Ending The Nittany Nightmare: Penn State Pre-Game Plea, An Open Letter To President Rodney Erickson
An Open Letter to Penn State University President Rodney Erickson
With much respect -Do what I say, and do it today.
Hire the best Public Relations firm in the country for PSU’s needs. I am redacting that recommendation for the publication of this open letter, but it is included in my email to you. Don’t spend the time or manpower to run through the approved vendor lists and bid it out- not that kind of gig. The Board of Trustees can WebEx if necessary and this is the kind of emergency proxy was invented for.
Once retained, have the agency facilitate meetings through their agents with Bill Parcells and Bill Cowher immediately. Specify no leaks to the press until after they occur and by mutual agreement. Cowher may be the low hanging fruit on this one, he is returning to CBS next year.
If neither is interested in a head coach commitment of an 8-1 Big Ten team, follow their recommendations about who to contact next and ask them; beg if necessary, if they would be willing to consider a consulting gig for the recruitment process. Urban Myer is a fine coach and leader, but regardless of who PSU ultimately chooses, efforts to rebuild the PSU brand must start with a nationally recognizable face of a trusted and respected winner, like yesterday.
Champions attract champions and without that, it is like asking collegiate coaching candidates to walk into the lion’s den (pun intended) wearing a raw steak necklace. You will not even get one to tour Lasche, trust me on this.
This strategy would likely also include a public facing spokesperson effort, and worth every penny if that is all you can get a commitment for from either coach.
Pay them to sit in the lobby. Pay them to ride the elevator a few times, but get them on grounds. Pay them to have a motivational meeting with the team.
If you have some strong players they could attach to quickly and produce an “I remember when I was a young fig on the tree” memory synapses, it couldn’t hurt.
Instruct all team members never to roll the eyes should the phrase “When I was your age we played ball with pads made of glass and never wore cleats in the snow”; if they told me that I would believe it.
This is the kind of benchmarking that will revitalize wilting spirits of a young athlete, and the parents with the trembling hand over the eject button.
Half the free world is digging old milk cartons out of the recyclables to see if they recognize any kids they may have seen with Sandusky or on the sidelines of a game- they need a new visual association.
As you already know, if you are lucky enough to get this far, they will advise you to release every staffer from the interim athletic director to the water boys that were ever part of Paterno’s camp or rolled up his pants before the game. Do it.
This might be a good time to allow a try before they buy scenario if either are willing, as “guest coaches” to finish the season.
While I am at it, I might suggest a reality miniseries of the process- I know some folks from HBO familiar with the Hard Knocks of football, I would be glad to make a connection.
Donate those proceeds to Coach Parcells or Coach Cowher’s disadvantaged children’s charity of choice which is vetted in advance by a specially appointed member chosen by the new Ethics officer.
Point is, you need immediate public support and that will require immediate damage control or your Titanic does not even have the measly lifeboat option.
The public perception is that there is more to this horror movie after the commercial, and the commercials are disappearing as well.
Your job is to employ the resources that can change the channel when the public is not looking, and forget what they were watching in favor of the new programming, which includes sponsors aligned with that audience.
It is about as transparent of a plan as I can offer- with hope and promise to the innocent victims of this tragedy.
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Excellent letter!! I pray the new President listens and follows your advice!
I think the video linked below is just excellent, especially the interview with Troy Craig, which is very introspective and insightful. I find him so credible.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45267885/ns/us_news-the_new_york_times/
There was a bomb threat at the stadium this morning, but it has been searched and cleared.
I hope that you can get your letter/e-mail to Erickson personally, and that he follows up. I would hate for it to be seen as just more emphasis on football, however. So the best PR firm would be a msut.
I was and am concerned about that. I think if you don’t fix the foundation the whole building collapses on itself all over again.
The immediate need “is what it is” at PSU, and the right firm will prioritize strategy with an eye toward an overall plan for the long term. Otherwise I have a serious concern these dominoes can ever be up again.
B
Blink- Great plan of action needed ASAP! I love and respect Parsons, but as a die hard Steelers fan from the ’70s Bill Cowher is a brilliant pick.
May be wishful thinking but if you throw in the possibility of just consulting, I think it is possible.
