The Penn State scandal just got worse. University officials only have themselves to blame for that. Theyve botched the handling of this thing so badly that it almost defies belief.
After former Nittany Lions' defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky surrendered himself to the authorities and was charged with 40 counts of sexual abuse against eight boys over 15 years, some wondered whether Joe Paterno would hold his weekly Tuesday press conference or cancel it. Paterno had already issued a statement in which he claimed the nature and amount of charges made are very shocking and added that he did what I was supposed to with the one charge brought to my attention. When two high-ranking university officials -- athletic director Tim Curley and vice president Gary Schultz -- were accused of failing to alert the police about Sanduskys alleged crimes, as required by Pennsylvania law, people again wondered whether Paterno would cancel his weekly press conference.
As of Monday, the university said the press conference would proceed as planned. Then the school sent out an e-mail alert notifying the media that the primary focus of the press conference would be to answer questions related to Penn State's Senior Day game with Nebraska this Saturday.
It was an absurd request. As CBSSports.com columnist Gregg Doyel tweeted, the media assemblywhich grew from its usual number of about 20 or so reporters to approximately 150 journalists, according to various reportswasnt in Happy Valley on Tuesday to talk fullbacks.
University President Graham Spanier must have figured that out. According to the Associated Press, shortly before noon, Spanier canceled Paternos press conference. The AP reported that Paternos son, Scott, said Joe Paterno was disappointed by the development and had been ready to talk about the scandal -- and maybe he was, but for now we cant be sure. (There have been reports that Paterno is attempting to set up his own press conference somewhere off campus.)
Spanier and Penn State made the wrong move. There are questions that must be answered, questions that arent going away simply because Penn State dismissed a horde of reporters and told them to move along, that there was nothing to see or discuss in Happy Valley.
Among the many unanswered questions: Why was Sandusky reportedly still using university facilities even after supposedly being banned, and who knew that he was allegedly on campus as recently as last week? Did Spanier know? Did Paterno? If they did, why didnt they act? In a New York Times article, Scott Paterno said once his father alerted his bosses about the alleged 2002 incident, "I do not believe he had a second conversation about it." Why is that? Why didn't Paterno follow through? And ifSpanier and Paternodidnt know much about what was allegedly transpiring with Sandusky,does that equate to negligence given their stature and job functions?
News
In a sad but important piece in The Patriot-News, one of the alleged victims mothers rejected the notion that the schools president and football coach could be unaware that all this was taking placeparticularly after a reported incident in 1998 led to a six-week investigation that involved then-Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar. (Gricar decided there wasnt enough evidence to prosecute and later disappeared in 2005. He was declared legally dead in July.)
Youre going to tell me that Spanier and Paterno werent informed of something that was that huge that Ray Gricar was in on it but Spanier was kept in the dark? the mother said in the Patriot-News story. Im just not that stupid. Im so upset I just cant believe it.
There are ardent Paterno supporters who would have her and you believe that very thingthat Paterno did what he was required to do and was somehow unaware of the breadth and heinous nature of Sanduskys alleged crimes. Gordie Jones, an excellent writer and reporter, recently penned a piece for CSNPhilly.com that makes that scenario seem unlikely. In the story, Jones interviews a former Penn State football player who seemed skeptical that something of this scopemultiple investigations by different state attorneyscould occur without Paterno being notified. From Joness story:
A few weeks ago I was interviewing a former Penn State All-American. The subject of player misconduct was raised, and he said that at PSU, as at all major schools, the head coach knows everything thats going on. And if he doesnt know, its because he doesnt want to know.
The victims and their families deserve better. At the very least, they deserve to have Spanier and Paterno speak up and answer questions about who knew what and when. They deserve to learn what role the university -- where the school motto is success with honor -- played in the alleged sexual assault of eight boys. Was there a willful cover-up, or did gross ignorance give way to negligence? The victims and their families deserve transparency and candor. Instead, they have been forced to wait for Spanier and Paterno to surface.
Monday reportedly marked the beginning of Integrity Awareness Week at Penn State. Thats some powerful irony.
E-mail John Gonzalez at jgonzalez@comcastsportsnet.com.