Mike McQueary: New Claims by Penn State Coach A Last-Ditch Effort to Save Face

Mike McQueary has been under a lot of scrutiny since it was reported that he witnessed former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky in the shower with a young boy. People have been wondering how McQueary could let the alleged abuse continue.

But now it appears McQueary is attempting to set the record straight (via MSNBC).

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McQueary has not spoken publicly since the Penn State scandal broke. But, last week, in an email obtained exclusively by NBC News, he told friends and former teammates:

"I did the right thing…you guys know me…the truth is not out there fully…I didn't just turn and run…I made sure it stopped…I had to make quick tough decisions."

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While it's unclear how NBC obtained the email, it reeks of an attempt to save face by McQueary. He's been in the news just as much as Sandusky and Joe Paterno since the scandal erupted last weekend and has watched his reputation become tarnished in the process.

He's enjoyed a steady rise at Penn State, going from graduate assistant to receivers coach. But his future is murky now that he's been placed on paid administrative leave while Penn State's committee researches the allegations.

By telling friends that he actually stopped the attack he witnessed, McQueary is hoping he can find another job once the dust settles.

It's important to remember that McQueary isn't facing any charges after giving his version of the events to the Grand Jury. He has been convicted in the court of public opinion, however, which tends to have harsh consequences of its own.

Unfortunately for McQueary, whether or not he made an attempt to stop Sandusky still doesn't change the fact that proper authorities were not alerted. He'll need to show more remorse and give concrete reasons for his decisions before he earns respect back.

This situation continues to get worse at Penn State, and it shows no signs of going away.

McQueary's best option would be staying out of the spotlight for awhile unless he's able to present his case.