Most Controversial Web Reactions to Joe Paterno and Penn State Sex Scandal

The recent allegations regarding former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky and how Joe Paterno and other Nittany Lions handled the events has caused quite a stir not just on social media sites, but also among well-respected journalists around the country. 

Everyone has an opinion on the scandal, which can naturally lead to some heated debates. 

If you are unaware of what the story is, be prepared to be shocked and upset. Allegedly, Sandusky used a charity program to molest young children, and apparently, some of these events happened on Penn State grounds. 

Sandusky has been indicted on felony sexual abuse of minor boys and was arrested over the weekend. He has been barred from the Penn State campus.

Despite being retired, Sandusky was still a prominent figure around Penn State, but now, things have dramatically changed. 

In 2002, a graduate assistant witnessed Sandusky and a young boy in the showers, but instead of calling the police, he told Penn State officials. 

Penn State athletic director Tim Curley and Vice President for Finance and Business Gary Schultz have stepped down from their positions after being charged with perjury. 

Their decision to ban Sandusky from bringing children to the locker room as opposed to reporting the incident the graduate assistant witnessed was their downfall. 

Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! Sports is reporting that Sandusky was around the Penn State football program as recently as last week.

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"The sources, who asked to remain unnamed due to the nature of the scandal, said they saw Sandusky working out in the Lasch Football Building last week." 

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That doesn't look good for Penn State, and neither does the fact that Sandusky was interviewed by reporters earlier today and he was wearing a Penn State jacket. 

If everything is indeed true, this whole ordeal is extremely disturbing. How men could lie and cover up such a thing is absolutely horrible. 

Paterno released a statement through PennLive.com, stating, "If this is true, we were all fooled." 

Nobody really knows what role exactly Paterno played in this, but it certainly has people talking. After all, Paterno was aware of what the graduate assistant saw, although he claims he passed the information along and that was that. 

ESPN's Jeff MacGregor is one of many journalists who voiced their opinion on the matter, and he writes about Paterno's statement. 

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"In other words -- If True -- [Paterno is saying] I didn't know anything. Once informed of something, I did the minimum: I kicked it up the chain, looked away and chose never to think of it again.

If Paterno knew something and did nothing, he's an accessory. If he didn't know, he should have known. Such are the burdens of omniscience as understood by the cult of the Division I football coach.

If true, what did Joe know, and when did he know it?"

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That seems to be the question on everyone's mind. 

MacGregor is spot on stating that if Paterno didn't know, he should have known. The role of a college football head coach has greatly expanded since Paterno began at Penn State in 1966.

Times have changed a lot over the last few decades, and as head coach, Paterno's responsibility was to do something about Sandusky and the witness, but instead, he chose to back away. 

While people are distraught over what Sandusky did, others are outraged that Paterno didn't take more action. 

Mike Wise of the Washington Post wrote a column on the incident, and he is one of the many that believe Paterno knew and did nothing.

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"Paterno wasn’t charged, but if Sandusky is guilty, Paterno would be guilty — just as Penn State’s athletic director and a university vice president, who were charged with perjury and failure to report suspected child abuse on Saturday, would be guilty.

They would all be party to a worse crime than any crooked, pay-for-play booster at Miami, Ohio State or even SMU ever committed: guilty of protecting a program before a child.

Joe Pa knew, if the charges are true.

They all knew.

And they never told police."

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Nobody reported anything to law enforcement, and that alone has people fuming. 

Some people believe Paterno should be out, but others are standing by him.

FOX Sports writer Jason Whitlock, who is no stranger to stirring the pot, says Paterno should be out as Penn State head coach. 

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"Rather than call the police, Paterno seemingly gathered as little information as possible and slipped back into his JoePa facade.

If there is an ounce of dignity left in Paterno’s vain and delusional 84-year-old body, he will step down from his throne today. 

Paterno should’ve retired 20 years ago. His ego wouldn’t allow it."

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It remains uncertain what Paterno will do, but he has long said that he will keep coaching until it is no longer fun. 

Is there a possibility this all blows over by next season? 

Given the nature of the events that took place, one would certainly hope not. It appears this story will be attached to Paterno for quite some time.

Granted, Paterno probably doesn't want to call it quits amidst this scandal because of the negative light it would shed on him and his legacy at Penn State.