Joe Paterno: Testimony Proves JoePa's Moral Negligence

Amidst the ongoing legal circus stemming from the Jerry Sandusky scandal, former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno appears to have been as much of a clown as a ringleader in this whole sickening charade.

The transcript of JoePa's sworn testimony to a grand jury was read during the proceedings of the trial of former Penn State vice president Gary Schultz and former athletic director Tim Curley. Both whom are facing perjury charges stemming from the shocking cover-up, that rocked one of the most storied programs in college football in early November.

There's nothing particularly unusual about Paterno's testimony (courtesy of Cory Giger of the Altoona Mirror), at least at first. Paterno recounts speaking with assistant coach Mike McQueary and hearing McQueary's account of what happened.

Then comes head scratcher No. 1

No further, Joe? Okay, okay, so maybe Joe didn't want to know all the gory details. That lack of inquiry leaves much to be desired, particularly on a moral level. More important than anything, is what Joe did (or didn't do) upon hearing this from McQueary.

Enter head scratcher No. 2

Wait, wait, wait. Excuse me, JoePa, but you didn't want to interfere with anyone's weekend? You'd rather not bother anyone with this news on a Saturday?

You mean, like how Sandusky interfered with the innocence of those young boys? How he bothered them with rape and other forms of sexual abuse?

That's absolutely inexcusable and indefensible, Joe. Those people you didn't want to interfere with, Joe—it's their job to know about these sorts of atrocities. It's their job to investigate the activities of monsters in the community. 

Of course, we know that once JoePa got around to reporting it, Curley and Schultz did little, if anything, with the information. Rather than launch a full investigation, they tried to keep the whole mess under wraps.

Ultimately, it is why they're now on trial. But to hear someone of Joe Paterno's stature in the Penn State community suggest it was better to sit on this information until there was a more appropriate time to discuss, reeks of poor judgement and gross moral negligence.

There is no good time for news of the nature that Paterno heard. There is only a time to act, to protect innocent children from harm, and bring a deranged man to justice.

In the midst of a game, Paterno never seemed to have trouble making timely decisions on the football field. The guy didn't win 409 games, the most in Division I history, as a byproduct of luck.

To think, though, that JoePa's will to act shriveled in real life. When he should've been yelling, screaming, and otherwise raising a fuss with school officials and local authorities, like he would with a referee during a game. It speaks only to the impotence of a man, who for so long was held up as a virtuous man, a pillar of his community, and a giant of heart and spirit among merely mortal men.

As it turns out, Paterno wasn't even big enough to set aside unimportant social conventions to do what was right.

Joe won't go to prison for waiting to exhale, nor should he, at least legally. As for moral justice being served, one can only hope that Paterno's failings interfere with his ability to sleep soundly at night. That the memories and the repercussions of his decisions forever interfere with his conscience.

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