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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Rose says:
December 5, 2011 at 9:12 pm
Many excellent thoughts. IIRC, however, the barn-burning incident happened BEFORE the one son was placed in JS’s foster care, and was the triggering incident. The young man was already involved in Second Mile programs prior to that, however. IMO, you are exactly right about how the placements happened.
@Rose says:
December 5, 2011 at 9:12 pm
Rose, thanks for your comments. I read that Matt’s mother said JS had been involved with him thru Second Mile back to age 10 or earlier. And that JS had requested Matt’s placement with him and Dottie. (Matt continues to get into legal trouble for his domestic violence and stalking behaviors; I’m sure you’ve all read that)
For you Skull & Bones “fans”, the Penn State chapter added an honorary category of membership years ago:
“…the honorary list grows with current University President Spanier continuing a tradition of university presidents accepting membership.”
link:
http://www.skullandbones.org/About/history.html
______________
One problem I have in researching things is that I run into things that seem so improbable that I back off. But, then, Sandusky’s open rampage seems improbable too, and yet it alledgedly is true.
Can anyone get more info about the benefactor of the Terry Yocum
Libraries Endowment in Sports Archives and Business? His full name would be especially helpful. As well as is he still alive? Any history of addresses? TIA
beejay, fwiw, in researching things that seem improbable- it is a necessary evil. There is no other way to determine relevance or probability. If you need to post a name privately because of the possibility of it not being connected and you have gone as far as you can go, that is fine with me.
B
“”…we will, for the very first time, have the opportunity to face Jerry’s accusers and question them under oath about their allegations,” Joe Amendola said in a statement released Monday.”
…”We look forward to this opportunity.”
…At least one alleged victim plans to testify at the Dec. 13 preliminary hearing, according to his attorneys.”
from:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/06/jerry-sandusky-lawyer-question-victims_n_1131130.html
And that statement is not even true- he said they found the child from the 2002 shower incident, and that he “tells a different story”. How would he be able to make that assertion if the child was not confronted?
This whole defense tactic is shady. How do you “call someone out” after settling the first civil suit in 24 hours?
The payouts are going to be a whole ‘nother issue.
B
@beejay. TY for info
JS could NOT request “placement” of Matt in his home.
Placement is a term of art.
Social service agencies “place” kids on legal grounds as authorized by state law or courts into state-run or state-licensed or state-authorized facilities. Pretty organized at the state level by the ’80s.
Maybe Mom just agreed informally he could live there & doesn’t want to acknowledge it now (her role or her deficiencies of yore).
@rose: LOL! I understand what you’re saying ’bout how it officially works. But, given that Matt’s mother wrote to DYS and said she questioned his placement there, yet stay with Jer and Dottie he did, I think maybe ol’ Jer got some rules bent. Yes? I’d like to find his pardner in that little nest.
Mostly, I understand all the financial interrelationships and how that worked to conceal Sandusky’s behavior. I’m reading it all in various places, ad nauseum.
But right now, my priority is to find the other pedophiles, or just the occasional recreational child-raper, who borrowed somebody’s kid. Those folks need to be found, like yesterday. Before this whole thing plays out in court (and outside of court). Because, a source of kids has dried up for those dudes.
Where are they finding kids, and what has their source been since around 2008, when things might’ve slowed down a bit thru their former supplier. They’re loose cannons. The rest can be handled in court, or otherwise.
“JERRY SANDUSKY – 8 Alleged Victims to Testify
… According to Report”
(snip)
“All 8 alleged victims mentioned in the explosive Jerry Sandusky grand jury report will testify against the former Penn State defensive coach at a preliminary hearing next week … this according to ABC News. ”
http://www.tmz.com/2011/12/06/jerry-sandusky-8-victims-testify-prelim-penn-state/
On the age of adoption(s) –
I always say follow the money: My educated guess as to motive is that there were foster care payments when the children were minors.. THEN if he adopted them anytime before, including RIGHT BEFORE, they were 18 there are the tax credits( adoption credits) which can be carried forward, and yes most likely free tuition.
If his federal tax returns are viewed I would love to see how much he got in adoption credit ( although foster care payments aren’t taxable).
