Comparing the Current Scandals: Penn State vs. Miami (FL.)

A recent scandal surfaced involving former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.

Sandusky, who retired from the University in 1999, was once considered to be the heir to current head coach Joe Paterno.  Following his retirement, Sandusky continued to use the school's facilities for the foundation that he established, The Second Mile.

According to eyewitnesses (and now the victims themselves), Sandusky did more than just mentor the youth.  His charges vary from sexual advances to touching to both oral and anal sex—all with young boys, ages 10-13.

On the flip-side, current University of Miami head football coach Al Golden was blindsided by his current team's allegations.

Former UM booster Nevin Shapiro openly admitted to giving former and current athletes money while they attended the "U."  He claims to have provided hotel suites, paid for dinners and trips to the strip club—he even admitted to supplying athletes with prostitutes, and at one time, paying for an abortion.

The University of Miami's scandal doesn't hold a candle to that of Penn State's.  Even Tattoogate has no bearing.

If Jim Tressel lost his job over some players getting body ink, Penn State better have something catastrophic up its sleeve.  It is sickening to hear about any crime involving a child, but this most certainly takes the cake.

To everybody calling for Miami to receive the death penalty—you may want to recant your previous demands.  If any school is worthy of the death penalty, it is Penn State.

Granted, these are all allegations at this moment, but people are beginning to speak—and more importantly, people are beginning to listen. 

There is a part of Hurricane Nation that feels for head coach Al Golden.  He was taken by surprise when the NCAA announced its investigation.  After all, Golden had zero connections to the University prior to Shapiro's allegations.

Former AD Kirby Hocutt forgot to mention to Golden during his interview that there was some disgruntled booster whose aim was to bring down the football program.  That wouldn't have turned out so well—"By the way, would you still like the coaching job?"

Joe Paterno claims to have informed University administrators after Sandusky retired.  In any event, why weren't the proper authorities notified—i.e. the police?

Perhaps Paterno's ego got the better of him.  He became Penn State.  He was bigger than the University.  The man was invincible.  

So now we will all sit back and watch the legal process unfold.  Through all of the trials and litigations, this process will take a while.

Miami suspended players and is even rumored to decline a bowl appearance as a self-imposed sanction.  Not only is the Penn State scandal immoral, but the fact that such an array of educators would turn a blind eye to a child being sexually abused is also disturbing.

If Paterno was truly sorry, he may want to consider his own resignation.