B
excellent article. i’m hoping they take your advice. clean house and clean house now.
i was told that urban meyer already bought a house in state college but im not sure how true that is or if it is true, if that is subject to change now
His child is a student currently.
B
GREAT clear-headed plan Blink! From your lips to the board’s ears I hope. I thank you for not suggesting the entire athletic mountain be leveled.
Great letter Blink. Face it, cut off the bad, bring in the strong, turn the negative into the possitive by taking forward transparent immediate and massive action. Show that you are strong though wrong and you WILL correct and improve. Admit and fix.
[...] would appear that a new image is required at Penn State, read the following open letter to interim Penn State President Rodney Erickson. First, get a PR firm. Once retained, have the [...]
@ode
Strong though wrong that’s a keeper.
The legally morally right thing? Need to listen to Kim Jones live. Worse than grand jury report IMO. Agrees that (1) no way Paterno did not know way back (2) the eyes and ears in the local PD’s back to Paterno first and foremost… (3) “everyone knew”… not just 7 people.
youtube.com/watch?v=Tqa9OvJvx2I
Even the golfers knew.
It’s not about football, but why does the sports world seem so underhanded?
It’s NOT about football…article by Prof. Black which also lists the counts, fines, and punishable number of years.
http://sportsmockery.com/?p=3184
As usual, well thought out and very well said Blink. I pray they listen.
I am so ashamed of Penn. State. Your letter is all about getting a fresh start. It is a good letter with some great thoughts and of course is based on your backgroung in PR.
Haveing said the above, my personal preference is to totally shut down the athlethic program at Penn. State until a thorough investigation is made of this issue. If it requires the entire athletic department replacement and the replacement of the entire administration department, the state owes this to the students and to the victims of this horrible crime.
Words and slogans are meaningless unless backed by quality deeds. Just talking a great game does not make it true.
After today, I am convinced, change is only going to happen one blue shirt at a time. Was it naive, optimistic or just wishful of me to expect to see not one white shirt in that stadium.
Anyone see tonight’s Huff Post (sorry don’t know how to bring up url) that some fringe groups are using the victims to fight gay adoption? Probably a fundraising hook for their orgs. Opportunists, whatever the right or wrong.
Will Jerry Sandusky, who may be the Heidi Fleiss of little underpriveledged boys, make a deal, or whip out the little black and blue book and take everyone down with him?
@A Texas Grandfather, As you and others watch the interaction between the state of PA and Penn State, it may seem a bit unusual. That’s because it is. Penn State, although a land grant institution and considered a public university, is not part of the state university system in PA. It is classed as a “state-related” university, along with a couple of other schools.
While the financial contributions from the state are important/vital to Penn State, in recent years the state allocation has fallen into single digits as a percent of the total operating budget. That’s one reason, among many, the Penn State’s tuition is so high for a public school.
By the way, I have heard NOT ONE PERSON in State College speak as if there is any possibility that Sandusky is not guilty. Except his attorney and his wife.
Special prayers before services at church this evening.
Sweetie_Pi, thanks for mentioning Kim Jones’ insider view.
Here’s a written transcript of that 20 minute interview on WFAN.
oops, dropped my link.
http://ology.com/sports/listen-former-penn-state-football-beat-writer-kim-jones-speaks-candidly-mike-francesa-about-s
@A Texas Grandfather:
Please tell me how shutting down the entire athletic department serves justice for the victims of Jerry Sandusky? I cannot see that. The womens track team and the mens soccer team should be penalized for the actions and inactions of a few? How is that just?
You are worried about Penn State’s FOOTBALL program??!! You are part of the problem that led to this week’s disgrace. It’s that desire to keep that program ‘elite’ that caused EVERYONE to turn a blind eye. I for one would not give another thought to their football program. It’s so unimportant!
I am worried about the fact that every student that has PSU on their resume during this time will have the same first question at a job interview and that is so unfair to them. What part of cleaning house does not make sense?
Respectfully, one has to understand the concept of Big Ten, and the financial implications of an opinion like that.
The NCAA is launching their own investigation as they should, and I have it on good authority Second Mile Org is about to get the equivalent of an unending colonoscopy without the aid of an anesthetic.