@sammy I hope these young men can tell all with out
Fear
And the truth comes out
I actually don’t think JS should get off free for the things he has admitted
The rest of us have to behave better than this with children
http://www.hlntv.com/article/2011/12/05/former-prosecutor-jerry-you-gotta-stop
Jerry’s not the only one who’s gotta stop. Defense lawyers need to ethics up and quit defending their clients on tv. Keep it in the court room.
2 words….gag order.
@Beejay
Terry Eugene Yocum (on registry) and Terry “E” Yocum (campaign donations), also there is a SR(57) and a JR(34) and what appears to be a screen name. Don’t know how much you want me to put out here.
@erose: Thanks. Judging by Yocum’s contributions in 1996, I think age 34 is too young for that. I sent Blink stuff privately. Maybe you could post what you’ve got and Blink will censor you (!) if she doesn’t want it here?
I’ve got a local SO and current addy; some campaign contributions; and maybe Second Mile donation–can’t remember. If so, I didn’t give Blink that. If you have it, will you just post it, if from a public record?
We’ll see if it all ties together. What I can’t find is the middle name of the library endowment man. Got that? Or his age?
You know, there are other donors to that sports archives, like Glover. And TEY didn’t look like a big $ donor at all there. Was he?
@beejay. I think BYS (trusting you for PA label) was the juvenile system.
Mother had no say. Probably (erroneously) viewed as part of the problem
by the caseworker.
@Ragdoll
Thanks for the link
Gag order yes yes
I am afraid he is giving other people bad ideas
To try on children
Have to break up this post:
Note address for Terry Yocum
http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?21990099358
Can’t get the link to post, but on Citysearch:
The Sovereign Bank
1535 N Atherton St
State College, PA 16803
Same addy for TEY in 1996, employer Penn State
http://herndon1.sdrdc.com/cgi-bin/fecimg/?96030902106
I had a call from Terry Sunday morning at 7:30. He was concerned about me when I haven’t found time to call him or send him a card in a month! I know he wants to hear from many of us on the board and the PSA.
Can I encourage you that care for him and his family to call and wrie a card.
This is the information. Phone in the room to Terry is 717 531-7640
Cards can be sent to:
Penn State Hershey Medical Center
500 University Drive
Hershey, PA 17033
Room 6130 Mr. Terry Yocum Jr.
Terry is devestated by the news that he is not going to walk again and I am devestated that I was too busy to write or call him and he had to call me. SHAME!!
He asked about many and especially wanted to talk to Walcat and Bigfoot.
George
Luke 9:23
http://forums.fishusa.com/m_7257/tm.htm
http://www.homefacts.com/offender-detail/PA8944/Terry-Eugene-Yocum.html
Alias X Yogi (screen name I presume)
I sent Blink a link to an article for beejay this morning. Not sure if you got it. From one of your questions as to who made the endowment, I have the idea that you may have already read the article below. However, it will probably also be of interest to Rose and erose and anyone else following up, if they have not found it.
For more on TEY, and to place some discrepancies in context, you might want to read SPECIAL OLYMPIAN POSSESSES A BIG HEART
Centre Daily Times (State College, PA) – Sunday, June 8, 2003
In hindsight, it is clear that someone needed to be setting the boundaries.
The political contributions, and potentially the endowment, are interesting. Pretty sure that the political contributions are the same person.
The article above also explains his Penn State employment situation at that time. I do not know if it is current, only that there is a current e-mail address under that name. However, there are many types of guest accounts, etc.
@Beejay
Will do. Right now I have about 25 windows opened. Just not sure about the benefactor. Will work on it, or post what I have if I give up. Just hate to post stuff I’m not sure of, or waste B’s time. Have you run across anything with Penn Square Mutual yet? That’s the track I’m on, but it might not be right.
erose
Thanks for the org. chart link. My thoughts after veiewing the chart were this chart may show the monetary links that prevented JoPa from doing more than just removing JS as a coach. However he was allowed to continue to use the facilities and recruit players for the football program.
http://www.centrecountyoyw.org/scholarship.html
One thing I want to add, is there is a Scott and Gig Yocum, Second Mile donors, and they have the Nittany Meadow Farm in Boalsburg and he is a RE/MAX agent.
http://www.piezo-res.com/PABC122608-Top100People.pdf
Scott is on page 12
He started Nittany Property Management and is a former football player.
