The Crystal Ball 2011 Week 10

Yes, Pittsburgh lost again to the Ravens. Rex Ryan acted like a jagoff, Tim Tebow threw a few more haters for a loop, the Giants recreated the wonderful results of Super Bowl XLII and Dolphin fans felt like they lost Andrew Luck in winning a game, but those things are minor this week. Please allow me to break from the norm of goofiness and nonsense while we step outside the lovely cocoon of professional football and address the most disturbing story I have ever seen to come from the college ranks. And if you have not heard about the ever widening scandal at Penn State, I am sorry that you will be reading about it here first.

And We All Fall Down

You typically will not find me waxing about college football. But the child sex abuse scandal currently engulfing Penn State is too much, and far too personal and heartbreaking.

The scandal broke last Saturday with the release of the Grand Jury report investigating former coach Jerry Sandusky followed by his arrest on 40 counts of sexual abuse against minors, and rapidly spread to engulf Penn State administration personnel arrested for perjury charges and the dismissal of Penn State president Graham Spanier and head football coach Joe Paterno. Just writing that seems surreal. I find it so troubling and mind blowing, and each day I think the same thing; this is only going to get bigger and more horrifying. So far, I have been sadly proven right.

It’s tough to think about something so terrible happening at Penn State, because being tucked into a small town in the middle of Pennsylvania, it seems so far away from where awful things happen that there’s no way something as horrific as child molestation could even find its way to State College and onto the Penn State campus through the rolling central Pennsylvania hills. But that is just foolish naiveté and ignorance speaking; the kind that allows things like this to happen. Evil goes everywhere.

It’s difficult and mortifying to see a place you grew up in, loved for various reasons and holds a cherished place in your heart at the center of something so unspeakably malevolent. Those emotions are even further corrupted and twisted when you see that place being used as a punch line and mocked by people who either never went to Penn State or only know of the school through football. It hurts worse when you see close friends ridicule the institution and the town for the transgressions of one subhuman. The worst feeling of all is that it deserves every bit of scorn heaped upon it right now. Still, every State Penn U crack cuts like a knife.

I find myself getting irrationally angry when I see people using Penn State, State College or the area as punch lines despite the fact that I agree with what they're saying. That's what hurts the worst. I know they're right; I agree with them. Yet it’s still home, it’s so personal because it feels like it happened to us. Penn State is a part of who we are and where we came of age. It’s a place that we carry with us every day as we move throughout the world. A place we hold dear, a physical reminder of a time when the world was ours for the taking, of hope and enthusiasm and a bond between those we met and with whom we formed the bonds of lifelong friendships and with others we have yet to meet but are joined together as alumni and Penn Staters.

We prided ourselves in knowing that at Penn State and in State College, this kind of thing never, ever happened. It is a quiet little town and a secluded beautiful campus nestled amongst rolling hills and sun dappled fields. Sure, we had rambunctious students acting like jagoffs from time to time and our share of wayward, lawbreaking athletes. But a horrific scandal that exposes a dysfunctional leadership structure and reveals a cover up the likes of which would not be believed if shown in a major motion picture? Good gravy that would, could, never happen at Penn State. And yet, sadly, infuriatingly, depressingly, here we are.

From a personal standpoint, I still cannot fathom that this horrific behavior, which according to the Grand Jury Report started in 1994, happened when I was at the university. In 1994, I worked at Penn State at a student dining commons and on the periphery for the football team at their training table dining facility. On a few occasions, I worked recruiting events. To think now that the same man I saw there was actively recruiting boys to rape both makes me violently sick and viciously angry. Even worse victim 7, whom Sandusky began his horrific treatment of in 1994 according to the Grand Jury report, ate at the dining hall with the athletes on a few occasions. To think I may have seen this poor child and had no idea that Sandusky was using this boy for his deviant sexual pleasures? I don’t know whether to cry, vomit or pound the wall in impotent rage until my hands are broken or bloody.

And now to know that an institutional wide malaise regarding this subhuman’s actions was led by the very people charged with shaping lives for the better has had my emotions in such a tizzy I don’t know whether to sob, hide in embarrassment or drive to the heart of the university and personally beat the living hell out of everyone named so far in this tragic story. Obviously, common sense stays my hand from the latter, but that doesn’t mean I still don’t want to do it.