I support further full investigation, and I strongly believe it will produce stringent and sweeping changes not just at PSU football, but within all programs and within college sports in general. I do not support radical knee-jerk measures that cause innocent student body and staff to suffer.
That said, imo, any person that heard so much of this mess as a rumor and did nothing should be exposed and dealt with accordingly.
B
Stunned says:
November 13, 2011 at 2:27 am
You are worried about Penn State’s FOOTBALL program??!! You are part of the problem that led to this week’s disgrace
*******
The problem that created this week’s disgrace can only be blamed on the perv..Sandusky..and all the people that put money and their jobs ahead of the rapes of young, very young, children who had no one speaking up for them.
Shutting down the entire athletic program? As a parent of a past D1 NCAA athlete, I totally disagree with that proposal. These kids work hard and I mean hard at both academics and athletics at the collegiate level. And it didn’t happen overnight – they have been training for most of their lives. It takes a well adjusted person to balance academics and athletics in college.
I think working through the issues, like we have here, is a much more valuable lesson than shutting down an entire athletic program. That is punishing the athletes for someone else’s transgression. Where do they go if that happens? Who do they compete for?
Losing a coach(es) is one thing but losing their program is devastating – JMO.
My bad- I mean Bill Parcels.
Saxey
The answer to your question is the lack of morality that allowed this to go on for over 15 years. I don’t know how many in the athletic department knew or turned a blind eye to this crime. A complete shut down and a thorough investigation will clear those that had nothing to do with it. A few games missed will not permanently affect the other sports programs.
The public would understand that those who are not involved have been cleared and everything is above board. The football program has in effect given a “black eye” to all sports programs at PSU.
If the public trust of an institution of higer learning has been destroyed, as in this case, it is going to take a big effort to get it restored.
The students did not create this situation, but they are victims too at a lesser level than those that were sexually assaulted.
Aside from the criminal charges, there will be some major civil suits and could even become a class action suit that would wipe out most of the financing of the school.
We also do not know what the NCAA will do to the football program. Twenty-five years ago the NCAA shut down the football program at SMU for four years for recruiting infractions that bordered on payola. Those students that were not involved were allowed to transfer to other schools. That football program has never fully recovered.
This whole crime is a national disgrace and perhaps even an international one. Little baby steps of correction IMO will not suffice.
Gov. says McQueary failed ‘moral obligation’ in Sandusky incident
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Penn State football coach who told a grand jury that he saw another coach molest a child failed to meet “a moral obligation” to intervene, Pennsylvania’s governor said Sunday, adding that he expects more victims to come forward.
The university has put McQueary on leave from his job.
As for McQueary, the current attorney general had clearly decided that he was to be treated as a witness in the case, Gov. Tom Corbett said on NBC’s Meet the Press.
McQueary met “the minimum obligation” of reporting what he saw to his superiors, who are required under Pennsylvania law to report such assaults to authorities. But McQueary “did not in my opinion meet a moral obligation that all of us would have,” said the governor, who as attorney general initiated the investigation that led to the charges.
Corbett also said people have to keep in mind “that this is also somebody who is a witness to this crime and is a very important witness.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/ncaa/11/13/penn.state.abuse.corbett.ap/
@ Stunned says:
November 13, 2011 at 2:27 am
I think Stunned brought up a very important thought. A lot of people are thinking the same thing.
There are young men who NEED this program to work. There are boys who dream to play. Sadly, it’s not just Penn State affected by this sickly abuse. It’s in hockey, baseball…. Restructuring these programs MUST take place for our children to feel safe.
Sheldon Kennedy and Theo Fleury are two former NHL players who were sexually abused by the same coach as young players. Banning hockey isn’t the solution. Banning Penn State’s football program isn’t the solution.
Sports builds leadership, team building skills, encourages setting goals…..they need this program!
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=5056809
It’s taken a week to take it all in and really think it all through and I have come to a couple of conclusions. All MOO, of course. Personal note: I use the word “victim” in my post. I firmly believe that to classify them that way is a severe disservice to their own personal healing. They are – and I hope will work to be – survivors of a heinous situation, if they haven’t already.