Hard to copy article, but check Paterno in first column, RE/MAX Yocum in second column.
http://voicesweb.org/archive/october07/pe.html
BTW McDowell (pg 3) Poole (pg 22) also in the top 100 with RE/MAX. Spainer and Paterno also made the list. Find “Penn State” will yield many hits.
http://www.piezo-res.com/PABC122608-Top100People.pdf
Poole builds ‘em and Yocum rents or sells ‘em.
http://www.nittanypm.com/about_us
After twenty years of real estate and property management experience, Scott L. & Glenda Yocum took their knowledge to the next level and formed Nittany Property Management, Inc. They put together an experienced team to oversee and manage the properties in their portfolio which has grown exponentially since they opened their doors in 2008. With a personal pledge to owners and tenants alike, we have vowed to continually strive to personally offer the highest quality of service possible.
http://forums.fishusa.com/m_16053/mpage_2/printable.htm
Seems Terry Jr had diabetes and his fishing buddies are looking for a way to memorialize him. If you read, one of the contacts is a Nittany Oil.
Just a reminder that these folks are in the Elm Circle @ Penn State.
Galen and Nancy Dreibelbis
Galen and Nancy have a deep appreciation for the advantages of higher education. Through their gifts to scholarships, they have made the path to success easier for students in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and the Smeal College of Business. Galen has also never lost his love for athletic competition, a passion which Nancy shares, and they are leading supporters of the Nittany Lions and Lady Lions teams.
The History of Nittany Oil Company
Nittany Oil Company was started in 1958 by Galen Dreibelbis, an aggressive individual seeking to create a customer oriented and reliable heating oil and gasoline supplier in the State College area.
http://www.nittanyoil.com/about.htm
erose and lizzy- y’all are on the same boat, lol.
Holding for confirmation, I know the employer is correct, but I am obligated to show a nexus.
B
Erose. Is it possible one of them was a broker for the golf course sale, earning a commission for probably saving his own failed investment venture too, to an org he was on the Board of? And how about that bankrupt retirement village sale to the Lutherans, who brokered that for a commission?
Was the OU Houts property (a Y… sale) the school property by the airport sold to 2nd Mile?
http://www.piezo-res.com/PABC122608-Top100People.pdf
this article calls it a “complex transaction.”. I wonder if it was first donated to the school? At an inflated value for tax purposes given what it might sell for in a business-depressed economy? I bet income ftom construction loans had fallen off for local banks, too. Nice when nonprofits (penn state, 2nd mile) keep construction loans & jobs up locally.
Found my own answer:
http://www.centredaily.com/2011/07/15/2838492/penn-state-to-buy-house-and-land.html
another brokerage commission, likely a bank benefitted.
lizzie/erose, Have seen one of these fiduciary cases involving a school (nonprofit) in VA & a blatantly selfdealing couple on its Board, brought by a longtime Board member just before he was bounced, and he was right & the entire community was behind him & the majority of families, but he lost to the looters, & the State supervisory arm of gov’t, & the IRS, did nothing.
Here’s why imo — actions of a Board, even looters far more egregious with severe conflicts of interest & personal benefit — are generally shielded by state corporate case law. Board members have merely to show some (any at all) “business purpose” for their votes & business actions. And state govt corporate regulators are loathe to get involved in schools anyway, IRS too. The Business Judgment Rule would pretty much shield the real estate, investment, & banking transactions mentioned here by researchers.
Some Judge ought to bar this entity (Penn State Board) in addition to 2nd Mile from making these reactionary PR donations until all victims have been compensated. http://www.centredaily.com/2011/12/07/3011582/psu-planning-hershey-center-to.html
It seems to me a Judge ought to be barring these actions unless to set up a victims special compensation fund.
The only way to do that imo is to turn the individual victims’ civil cases into a class action with a lengthy list of named parties including Penn State. Should have bern done yesterday. That gets it into Federal Court–which seems to be important in Pennsylvania. Let’s hope victims’ attorneys, who specialize in sex abuse, can collaborate to find quickly a peerless class action lead attorney.
erose: I’m not looking at all the business interconnections; takes too much time. Penn State Mutual FUND or the Penn State Mutual Bank, which was part of the S&L crisis and bailed out back when Franklin Bank was (it’s not in PA)?
