa-announces-penalties-penn-state-including-four-bowl-131754169--ncaaf.html) They would have been better off with the death penalty. Time to start thinking about becoming a basketball school. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4092 "2012-07-23T13:47:07Z")
“…All wins from 1998-2011 vacated” Well, looks like Bobby Bowden was on the committee… 😉 ---
**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 23, 2012, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4093 "2012-07-23T13:47:38Z")
What’s really got to sting is vacating the wins all the way back to '98. That voids Paterno’s breaking of the winningest coach record, which is quite appropriate, since it was probably the chase for that record that made him decide to keep the whole thing quiet. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2012, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4094 "2012-07-23T13:52:36Z")
Ouch. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4095 "2012-07-23T13:57:26Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > What’s really got to sting is vacating the wins all the way back to '98. That voids Paterno’s breaking of the winningest coach record, which is quite appropriate, since it was probably the chase for that record that made him decide to keep the whole thing quiet. JoePa is really going to be bummed when he hears this. Not to mention all the fans who had to sit through 12 winless seasons. They should be happy, the team may win a game or two next season, big improvement. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4096 "2012-07-23T14:46:01Z")
> [@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: Get a fucking life. I laughed. And I say this as someone who can still close my eyes and taste my rapist’s blood-and-shit-covered cock as it was forced down my 10 year-old throat. Since you seem to relish graphic details so much. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4097 "2012-07-23T15:31:29Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I laughed, and understood the Cheney reference. Was Cheney mentioned because he was secreted away to a “secure location” following the attacks on 9/11? ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4098 "2012-07-23T15:35:30Z")
Looks like Joe Paterno retroactively retired in 1998. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2012, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4099 "2012-07-23T15:49:22Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > Was Cheney mentioned because he was secreted away to a “secure location” following the attacks on 9/11? That’s how I read it. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4100 "2012-07-23T16:24:56Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > Looks like Joe Paterno retroactively retired in 1998. Ha! I commented earlier on a picture of Paterno getting a plaque for breaking the wins record and how hollow and meaningless the achievement seemed in light of the scandal. Looks like the NCAA agreed. It may seem minor compared to the fines and postseason bans, but I think it’s the most devastating strike against the cult of Paterno. They’re wiping his name from the official memory, and the entire image they constructed of him has collapsed. ---
**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 23, 2012, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/4101 "2012-07-23T16:44:19Z")
\*[del]Sethi[/del]NCAA: Let the name of [del]Moses[/del]Paterno be stricken from every book and tablet, stricken from all pylons and obelisks, stricken from every monument of [del]Egypt[/del]PSU. Let the name of [del]Moses[/del]Paterno be unheard and unspoken, erased from the memory of men for all time. \* [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167.md?page=204) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167.md?page=206)