The past abuses are not about PSU. For the victims, this is between “Victim 1″ (etc) and Sandusky. Except for those who have an actual witness, it is their word against his and the third is the One who will pass final judgement. Other than those that are the closest to them, such as their families or possibly spouses,they do not AND SHOULD NOT care what everybody else thinks. The victims must come to terms with what happened to them and move on to lead the best lives for themselves and those around them that they can. I know that they have the anger of betrayal of those surrounding PSU who failed to step up and defend/protect them. It is devastating to be a victim and not have those who should have protected you to have the guts to step up to the task. However, it is still with the VICTIMS to reconcile that for themselves. It is a personal matter. Neither you nor I nor the media nor LE nor PSU officials can “fix” what has happened to them. Only they can address it for themselves. Sexual abuse is devastating. It leads to severe trust, health, sexual, emotional and addiction problems. Those closest to these victims would serve them well to set strong and clear boundaries and not allow them to be victims in other parts of their lives. They must learn that just because they were victimized, they must always step up and be the responsible adults that others in their past should have been. They cannot fall into the trap of “once a victim, always a victim.” I will have the most respect for those who do not enter into civil lawsuits because it means that they are putting in the effort for healing and forgiveness which they MUST do, not only for their own sanity but in order to let go of their anger. Letting go of the anger is critical.
As for PSU, it is the equivalent of so many situations that we read about and comment on here at BOC, except on an institutional level. PSU’s collective inaction is the result of institutional narcissism. As sure as I’m sitting here, I feel in my gut that not taking a strong response to the FIRST report and those that followed was about protecting a program and the individuals of which it was comprised. Had they done the right thing the first time, there would be fewer victims and so much less of an impact to the university. Everyone involved in the program should be done – no questions asked. If they think they were wrongly terminated, prove it. The problem with that is the civil/legal system that we sometimes take for granted and sometimes seems so unfair to the victims involved. Without cause, termination causes a very expensive battle and not one that most employers wish to embark. There should be a house-cleaning done but this is not about the past. It is about the future. It is about awareness that we all should have – as strong as civil or gender rights. Sexual abuse of a child is a travesty. There is not a strong enough description of what this crime does to our young people. That being said, the student athletes of PSU do NOT deserve to have their lives thrown into turmoil because of the actions of the few ADULTS from the past. They chose a university for numerous reasons and the athletes likely had coaching/reputation at the top of the list. They were not involved with Sandusky. They did not perpetuate crimes against defenseless children. They came here to study and play football. I do not support shutting down a program so long as those who were involved are gone and there is a commitment (an extreme commitment) to obey moral obligations and current law.
Where I struggle is with Paterno. He is not “JoePa” to me and I do not feel the endearment. (Except to say that football in Texas is our national pasttime and highly revered. It’s in our blood! I do recognize and respect his tenured career just because of my love of for the game.) He knew what happened and that tells me that he continued to let it happen with a blind eye. I do not support him as an enabler, nor do I personally respect him for the things that he allowed to happen in his locker room. However, I also have read many things regarding how he interacted with his players and the life lessons he has taught them. He speaks things to his players that I try to instill in the players of my own programs. It is the right thing to do – to teach kids to do the right things the right way for the right reasons ALWAYS and to be leaders in their community. Being a Christian, I also believe in forgiveness. He should not be idolized in any way and I do think that he needs to fade into the background. It’s hard for me to reconcile someone who supposedly has had such a positive impact in the kids he taught versus the denial that lead to so much terror in very young children. It is almost unforgiveable. But like I said, forgiveness is mandatory in order to let go of the anger and move on. It’s not on us to provide that forgiveness.
I am sorry to be so long but this is clearly a topic that hits way too close to home.
You do realize that you all are still justifying your perceived importance of football? It’s a game. If you treat it like the world can not revolve without it you are telling the next whistle-blower to keep their mouths shut too because their claims could ‘harm’ PSU football. Blink, I would have respected you so much more if you had taken the time to write to Penn State with your thoughts on how to identify and counsel ALL of the victims. Even perhaps your thoughts on how to establish a way to report issues without fear of retribution. Instead, you worry about putting that football program back up on the pedestal. It is so sad that people here pretend to care about the other abused (and slain) children on this website yet are not putting the needs of the Penn State victims ahead of your shallow concerns for a football program.