Anyhow, I’m looking at rumors and non-mainstream items for hints of who might be of interest to me.
Following up on the post by washerfixerla on Nov 10, 12:05 PM at this link:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?hl=en&gbv=2&gs_sm=s&gs_upl=1559l10434l0l13152l24l24l0l15l1l0l154l780l6.3l9l0&q=cache:q6U37k8WbW8J:http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4ebbe0ceeab8ead63800001b+W.S.+Lee+The+Second+Mile&ct=clnk
I understand that particular Lee is said to have parties for younger men (don’t know how washerfixerla determined the 18 yr old cut off at the young end??)
But his deceased (2009) brother (married with children) was also an interesting fellow and co-owner in the family business, which underwent bankruptcy and a buyout around 2006. Brother was VERY active in the boyscouts (nothing wrong with that!), Scuba instructor, Model Railroad Assn. Requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to “Scouting High Adventure Fund, c/o Central PA Community Endowment or 32nd Degree Masonic Learning Centers for Children, 1415 11th Ave., Altoona, Pa. 16601.”
link to bro’s obituary:
http://tribune-democrat.com/obituaries_archive_url/x418914125/Walter-James-Jamie-Lee-III
Hell is too nice of a place for someone like Sandusky – just sayin’
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/07/new-child-abuse-charges-filed-against-sandusky/?hpt=hp_c1
Clipped from above link:
Sandusky was arrested Wednesday on the new charges, which include four counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and two counts of unlawful contact with a minor, the office said. He had been free on bail following his initial arrest last month.
The two new accusers are men who allege Sandusky abused them when they were children, the attorney general’s office said.
“Today’s criminal charges were recommended by a statewide investigating grand jury, based on evidence and testimony that was received following the initial arrest of Sandusky on November 5,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly said in a statement.
2 boys from Second Mile come forward. JS arrested again.
http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2011/12/jerry-sandusky-arrested-again-new-sex-abuse-charges-penn-state-ex-football-coach
@Rose says:
December 7, 2011 at 5:49 am
No, the OW Houts property is contiguous to the west side of the main campus; it is not near the airport or the Second Mile property. The Second Mile property is much closer to the Village property and the Pinnacle fiasco.
The link has links to the transaction documents, although I think there is an implication that there may have been other “parallel transactions.”
http://www.centredaily.com/2011/11/16/2988115/charity-psu-had-land-deal-in-2002.html
I wonder if the “larger land purchase” referred to included the Village property? Not apparently contiguous, but possible.
Sandusky was still trying in May 2010 to volunteer with kids, BUT a background check DID turn up the grand jury investigation. (The article notes that Sandusky did not mention the investigation on his application.)
http://www.centredaily.com/2011/12/07/3011995/school-sandusky-denied-job-after.html#wgt=rcntnews
Can this post?
http://voicesweb.org/archive/october07/pe.html
@Lizzy, For some reason, I can’t get that article on Special Olympian to surface.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/12/cnn-jerry-sandusky-arrested-again-on-new-abuse-charges/1?csp=34news
Two new accusers in Sandusky case…he is arrested at his home…
Just heard Sandusky been arrested a second time
Thank you God
KOIN local news at noon
Beejay, with honesty I don’t think JS was mentally organized enough to carry out a pimping out scheme even early on. If such existed, imo boys will come forward, but I suggest mastermind(s) if any would have to be other(s) with source access.
@Beejay,
Penn SQUARE Mutual, and this is along the lines of your Yocum benefactor.
I cringe at the testimony of the newest victims to come forward. And yet I am so glad that Sandusky has been arrested with at least substantial bail and house arrest conditions. The previous “bail” must have been a slap in the face to the victims.
I wish there was some way we could let these men know how very much we respect them and their courage. Because no matter what their ages, they are already men in ways that Sandusky and his protectors will never be.
[I have read some commenters on other blogs (prior to today) imply that the later victims are coming forward in hopes of financial gain. While there will always be the possibility that some may do that, there is also the possibility that the most-severely-abused victims will have the greatest difficulty in speaking up; they were likely already those in the most vulnerable life situations.]
Did ya’ll know that Bob Hope went to Penn State once and did a benefit for The Second Mile? Well, JS said that in his book Touched.
