Penn State Scandal: Twitter Explodes to Condemn Joe Paterno

Joe Paterno is not a suspect in the covering up of the Jerry Sandusky molestation scandal, but Twitter is letting him have it.

Many fans are up in arms and suggest that Paterno's laissez-faire approach to Sandusky makes him a guilty party. While he has not been convicted of perjury, many suggest he's just as guilty for not being more aggressive with the information he was given.

Some have taken an extreme stance on Paterno's actions, suggesting that he not only condones pedophilia, but that he is a fan of it.

Paterno testified before the Grand Jury on the molestation issue. CBS' Steve Elling assessed this with the word "wow"—a feeling I'm sure we all felt upon learning the now polarizing Paterno took the stand.

Terry Foster, a sports writer with the Detroit News, speaks for many fans when he says that Paterno should be removed and Penn State should "clean house."

Deadspin wrote an interesting article on why "good" people fail to do the right thing. Here is an excerpt of the article.

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We'd all like to think we'd do the noble thing when faced with such a seemingly obvious choice. The truth is, we might not. It's impossible to read the Sandusky allegations and not get a vivid mental image of what took place. It's enough to make you want to throw up, and I say that as someone who had a near miss with this sort of thing. It's enough to make you cry out for blood and ask why no one did anything.

The outrage comes naturally. But underneath that outrage, there is a real sadness and fear, the idea that "good" people can still be hard-wired for self-preservation, even when faced with the ugliest truths. Even JoePa. Even you.

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This tweet from LehighValleyLive.com points out the affect this case had not only on Sandusky, but on the entire Penn State staff. Who could have guessed that the end of Paterno's unparalleled legacy would likely be defined with a molestation scandal, rather than him breaking the win record?

An Alabama student seems to think that those bashing Paterno don't know the whole story.

Business lawyer Scott Flegal feels that, from an ethical perspective, Paterno "crashed and burned," as he highlights in this article.

Regardless of your feelings on Paterno, WETM-TV anchor Brittni Smallwood hits the nail on the head. Paterno is not a target of the sexual abuse investigation.

This scandal is going to affect recruiting whether recruits speak of their reservations or not. Five-star recruit Noah Spence puts the writing on the wall for us. Spence is one of the country's most highly sought after defensive ends.

Penn State is in transition as it is. Now the new coaching staff can't point to the Penn State brand and what being a Nittany Lion is all about. They have to play damage control and convince recruits that Penn State is not "a no no".

The backlash for one of the game's most beloved figures has been significant. It's going to be impossible for him to separate himself from the scandal. It's a tragic way to go out for one of the greatest coaches and respected men in sports history.