# 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:** 330
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6583 "2015-01-19T19:11:06Z")
> [@Mince](#): > > Even if I did attend Penn St. at the time, why would I be personally ashamed? My daughter is a Penn State grad. She used to wear PSU hoodies, have a PSU license plate, use a PSU coffee mug, etc. Ever since the Sandusky/Paterno thing she has dumped all of it. She is still proud of her profession (nursing) but doesn’t wanna be seen as a supporter of her alma mater. ---
**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:** [January 19, 2015, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6584 "2015-01-19T20:23:50Z")
As far as giving them the wins back, I think at this point, does it really matter? We already know they won, they know they won, it’s stupid to just say, “oh, we’re not going to count it in the record book”. (Isn’t THAT re-writing history too?) HOWEVER, that doesn’t mean you sweep this all under the rug. That doesn’t mean they have to put Paterno’s statue back up. They could change the name of the library as well. Still keep this in the public minds. Set up a charity towards helping children who’ve been abused. There’s probably ways to do both. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6585 "2015-01-19T21:07:20Z")
That’s certainly a real concern. There certainly are mouth breathing class-A jerkoffs (a couple in this very thread, actually) who would try to use even that tiny foothold to make the giant leap and try to retroactively unrape children. But going forward, most people associated with Penn State aren’t going to forget or be allowed to forget. The children’s charities are already established. And the shame will linger in the public consciousness for a generation (and in recorded form for longer). The wins are meaningless at this point either way. All it really does is demonstrate once again how clueless and inept the NCAA really is. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6586 "2015-01-19T21:09:34Z")
Sometime about a year ago I saw an announcement for five faculty positions at PSU, seeking people with a research focus in child trauma. The state also changed the requirements for continuing education for psychologists to make sure that at least part of their CE is in mandated reporting - I’d bet we weren’t the only discipline to have that change. I’m sure lots of other changes are going on. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6587 "2015-01-19T23:28:50Z")
But while we’re at it, can we make sure the statue is fed to a car crusher, then melted into five hundred paperweights so nobody is tempted to put it up again? ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6588 "2015-01-20T00:53:22Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > But while we’re at it, can we make sure the statue is fed to a car crusher, then melted into five hundred paperweights so nobody is tempted to put it up again? 500 JoePa paperweights? ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6589 "2015-01-20T01:03:47Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > 500 JoePa paperweights? 500 [Jake Robeson](http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2010/6/28/651622/penn-state-history-the-lehigh) paperweights, with a nice big “106-0” caption on each one. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6590 "2015-01-20T01:04:42Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > 500 JoePa paperweights? Like this? NSFW [https://www.crystal-fox.com/webart/products\_large/10262.jpg](https://www.crystal-fox.com/webart/products_large/10262.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6591 "2016-05-06T00:52:23Z")
Updating this thread: > [@](#): > > A new bombshell dropped in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal Thursday. It came in the form of a single line in a court order on a related insurance coverage case involving Penn State, and its full ramifications can’t immediately be gauged. But that line was eye-popping in itself. > > The line in question states that one of Penn State’s insurers has claimed “in 1976, a child allegedly reported to PSU’s Head Coach Joseph Paterno that he (the child) was sexually molested by Sandusky.” > > The order also cites separate references in 1987 and 1988 in which unnamed assistant coaches witnessed inappropriate contact between Sandusky and unidentified children, and a 1988 case that was supposedly referred to Penn State’s athletic director at the time > **[Child told Paterno of sex abuse in 1976, court papers allege](https://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/05/court_filing_says_joe_paterno.html)** > > The one-line reference raises more questions than it answers, but it is fuel for an ongoing debate. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6592 "2016-05-06T02:17:05Z")
Not at all surprised by this news – the evidence had already showed, over and over again, that Paterno valued his reputation and the reputation of the Penn State football program over protecting children from harm. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6593 "2016-05-06T02:57:41Z")
Just when I thought it was safe to put the paper towel tubes away … ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6594 "2016-05-06T03:00:35Z")
Someone should have to fornicate a zombie in front of their coworkers for bumping this thread. And not be allowed a shower thereafter. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6595 "2016-05-06T03:35:02Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Someone should have to fornicate a zombie in front of their coworkers for bumping this thread. And not be allowed a shower thereafter. No kidding. I’d blocked this thread out long ago, only to have some mf resurrect it. May they burn in hell for eternity :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6596 "2016-05-06T04:22:12Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Not at all surprised by this news – the evidence had already showed, over and over again, that Paterno valued his reputation and the reputation of the Penn State football program over protecting children from harm. It’s still startling, and heartbreaking, that there’s evidence of such going back a further 18 years earlier. > [@Enola\_Gay](#): > > May they burn in hell for eternity :mad: Joe is. Jerry will join him. ---
**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:** [May 6, 2016, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6597 "2016-05-06T05:07:12Z")
Yet another reason to be a Pitt fan. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6598 "2016-05-06T05:38:23Z")
Of course the usual Penn State excuse makers are already out on full force on this. “Let Joe rest in peace”, the latest accusation is by someone looking for a quick buck (or, better yet, from Jerry Sandusky), Joe didn’t molest the children Jerry Sandusky did, blah blah blah the shocking lack of shame you typically hear from those people that come from that place. ---
**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:** [May 6, 2016, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6599 "2016-05-06T09:37:19Z")
I am reserving judgment - one line without detail or corroboration is not yet enough to warrant getting the axe-sharpener out of the basement. But if it does transpire that Joe had reason to suspect something was amiss as early as **1976** …man, that’s bad. Very, very bad. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2016, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6600 "2016-05-06T11:42:49Z")
Before we go besmirching the name of Joe Paterno, who I remind you is a good, decent and honorable man because he coached a football team that won a lot of very important football games, let’s remember that we’re talking about court papers here. We need input from an expert— someone intimately familiar with paperwork, who knows all the ins and outs, who’s pumped up and ready to hunker down and thrust himself into the middle of this thing, someone who knows which end is up and is willing to see it through to completion. If nothing hard turns up it won’t mean squat, but oh boy oh boy _oh boy_, things could get messy REAL fast. ---
**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:** [May 6, 2016, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6601 "2016-05-06T11:53:27Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Before we go besmirching the name of Joe Paterno, who I remind you is a good, decent and honorable man because he coached a football team that won a lot of very important football games, Hang on there - JoePa is certainly beloved because of his football success but he was also involved in a lot of charity work and it’s notable that one of the main buildings named after him is not a sports hall but a library to which he donated millions. Even if he did (allegedly) deliberately disregard allegations of child abuse he did some good things too. People are rarely all good or all bad; let us recognize both in their measure. I will not excuse his crimes nor erase his good deeds. ---
**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:** [May 6, 2016, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167/6602 "2016-05-06T12:59:11Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > JoePa is certainly beloved because of his football success but he was also involved in a lot of charity work … Yeah. Like supplying free boys to Sandusky. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167.md?page=329) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-to-officially-pit-joe-paterno-and-the-penn-state-football-program/602167.md?page=331)