Now for those reading this column expecting a glowing obituary for a renowned coach who truly deserves one, you may want to click elsewhere as this is not that kind of a piece. And for anyone hoping I rip Paterno to shreds, again you will need to look elsewhere.
I am writing for those of us trapped in the middle — for those who watched the Penn State story unfold without the ability to see the world in black and white.
I am genuinely saddened to hear a wife has lost her husband and children have lost their father. But that mourning for the Paternos subconsciously shifts to mourning the innocence of the little boys that could have been saved had Paterno fought to protect them with as much vigilance as he used to protect his good name in the aftermath of the scandal. It’s unfair to blame Paterno for what Sandusky is accused of doing, but it’s impossible to accept Paterno did anywhere near to all he could by simply alerting two university officials to one incident. Years passed and the coach didn’t utter one word about what he knew about Sandusky to the media but he managed to address the media on his front porch within hours of his firing.
If you’ve ever held a crying child in your arms, it’s hard to see Paterno as a victim of the media.
But if you’ve ever made a mistake, if you’ve ever mishandled a difficult situation, if you’ve ever done something you’ve regretted, then it should be hard to characterize JoePa — a man who has done so much good outside of football — as a pariah.
And therein lies the rub: What do you do when a wonderful man who made a terrible mistake dies? How do you properly honor an admirable life without whitewashing the egregious shortcomings that ruined the lives of others? I see the Penn State students paying tribute to Paterno in front of his statue on campus and wonder how many would still do so if they had young children of their own to protect. How many would do so if they were one of Sandusky’s alleged victims.
This is a good piece. I saw so many posts yesterday saying “good riddance” and “I’m happy he’s dead,” and honestly I was shocked and so, well, sickened. What Joe Paterno did was terrible, but I don’t think it’s right to dance on ANYONE’s grave.
I think that piece more accurately reflects how I feel about Paterno than any other that I’ve read.
My hope is that everyone who has ripped him to shreds in the last four months, will come to a point in their lives that they are judged solely by their mistakes.