This isn’t us, this isn’t Penn State. Stories like this happen at other schools, with a history of questionable morality and a lack of ethical judgment. You figure you would hear about this from the U or some other typically scandal riddled school. But not Penn State, not with Joe Paterno, shaper of men, at the helm making sure kids grow up, graduate and go on to successful lives. And yet, sadly, here we are. And the evil actions of one man, and the institutional dysfunction and reprehensible inaction by university personnel that allowed it to go unspoken for so long, has brought upon another unthinkable; the end of Paterno’s career.

For all the good he has done for the university, the football program, the thousands upon thousands of students who attended Penn State during his tenure that have benefitted from his fundraising and personal generosity, college football and the State College community, it will sadly be but a footnote and mean little as this scandal will be forever linked to him. No one will remember the wins, the donations, fundraisers, the new library or the untold thousands of lives changed for the better. They will remember his part in this sordid mess. And that is a shame. Because Joe has done more good for more people and one town and one university than arguably any coach ever. And his career success and longevity are the stuff of legend.

I have said often in the last few years at those harkening for Joe’s exit to just relax and enjoy it. no, no one seriously thinks he’s the coach he once was or that he is even that deeply involved in the nitty gritty of coaching any more. But to see one man and one university stay together for 61 years, through good seasons and bad, and form a symbiotic relationship that has strengthen, grown and benefitted both entities and all those who came within their spheres of influence will never be seen again. All things must end, but for one who did so much, and stumbled so badly at the end, it should have never ended in such moral disgrace.

Mind you I am not soliciting or trying to evoke any sympathy or pity for Paterno. Any feelings sympathy or empathy should be reserved and directed to the kids whose lives were ruined and scarred by Sandusky and his, at the moment, alleged violations. JoePa’s lack of action when he could have stood tall against this evil is what led to his unceremonious dismissal from the university. Penn State did what they had to do and it was the right thing. If the university has any hope of restoring meaning to Paterno’s long time mantra “Success With Honor And Integrity”, then they have to clean house.

And I would never justify or defend any position of anyone in this disgusting mess. As far as I'm concerned, there is no such thing as a defensible position. But it seems too easy to place all of the anger and outrage over this unspeakable tragedy and how it was allowed to continue for so long on Paterno. Yes, Paterno’s position dictates he should have done more from a moral and leadership standpoint. That is not debatable. But Joe is far from the only one who passed it up the chain and hoped it would go away.

Others should have done more as well. Anyone who had even the slightest inkling of Sandusky’s actions, if they are proven to be true, had just as much of a moral obligation to step in and do something to protect these children as the principals now on trial by the public. They should get no more of a pass for not doing more and earlier than Paterno and the Penn State hierarchy.

The following are people named specifically in the Grand Jury Report that either witnessed or had knowledge of Sandusky’s atrocities, most of them before Paterno was aware of his former defensive coordinator’s disgusting and perverted behavior. They deserve as much derision, blame and public vitriol, if not more, than Paterno. I’m not revealing any information that is not public knowledge. These people are culpable for allowing a monster to continue his abhorred behavior.

Joseph Miller, the administration of Clinton County High School, Mike and John McQueary, Steven Turchetta, The Second Mile Organization, Dr. Jack Raykovitz head of The Second Mile, Dr. Graham Spanier, University counsel Wendell Courtney, the University Police department, University Police detective Ronald Shreffler, District Attorney Ray Gricar, University Police director Thomas Harmon (who ordered Shreffler to close an investigation on Sandusky in 1998), State College Police detective Ralph Ralston, Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare investigator Jerry Lauro, Sandusky’s wife, janitorial staff members James Calhoun and Ronald Petrosky, Jay Witherite (Calhoun’s supervisor).

These are just those mentioned in the report. With this many people named in a Grand Jury investigation, who knows how many others may have also had some sort of knowledge. As per the report, many knew about Sandusky’s atrocities long before Paterno was ever aware, and his part per the report seems minor compared to the public maelstrom currently engulfing the coach and the university. Mind you, I’m not excusing JoePa for operating only by the letter of the law and not stepping up to his moral responsibility. I’m just making a point that there are so many others that also had a chance to bring down this fiend and did nothing.

