Penn State Scandal: Why Embarrassment Signals Big Changes in Happy Valley

Anyone who came close to knowing of Jerry Sandusky's sickening behavior needs to be immediately sent out to pasture.

Despite what the classic saying indicates, ignorance can be an excuse to the law. Although it certainly is not and should not be a path to job security.

And in today's lawyer-filled, high-profile college football world, it isn't as much about ignorance as it is about calculated shielding from the burden of blame.

This is a skill that has almost become a job requirement for those involved with college athletics.

But it is one thing to play this game when the stakes are various and common recruiting violations. It is something else entirely when it is involves something as depraved and sickening as child molestation.

ESPN's Jamele Hill sums up this savage kind of ignorance in this tweet:

The failures of anyone—with any shred of knowledge of Sandusky's behavior—to bring those actions to light helped Penn State maintain status quo. 

They helped people involved remain in a state of denial that allowed them to justify their actions.

And these self-motivated actions left a stain on the face of the planet free to be a predator to children for nine and a half years.

Attorney general Linda Kelly puts this into perspective in an article by Dan Wetzel on Yahoo Sports. If you are unaware of any of the background of this grim case, Wetzel's article will bring you up to speed. 

"

Despite a powerful eyewitness statement about the sexual assault of a child, this incident was not reported to any law enforcement or child protective agency, as required by Pennsylvania law.

Additionally, there is no indication that anyone from the university ever attempted to learn the identity of the child.

"

How do any of these men sleep at night?

People involved went into self-preservation mode with no concern for the greater good.

At the time of the alleged shower incident, Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley, Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Gary Schultz and President Graham Spanier were concerned enough to ban Sandusky from bringing boys onto the Penn State campus, but still did not turn this matter over to the authorities.

That is disgusting.

Saturday morning, thanks to the findings of a grand jury, Sandusky was finally arrested.

He is being charged with seven counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, eight counts of corruption of minors, eight counts of endangering the welfare of a child, seven counts of indecent assault and other offenses.

Meanwhile, Gary Schultz is headed back to retirement, and Tim Curley is going on administrative leave. Both are expected to turn themselves into authorities for perjury.

Penn State now must immediately take the next step.

They need to send a message to everyone that passing the buck is not acceptable in matters of this severity and magnitude.

That means Joe Paterno, who alerted Curley of the actions in the first place, needs to go.

And it absolutely means President Spainer needs to be shown the door.

Penn State needs to launch an internal investigation and find out if anyone else even caught wind of these actions, and let them know it is time to move on.

These people are in charge of shaping young adults. That needs to be done first and foremost by example.

It is time for Penn State to start righting wrongs that have been swept under the rug for a decade. It is time for them to clean house and send a message to their students and to society.