Coach K's comments on Paterno...

[MikeSU02]

http://blogs.fayobserver.com/accbas...-K-responds-to-questions-about-controversy-su

Here's what Coach K had to say about Paterno:

"Unless you’re there, it’s tough to comment on everything. I just feel badly for him. Whatever he is responsible for, it will come out, and hopefully it will come out from him. I think one thing you have to understand is that Coach Paterno is 84 years old. I’m not saying that for an excuse. The cultures he's been involved in, both football-wise and socially, there have been immense changes. How social issues are handled in those generations are quite different. Quite different. I think that has something to do with the situation. That’s all I’m going to say."

But then he continued.

"It’s the worst thing that happened. THE worst thing that happened. And those worst things that happen have happened throughout his 84 years of life and in different cultures. How they’ve been handled during those times are different than how it’s handled now, thank goodness. But as we judge, remember that there’s just a lot there. There’s a lot, lot there. I think he’s a great man. It’s a horrific situation. Just horrific."

 

[rrlbees]

http://blogs.fayobserver.com/accbas...-K-responds-to-questions-about-controversy-su

Here's what Coach K had to say about Paterno:

"Unless you’re there, it’s tough to comment on everything. I just feel badly for him. Whatever he is responsible for, it will come out, and hopefully it will come out from him. I think one thing you have to understand is that Coach Paterno is 84 years old. I’m not saying that for an excuse. The cultures he's been involved in, both football-wise and socially, there have been immense changes. How social issues are handled in those generations are quite different. Quite different. I think that has something to do with the situation. That’s all I’m going to say."

But then he continued.

"It’s the worst thing that happened. THE worst thing that happened. And those worst things that happen have happened throughout his 84 years of life and in different cultures. How they’ve been handled during those times are different than how it’s handled now, thank goodness. But as we judge, remember that there’s just a lot there. There’s a lot, lot there. I think he’s a great man. It’s a horrific situation. Just horrific."

So what K is saying is that when Paterno was younger child sex abuse was OK? That's what it sounds like to me. Another person making an excuse for him.

 

[Chip]

http://blogs.fayobserver.com/accbas...-K-responds-to-questions-about-controversy-su

Here's what Coach K had to say about Paterno:

"Unless you’re there, it’s tough to comment on everything. I just feel badly for him. Whatever he is responsible for, it will come out, and hopefully it will come out from him. I think one thing you have to understand is that Coach Paterno is 84 years old. I’m not saying that for an excuse. The cultures he's been involved in, both football-wise and socially, there have been immense changes. How social issues are handled in those generations are quite different. Quite different. I think that has something to do with the situation. That’s all I’m going to say."

But then he continued.

"It’s the worst thing that happened. THE worst thing that happened. And those worst things that happen have happened throughout his 84 years of life and in different cultures. How they’ve been handled during those times are different than how it’s handled now, thank goodness. But as we judge, remember that there’s just a lot there. There’s a lot, lot there. I think he’s a great man. It’s a horrific situation. Just horrific."

Sounds like we need to set age caps on coaches now. Because if they get too old, well, you know, it was ok to rape children back in the day, so why would they think to report it? They are just great men living within the confines of the society they know.

Oh, but it's not an excuse. Just saying, it was ok to rape children back then.

Strangely worded quote. Some things are just better left unsaid. If it's tough to comment on, then don't comment on it.

 

[TinyManInside]

So what K is saying is that when Paterno was younger child sex abuse was OK? That's what it sounds like to me. Another person making an excuse for him.

I think what K is saying is that things like this were handled differently a long time ago.

I would not be surprised if Paterno brokered Sandusky's 99 retirement and basically just said "Hey, knock it off", thinking that would be enough to get him to stop. Paterno's an old school guy, I'm not sure that 'back in the day' (I'm not talking '99, I'm talking '75) people fully understood the pathology involved in an act like this. Heinous acts like this - they are compulsory, not something that you can just turn off.

But regardless, I think a lot of these coaches making comments are reflecting on what would happen to their own legacies if faced with scandal. Very narcissistic, all of them.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

These guys need to .the man was covering up raping 8-10 year old boys and enabled it to happen for 15 years.. What is wrong with these people? Is he as bad as Sandusky? No, but he deserves everything he is getting at this point. It's not like he allowed Sandusky to cover up a gambling or drug habit.. Or countless affairs, even hookers. We are talking about taking adavantage of at risk kids, raping kids! Get a grip idiots, I don't care who you are, people need to get that ing straight in their ing heads

 

[PoppyHart]

Sounds like he's talking more about the military-style chain of command as opposed to saying the criminal behavior at issue here was no big deal back in the day.

 

[suthrills]

I would love just one of these coaches to say Paterno 'ed up and really could have saved countless children the horror of being raped but instead opted to save his program and reputation. He did the wrong thing and should have known better and he should be punished for it. It's really not as complicated as these guys are making it out to be- there is no gray here.
The apologists and careful wording drives me crazy.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

no. what he is saying is that stuff just wasn't discussed. people Didnt tell on friends..

you only need to look at how we no handle

DWI and Domestic violence

Hell states HAD TO ENACT LAWS TO MANDATE that certain people report child abuse.

we have gone from children being chattle to being protected i Joe Pas life.