And as a small aside, if his Sandusky’s wife knew, she is even more despicable than Sandusky himself. Of all the troubling things contained in the report, one that stood out to me is that in the weeks prior to Victim 7’s appearance before the Grand Jury, the victim received phone messages from Sandusky, his wife and a family friend urging him to call them back. They did not say why, just that the matter was important. Why would she contact Victim 7 in this manner so close to when he would be giving his testimony? This implies to me that she may have known exactly what her disgusting slug of a husband was doing all those years. If she did know, and did nothing to stop it and this habitual pattern of abuse to continue she should be arrested as well.

How could you let your partner, your life mate, your spouse do such things and get away with it? And do them in your own home? What kind of person remains in a marriage when you know your spouse is doing the kinds of things to children that every parent fears and reviles could happen to their child? How could you?

Unfortunately hindsight is 20/20, and right now as a way to deal with our own tumultuous emotions over this horrific scandal we are pouring our impotent rage and wrath out on the principals involved and demanding to know why they did not more and screaming that they should have stood up and stopped this monster years ago. I am not defending any action or inaction. To be brutally honest, I find no position in this mess defensible in any way. But when faced with something bad, people unfortunately let each other down by avoiding getting involved.

Too often we neglect to take the time to help those who need it when personal attention could make all the difference. We’re all guilty of creating this malaise. For the most part, this usually applies to minor offenses like not letting someone into a traffic line, not holding a door open or cutting someone off in a line. Sometimes it goes further like not helping out a hungry person or ignoring those fundraising efforts from shelters. But when it comes to protecting children, we should all be ready to step up to the plate no matter the trouble, inconvenience or potential damage. And that’s the crux of why everyone is so angry. We see the inactions in these people who we look up to and expect to do what is right and privately wonder, would I have been strong enough to stand up to this evil if I had been in their position when they obviously were not? And I think more than a few people are scared they may have done exactly what many did, pass the information along and try to forget it ever happened.

Placing all the blame at Joe's feet is at best scapegoating and at worst letting society off the hook of moral responsibility to protect its young and weak and stop evil when we see it. Many are to blame for not standing up when they had the chance, but we always blame celebrity because it's easy, quick and keeps us from examining our own souls and questioning if we would be brave and strong enough to stand up to such an atrocity.

I do not defend anyone at the University for their actions; their departure in disgrace is well earned, and I find every new piece of information that comes out even more sickening and disturbing than the previous one. But let's make sure we blame everyone involved throughout the years for their lack of resolve and negligence in coming forward to the authorities and make sure to direct the majority of the venom at the monster who perpetrated these crimes.

With Paterno and other top officials out, the focus seems to be turning to where it should be, on the villain Sandusky and on the children. I have seen more than a few open letters to Penn State students and alumni showing support, reminding us we are not defined by one coach, or one team or one administration, but by something greater which is Penn State and the ideals it stands for and that we helped shape through the years by our time there and what we’ve done since. I thought this letter from an Ohio State University fan was quite nice.

And despite the actions of a few misguided idiots and their mini riot Wednesday night over Paterno’s ouster, Penn State students showed what they are truly made of, and what it means to be a Penn Stater, and held a vigil on Friday night at Beaver Stadium for the victims. The fans at Saturday’s game all donned blue in support of stamping out child abuse. Penn State and Nebraska players joined each other in silent prayer before the game at midfield in a contest of which the results mean nothing. These are but the first small steps in what will be a long and painful road of healing for the victims, the university and its alumni, but it’s a start. And that’s what everyone needs now, a fresh start.

I know the institution itself will weather this and survive. And I know it will be even greater than before for finally addressing such evil and taking the necessary and unpopular steps to move forward and heal.

But the fact that it has to do such things is so upsetting and saddens me so I cannot adequately put it into words. This should have never happened, ever. But it has, and now it’s time for all of us to pull together and begin to heal and work to make sure this never happens again. We should start making efforts to help ourselves, our friends and neighbors, our communities and reach out to those who are in need. Create better versions of ourselves and our world, and grow in strength and bravery so if we should ever be faced with such a situation, we will not only know what to do, but have the intestinal fortitude to do something about it.