I beg your pardon, you have no idea what my efforts are in regards to victim advocacy in this case, and when I say this case, I am referring to the months of resources it will take to sift through it all.
Do you realize this investigation has been going on for years and has just now come to a head?
You are the one that does not understand the cogs and wheels at play here, if one cannot right this ship, and have transparency, there is no model to recreate to effect change and I am comfortable I get that better than most. So in the end, your correct, it is not about football per se, but it is the magic carpet for a short stint to protect those the most vulnerable, from history repeating itself.
B
For we do not wrestle against flesh or blood (mere human beings, in other words), but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. – (Ephesians 6:12-13 NKJV)
Everyday, we must put on the armor of God to protect ourselves and others!!!!
Stunned, I do hear you. People have been parking in front of my house to walk to the Penn State football games for 20 years, but I still haven’t made it to one. Collegiate sports are clearly more important to Blink than to you or me, and I had to really think for a while about what Blink was trying to accomplish with this letter. I think my perspective is different than hers, yet.
But if you shut down the whole athletic program, I think you do harm to plenty who had no idea, especially the students–all of them including the student athletes. Most faculty and staff never even heard a whisper, including some much closer to the athletic program than I. They are angry, and have washed their hands of any support of those they had considered friends.
But I also think that by shutting down the athletic program, you might shut down many avenues of inquiry. Better to open the barrel, let outsiders in to stir it up, smell it, and openly say what they find. If the barrel is just buried, important elements of the truth and lessons for the future may be buried with it.
I think the most pertinent comparison to this situation was the Tulane basketball scandal. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulane_Green_Wave (you have to scroll down a little).
After a point-shaving scandal which didn’t involve anyone in the school’s administration, the school voluntarily cancelled the men’s basketball program because it was an embarrassment to the school.
What happened at Penn State was worse than point-shaving. Ideaslly, Penn State should suspend football for a year. There may be problems with contracts, and the Big Ten may try to stop them. Release all their players from their scholarships (any player good enough to get a PSU scholarship would have no trouble getting a scholarship at the D-I level elsewhere.
A more realistic solution would be to completely replace the coaching staff, release all players from their scholarships and allow them to transfer if they choose to do so.
Unfortunately, I suspect Penn State will just replace the coaching staff and release a few players if the players demand it.
To big time football schools, this is not a “football issue”, it is a “money issue”. Penn State will try to get back to business as usual as quickly as possible.
To me the real issue that needs to be addressed is Pennsylvania law. The idea that passing along a report of a child rape to your supervisor is all that is required is absurd.
I think by the end of this you are absolutely correct, it will result in prosecutorial overhaul.
B
So who started this investagation? I’m a bit behind in this,but I gotta compare it to the priests-”Everybody” knew about it,and covered for them.
“lorene says:
November 14, 2011 at 11:29 am
So who started this investagation? I’m a bit behind in this,but I gotta compare it to the priests-”Everybody” knew about it,and covered for them.”
One of the kids, with his mother and high school administrators supporting him.
@lorene #35 – Interesting you say that as the almost exact same comment was made in my home last night. It seems very much the same…
Judge Who Freed Sandusky on Bail Reportedly Volunteered at His Charity
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/11/13/former-penn-state-assistant-coach-reportedly-continues-to-receive-monthly/
Conspiracy of Silence informative video of the Franklin Scandal and the parallels to Sandusky.
http://youtu.be/edK2h5_1b3g
All men,all powerful..All with things to hide.
There has to be some other hold Sandusky has over these people,can’t be just because he coaches football.
Blink-
Apologies in advance for the long post.
I sent the link to your website out to my email list of all my alumni friends, some of whom are employees of penn state and were student athletes. The responses I got were amazing and everyone agrees with you. I hope the new president takes your advice. He sent out a list of five promises to the university, and unfortunately not one of them was a promise to clean house of the football program immediately. He did mention that word “transparency” but I guess we’ll see how that works out. I kinda think it just might be the current “buzz” word psu is using, I’ll believe it when I see it.