I did a google search for Dr. John Reidell, former Pres of their Board and up came a whole BUNCH of narrative at amazon.com describing JS’ story of the early days of TSM. Lots of names.
I was just looking to see if I could get a middle initial for Dr. Reidell, to see if he was the same surgeon that was named in a suit by a prisoner. Found no initial; so my question remains unanswered. But that doc was doing contract work, apparently, for the PA Corrections Dept. and botched a surgery.
Some links:
http://books.google.com/books?id=DhURgPDxVhgC&pg=PA185&lpg=PA185&dq=Dr.+John+Reidell+The+Second+Mile&source=bl&ots=DcIWgxAFTX&sig=dbwMudKspbgw6e7PyDXvVof8l1M&hl=en#v=onepage&q=Dr. John Reidell The Second Mile&f=false\
In 2008, a Dr. John S. Reidell sued; see Ozoroski v. Beard et al, Civil Action # 1:08-CV0082 in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Found at:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?hl=en&gbv=2&gs_sm=s&gs_upl=94112l104485l0l105892l83l28l0l0l0l23l168l2847l13.14l28l0&q=cache:CY0Dthu8lRoJ:http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/pennsylvania/pamdce/1:2008cv00082/70569/63+Dr.+John+Reidell+pennsylvania&ct=clnk
Cheering you on, Beejay.
TY for this url: http://books.google.com/books?id=DhURgPDxVhgC&pg=PA185&lpg=PA185&dq=Dr.+John+Reidell+The+Second+Mile&source=bl&ots=DcIWgxAFTX&sig=dbwMudKspbgw6e7PyDXvVof8l1M&hl=en#v=onepage&q=Dr
per this page, in his own words, his initial start-up TSM goal was building a home for kids! Gasp.
Continuing to read all of your url’d amazon excerpt, Beejay.
Imo only the severest of masochists would, based on JS’ own descriptions, have served on the Board of or staff of TSM with Jer. In fact these descriptions allude to a Borderline Personality Disorder’s functioning in an organization–continuous “splitting,” all-good, all-bad labelling, side-taking, continuous dissension. He clearly had no professional consultant. His plan which he effected was to build the physical “home,” then find the kids to fill it.
No one told him homes were not only not being built, they were closing. Not good for kids. He was enabled in his rich fantasy life by fools. My mother & sibs grew up in a K-12 “home.”. At one time, orphanages were better than starving (Art Buchwald did too). But, they were abusive. And, mostly no longer exist for a reason. The few pp Amazon excerpted shows this was a sick org frim Day 1. Who I want investigated are the recently resigned mom & pop TSM Directors.
@lizzy: I can’t find your Special Olympian with Big Heart article. Got a link? TIA
I’m aware there’s an investigation of porn on computers at PSU; assuming it’s part of a larger investigation.
When do we learn that JS was involved with Special Olympics? Just waiting for that shoe to drop (don’t know that he was, but it’s a good guess). The Paternos were involved, so maybe they kept JS away from that group.
Link for those who missed the 21 yr old autistic man charged with indecent assault on his 8 yr old roommate at a June Special Olympics event on Penn State grounds. LE also found child porn on his computer:
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2011/11/17/man_charged_with_indecent_assault_in_connection_with_incident_during_2011_special_olympics.aspx
__________________
Here’s the thing: a lot of people sort-of knew about Sandusky for decades. Who else do they sort-of know about? And are they afraid to go to LE? Who can they trust enough to tell?
I hope locals are reading all the names involved with Second Mile and other Sandusky connections. Reviewing those names to see who they know something about. Hopefully before more years pass and more vulnerable kids are victimized. Not much I can do since I don’t know these folks.
snip>
Yocum is a R.E. tycoon in State College. He knows his stuff and knows what’s important. It’s a great class and you learn a lot by going to it. Its easy but that doesn’t mean its not important. Take it and relax because you’re going to do well. Then focus on learning because we all are going to buy a house sometime. He teaches real world knowledge.
http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ShowRatings.jsp?tid=547031
Penn State Instructor and RE/MAX agent Scott Yocum
http://www.statecollegehomesales.com/agents/bio/yocumScott.php
My notes indicate he may be a sibling, fyi.
B