DOES NOT EXCUSE HIS INACTIONS.

K DIDNT EXCUSE IT, he just tried to ask for a bit of tolerance. I have none, myslf.

 

[Orange&Blue44]

What is with this coaches club, or whatever you would call it. NO EXCUSES ! I don't give a flying what Paterno did for Penn State, the community, college football, his mother ...This sin on his part wipes it all away.

 

[AZOrange]

Sounds like he's talking more about the military-style chain of command as opposed to saying the criminal behavior at issue here was no big deal back in the day.

That is how I read it too.

 

[Cuseman78]

One legendary coach giving another legendary coach an absolute pass. What a shocker. JB did pretty much the same thing. I wish somebody besides Barry Switzer would take a stand and call the old man out.

 

[Bayside44]

I think what K is saying is that things like this were handled differently a long time ago.

I would not be surprised if Paterno brokered Sandusky's 99 retirement and basically just said "Hey, knock it off", thinking that would be enough to get him to stop. Paterno's an old school guy, I'm not sure that 'back in the day' (I'm not talking '99, I'm talking '75) people fully understood the pathology involved in an act like this. Heinous acts like this - they are compulsory, not something that you can just turn off.

But regardless, I think a lot of these coaches making comments are reflecting on what would happen to their own legacies if faced with scandal. Very narcissistic, all of them.

Mason, agree.

End of the day Paterno is from a time and place where that stuff was kept quiet, you told the perp to go get some help, and the the kids just lived with it.

Yet another reason why these current times are a lot better than they're given credit for.

 

[orange79]

So what K is saying is that when Paterno was younger child sex abuse was OK? That's what it sounds like to me. Another person making an excuse for him.

I read it as, "He's a great man. He made these mistakes because he's old and back in the day, you just looked the other way at these things."

 

[Ghost]

Well, the problem is going to be when it leaks out that Paterno knew in 1998 and 2002. At that point the whole old man telling his friend to "knock it off" excuse has to fly out the window.

 

[Cheriehoop]

So what K is saying is that when Paterno was younger child sex abuse was OK? That's what it sounds like to me. Another person making an excuse for him.

No it was never okay but I do agree that it was handled and considered differently. My grandfather was a police officer back when and he impressed on my mother who hounded us constantly about "too friendly men". She said my grandfather saw men who sexually abused their own children and were supposedly pillars of the community(judges, teachers, doctors, successful businessmen etc). He said psychiatrists, the justice system didn't know what to do with them because putting them in jail punished their families (remember not many dual income families back then) and the prisons didn't know what to do with them because they created issues for the penal system being that they were easy targets for fatal violence.

For example, if a "community asset" abuser lived on the northside then they were required to move to the southside until some psychiatrist or social worker deemed them worthy to return home etc. If there was physical injury with a child then the issue was escalated. They took professional's advice and back then it was treated as more of a deviant illness than a crime and the perpetrators stand in the community was considered when dealing with it.(they were thought of as "curable "abusers") They even had "sex hospitals" or parts of hospitals to treat them. My grandfather was really worried that the public didn't know they were living amongst deviants and scared my mother to death (thus successive generations) to constantly be wary. Unfortunately he said there were many families who had what they then called a "funny uncle". Anyone ever listen to the rock opera Tommy by the Who? Victims rights weren't a consideration and back then most victims and their families felt humiliated not wanting anything made public either. Different world. The good old days weren't always better.

No excuse for Paterno just because he's gotten to be 84 and remembers those days.

 

[PeteCalvin]

D
E

So what K is saying is that when Paterno was younger child sex abuse was OK? That's what it sounds like to me. Another person making an excuse for him.

I think what he is trying to say is that people in JoePa's generation were brought up to keep out of other people's business. How many people reported family crimes back in the 1930's - 50's? How many neighbor's turned in other neighbors for beating their kids and wives? Not many, I bet. After all, it was the idyllic 1950's when everything was perfect. All families were like the Cleavers. People turned their backs on quite a bit. I think that is what he was getting at. Kid's today are taught to look out for this stuff and report behavior like this. Our society today encourages speaking out. Back then, these subjects were taboo.

I, personally, don't agree with his statements, because my grandmother, who is of that same generation, would not have let that pass. That's not how she was raised. It's all about upbringing. I think K is broad-brushing it a bit too much.

Joe Pa put his empire (which it had become) above the well being of scores of kids, and that is where he failed. He needs to own up to that, no matter how great of a man he's been over the years.

EDIT: I just read Cherie's post...what she said.

 

[Fjoinkay]

Many people are thinking the same thing as coach K. It's not an excuse. The truth will come out, and coach Paterno will rightfully be held responsible for his role and his failure to respond appropriately. But without a doubt his age is a factor for a number of reasons, and in some minds his age and the culture he grew up in will be a mitigating factor when judging his legacy.