The child reporting laws need to be revised to make sure this doesn’t happen again and that those who failed could be held criminally responsible. I used to work in child welfare for four years in one of the big counties outside of philadelphia and the law of mandated reporting is a nescessary law and a good one, and maybe that law can be used as the basis for more. IMO, McQueary’s actions, as he testified to under oath to the grand jury, are the equivalent of someone watching a murder take place or a building burning down and not calling 911 immediately. This is unforgivable and should be criminal. I don’t know how the man looks at his 2 year old daughter everyday. In my perfect world, all adults would be mandated reporters and all reports of abuse/neglect would be followed up on appropriately and thoroughly. The fact that his father, a pediatrician, didn’t tell him to call the police immediately baffles my mind. If I hear one more of my lawyer friends tell me “you can’t legalize morality” my head might explode. I really hope PSU can fire McQueary without tons of legal red tape but even if they can’t, they need to fire him and bite whatever law suit he will try to file against them for wrongful termination.
The Penn Staters I know are going to keep the focus on the true victims and raising funds and awareness of child abuse and getting answers so this tragedy can’t happen again at another institution.
Stunned I very much appreciate your thoughts- and I agree with them “on the surface” but if one knows Blink then one can step back and see that she is merely extending her helping hand out to the other victims of these crimes- no ofcourse noone is a true victim except those defenseless little children, but many people are being hurt by this.
Blink just happens to have a pr background – so therefore she knows what must be done.
Do I think she may have rushed in to help too soon? perhaps…but it is my understanding that these things must be tackled head on asap-
I can assure you it wasnt done with a disregard to the pain and suffering of the true victims- it was done inorder to make things better in the future- for all those that deserve a brighter future and never did anything to warrant punishment- which will ensure Penn State makes money and can pay -out of pocket for any wrongdoing on their part- which is a good thing no?
It helps people stay employed- innocent everyday people-all the workers all the students all the teachers- the town- those that will be there long after the spot light has turned off on this scandal-
Thanks again Stunned- I hope I gave you a different perspective- my prayers go out to the TRUE victims and their families always
GeorgiaDad- very well said _ Ditto
AJMO
The sexual assault reporting bill of a minor is necessary, but I think reporting crime in general on a college campus needs a major overhaul.
A huge part of the problem seems to be that the state police, who’s jurisdiction was the campus, answered to VP Shultz. This seems to be the norm on college campuses. In their quest to create a microcosm of learning, they somehow create a society where they are judge and jury of their own issues, and individual rights get lost.
A crime on a college campus should never fall under the jurisdiction of the staff, or board, or administration of that institution. A crime on a college campus should have an independent investigation.
Correction:
In their quest to create a microcosm of THE WORLD FOR learning..
Looks like business as usual -the judge for Sandusky is a volunteer for Second Mile charity.
Prosecutors had requested a $500,00 bond – and manditory wearing of leg monitor.
“However, Judge Leslie Dutchcot freed Sandusky on $100,000 unsecured bail, meaning he’ll only have to pay if he doesn’t show up for court.”
Why the hell didn’t this Judge recuse herself ??
She obviously knows Sandusky if she volunteered at HIS charity.
Saw a video of the POS sitting at LaGuardia airport waiting for a flight.
He is a danger to society – a rapist and pedo -free to go when and where he pleases.
Why is this rapist free to go wherever he wants with NO monitoring ?
When will those in power stop enabling this rapist ?
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45286426/ns/today-today_news/t/penn-state-assistant-coach-i-did-right-thing/#.TsGwJa4mKvl
Ginger-man Mike McQueary has obtained a lawyer and is in seclusion. (hiding)
NBC got ahold of an email he sent to friends a few days ago.
In part it said …
“I did the right thing…you guys know me…the truth is not out there fully…I didn’t just turn and run…I made sure it stopped…I had to make quick tough decisions.”
Exactly what the hell kind of decisions need to be made when you walk in to a room and see a grown man anally raping a little boy?????
You man-up, slam your fist into the POS’s jaw + kick him in the balls, and grab that naked little boy in your arms and get him away safely from this pervert.
Oh, and once that chid is in a safe place – you have a MORAL OBLIGATION to go to law enforcement ASAP.
