Penn State Scandal: Riot a Display of Affection That Proves Students Delusional

On Thursday night, the Penn State board of trustees dropped the hammer on head coach Joe Paterno and president Graham Spanier. This led to one of the most disgusting acts of unity in recent memory as university students and fans began to riot. 

The riot started shortly after the firing of Paterno was announced. The people involved turned over cars, started fires and constantly chanted "We love Joe!" and "Don't go, Joe!"

But when you really look at it, these students were chanting for a coach who put himself and his football program over everything else. The fans just wanted an excuse to yell at anyone besides their beloved head coach. 

From John Gonzalez of Comcast SportsNet in Philadelphia:

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If all of this was set in motion by Sandusky’s alleged crimes—if students initially took to the streets and occupied Paterno’s lawn in a show of support for the football coach and a show of disgust for what the former defensive coordinator is accused of doing to at least eight small children over 15 unthinkable years—all of that seemed largely forgotten on Wednesday night. The riot—and it wasn’t much of one as those things go—felt more like a football rally or a frat party. The victims, if they were thought about at all, seemed to serve mainly as an excuse for many of the students to gather in one place and be college kids.

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These fans have supported Paterno ever since this scandal broke and, as an outsider, I have to say I don't understand it at all. 

If Paterno knew what Mike McQueary—who should also lose his job—testified to him knowing and failed to act, he deserved to get fired. 

These students who rioted live an insulated little world where Penn State rules and everything else is secondary. They can't see the bigger picture and what is happening around them. 

If they did, they wouldn't have rioted to support a coach whose ego was so big he thought he was indestructible. They would have understood the decision and given all their thoughts to the alleged victims.