If we all start working together, then perhaps this will never happen again and we can have success with honor and integrity. We can do this. We have the strength and courage, knowledge, will and drive to change the world. We learned it at a place that was once wonderful and beautiful and with our help can be again. We are greater than those who did wrong and we are not defined by them. We are defined by what is yet to come and what we will do. After all, We Are Penn State.

On Tap This Week

So much for the previous week’s stellar performance.

Last week: 7-7

Thursday: 0-1

Season to Date: 86-45

Ok, so perhaps I’m not back yet. But let’s see if trying to prognosticate what some of these messes that call themselves NFL teams will do will provide a needed distraction.

Sitting at home, no one. Everyone works this weekend so get on it.

Sunday

Buffalo (5-3) at Dallas (4-4)

I haven’t jumped off the Buffalo bandwagon yet. And since Rob Ryan seems to be more interested in starting his plans for his next job and not stopping the run, why should I steer away from Buffalo now?

Bills over Cowboys

Tennessee (4-4) at Carolina (2-6)

Ok, I’ll try this just one more time.

Panthers over Titans

Houston (6-3) at Tampa Bay (4-4)

I think it’s obvious that Tampa Bay overachieved last year. But hey, they don’t call it the sophomore slump for nothing.

Texans over Buccaneers

New Orleans (6-3) at Atlanta (5-3)

I’m sorry, I still do not trust Atlanta. And I really am not sure why.

Saints over Falcons

St. Louis (1-7) at Cleveland (3-5)

Cleveland has nothing left as far as skill position players who are healthy short of Cribbs. Their offense is anemic at best. They are ripe for the picking. But St. Louis, who couldn’t finish off the Cardinals last week?

Browns over Rams

Washington (3-5) at Miami (1-7)

Way to go Miami, real smart winning a game. What good does that do for you? Some teams never learn. Well, at least they have their normal failures at home to look forward to this week. Oh, and as a safety note, please do not watch this game. There is no way it will be palatable.

Redskins over Dolphins

Pittsburgh (6-3) at Cincinnati (6-2)

Alright, how about we start winning some division games guys, think that might be a good idea? Bunch of jagoffs….

Steelers over Bengals

Jacksonville (2-6) at Indianapolis (0-9)

See, this is why you root for Indianapolis. They set a goal, and they do whatever it takes to achieve said goal and never let anything get in the way, like say winning games and losing out on the number one pick.

Jaguars over Colts

Denver (3-5) at Kansas City (4-4)

And yes, I am rooting for Tebow and the Broncos, because a win here makes the AFC West a complete mess.

Broncos over Chiefs

Arizona (2-6) at Philadelphia (3-5)

Ok, Chicago was too much to handle for the Dream Team. Let’s lower the bar a bit and see if they can work with a team of the caliber of Arizona. Not to scare you Eagle fans, but Baltimore had trouble with them for a half.

Eagles over Cardinals

Baltimore (6-2) at Seattle (2-6)

Watch, after pouring it all out last week and looking like a good team for the first time in three weeks, Baltimore will go back to playing poorly just to tick me off.

Ravens over Seahawks

Detroit (6-2) at Chicago (5-3)

One of two Chicago teams will show up, the gritty, determined bunch that shut down Philly on the road last week and made everyone wonder how we’d forgotten about them, or the one that laid a few embarrassing eggs earlier in the season that caused everyone to write them off in the first place. There is no in between.

Bears over Lions

New York Giants (6-2) at San Francisco (7-1)

Thank you G-Men, that was a most satisfying victory last week. I’ll make you a deal, if you win this week, I’ll start taking you seriously. In the meantime….

49ers over Giants

New England (5-3) at New York Jets (5-3)

I know their defense is atrocious, their running game suspect and their deep threat receiver nonexistent, but there is no way I can believe New England can lose three games in a row. No way.

Patriots over Jets

Monday

Minnesota (2-6) at Green Bay (8-0)

Another speed bump in the path of Green Bay’s freight train. This one should provide little resistance.

Packers over Vikings