You don’t just barely satisfy what the rules say (to report abuse to your boss), and you aren’t off the hook b/c you ran home and told your daddy about the little boy you left back in the locker room with a rapist.
McQueary continued to see Sandusky around PSU for years after that incident.
How do you stand quietly by after witnessing a man raping a little boy ??
You keep going back to LE until you see the pervert is off the streets.
(video at link discusses email)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45286426/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/judge-who-freed-jerry-sandusky-was-second-mile-volunteer/#.TsG3Sq4mKvk
Oye vey this guy. I cannot for the life of me understand how the egos of these men preclude basic legal advice in a criminal matter. For starters, McQueary is a material witness. Which means, if he testified, he was granted a limited use immunity, unless there was some other additional parameters we will not know about until trial.
Ergo, if he is changing that testimony, he would be subject to any reprecussions of statute violation associated with same. Someone should tell him through counsel that Amendola is speaking to the victim.
Is not one of these big strong burly leaders of champion athletes who were spending all their time espousing the virtues of integrity going to actually demonstrate some?
B
Bob Costas interviews Sandusky on Rock Center – to air tonight at 10pm (ET)
Excerpts from the interview:
“I say that I am innocent of those charges,” said Sandusky in a phone interview with Costas.
When asked by Costas, “Are you a pedophile,” Sandusky responded “No.”"
“I could say that I have done some of those things. I have horsed around with kids I have showered after workouts. I have hugged them and I have touched their legs without intent of sexual contact,” said Sandusky.”
“When pressed by Costas about what Sandusky was willing to concede that he’d done was wrong, Sandusky said, “I shouldn’t have showered with those kids.”
http://rockcenter.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/14/8804779-jerry-sandusky-to-bob-costas-in-exclusive-rock-center-interview-i-shouldnt-have-showered-with-those-kids
The more we learn about this situation, the crazier it will get. It has been in the investigation stages a long time.
GeorgiaDad I completely agree with you. I have listen to people on TV who supported the young man who witnessed the rape of the boy and they are saying that he followed the school handbook. If that is true, then someone or maybe several people need to rewrite this document so that it follows good moral principles as well as legal requirements.
I have also read reports that the General Counsel to the University was notified of this problem as early as 1998 and yet nothing was done. These may or may not be true. Time and further investigation will determine if it is true.
Pennsylvania seems to have difficulty in producing proper laws to protect children. Perhaps the Governor can produce some legislation to correct this.
While I believe that Blink was trying her best to provide a clean alternative for the football program, If I were Bill Parcells or Bill Cowher, I would not touch this program until all the crminal investigations were finished. Once that was accomplished, then they could start with a clean slate. Otherwise there is going to be the possibility of trash and dirt in hidden corners that has the potential for trouble.
ATG-
I agree that neither Coach would go near this campus without significant diligence upfront, likely by their own hired resources if they would even consider a meeting. And I truly see the alternative position that the entire program should be shut down- but I believe that would also create a negative environment that might shut down any chance of learning more information. It is sort of like the can is open now, we need to make sure it is empty before closing it back up, imo.
Like it or not, PSU is primarily a NCAA football school, has been forever, and without it, imo, it has no chance of survival in the immediate term.
With a matriculation like they have, I do not feel that is serving the innocent victims and innocent faculty to shut it down.
B
@sam says:
November 14, 2011 at 12:20 pm
She set bond at $100,000, not the requested $500,000.
….and the enabling continues on.
Sandusky is claiming he’s not a pedophile and admits he shouldn’t have showered with those kids.
http://www.tmz.com
Those kids, as he refers to them, probably have a different recollection.
I am getting the feeling that Sandusky and his attorney are not nearly nervous enough, or appropriately nervous for what he is facing. I am not just talking about this appearance.
B
By update time, you may have already read that Sandusky maintains his innocence in all 40 counts against him. He says there was only horseplay
in the showers and his only regret is “I shouldn’t have showered with those kids.”
http://news.yahoo.com/sandusky-proclaims-innocence-nbc-interview-005617187.html
He might shave off some of those 460 years in prison, but he’s not going to escape some justice. Okay, I believe he will escape most of the charges but not all.
Too bad he couldn’t just admit it and let the chips fall where they may