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Not So Happy Valley

Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

Happier Times: Sandusky (left) with Paterno

The reports from State College, Pa are shocking. Long-time assistant to iconic coach, Joe Paterno, charged with multiple counts of deviant sexual acts with at least eight minors — most under age 12. University administrators who did nothing despite horrific credible eyewitness accounts of  explicit sexual acts in locker rooms and showers. Disadvantaged kids taken advantage of by an authority figure who founded an organization ostensibly to help them, but apparently designed to fulfill his own aberrational desires.

These are the findings of the Grand Jury, and once unassailable Pennsylvania State University stands at a moral crossroads. At the institution’s hip stands legendary football coach, Joe Paterno, who is held out by the football world and the media as a guy who “does it right.” No cheating, no lascivious recruiting, no flashy uniforms a la’ Nike’s Oregon or Under Armour’s Maryland–the guy who made his football team clean the stadium after a game when criminal charges were placed against two of them. In short, a saint in the religion that has become football in Football America.

The center of the storm is former Penn State assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky, who made football fans everywhere think of the school as “Linebacker U.” An innovative mind who literally wrote the book on linebackers, Sandusky was Paterno’s right-hand man, and his heir apparent in Happy Valley.  The problem was Paterno just didn’t ever retire. Now at age 84 and in his 44th season coaching, Paterno is going strong and adding to his record 409 FCS wins.  Frustrated by the wait, Sandusky, 67,  applied for several head coaching  jobs, but, failing in that, retired in 1999 to work full-time with the Second Mile Foundation he created in 1977. Second Mile was designed to give disadvantaged youth “activities and programs for children  [and] … to promote self-confidence as well as physical, academic, and personal success.”

AD Tim Curley

Sandusky is alleged by the Grand Jury to have done quite a bit more. In 2002, a Penn State grad student overheard “rhythmic slapping” noises in the locker room showers. After putting away his tennis shoes, the 28-year-old went to investigate. What he saw can only be described as deviancy. According to published reports, the young man saw Sandusky involved in anal intercourse with a child he estimated to be age 10 (Victim #2).  He fled the scene shocked and the next day, accompanied by his father, reported the episode to Paterno. Paterno listened intently and then immediately reported it to University AD, Tim Curley. A week and a half later, the grad student met with Curley and University VP for Finance, Gary Shultz.  They too listened intently and assured him that steps would be taken. They weren’t. All that happened was that Sandusky’s keys to the locker room were taken away.

Then there’s that report by a University janitor who also caught Sandusky in the showers with another child victim ( Victim #8). He reported it to his supervisor. What happened at ol’ PSU in the face of the most unspeakable of crimes? Nada, zip, zilch… why, nothing at all. No report to the police as required of all educators under Pennsylvania law (In Pennsylvania, the statute requires all individuals who encounter a case of abuse through their professional capacity to make a report). No attempt to find out who the child was or to help him.

There is lots more. The Attorney’s General’s Report, found here (Warning:

Sr. VP Finance Gary Shultz

it’s graphic), reports fondling, oral sex, and night-time sexual assaults against children “sleeping over” at the Sandusky home and at other places. There’s even lots more about Curley and VP of Finance Shultz. Seems neither man recalls the grad student mentioning anything about anal sex in the shower that night. All these folks remember is something about Sandusky and the naked ten-year-old just “horsing around.”  Maybe that’s how they view screwing people over in the world of university finance and university athletics?

The Grand Jury didn’t buy it either and have charged both with perjury in their testimony.

As you probably guessed, the Old Boys have pulled together. No charges of failing to report the act to police against the iconic coach or anyone else at Penn State either — at least not yet. University President, Graham Spanier, issued a statement saying, “I have known and worked daily with Tim and Gary for more than 16 years. I have complete confidence in how they have handled the allegations about a former University employee.”  Tim and Gary aren’t issuing statements.

St. Joe’s not talking either according to the Athletic Department, but as a football icon he can’t keep that up forever. I’d like to pose a question here from a fellow coach: “Joe, as a legend in a profession who has as its mantra that ‘we’re in it for the kids,’ why would you ignore the suffering of and brutality against one of those kids whose only flaw seems to be that he’s not old enough to suit up yet?”

I’d like an honest answer to that. And then I’d like another question answered of every man that was involved — whether as a witness, authority figure, supervising coach,or just as a father of kids. Why didn’t you step up and confront that old bastard in the showers and hit him with all your might right square in the nose?

Source: Washington Post

~Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

120 thoughts on “Not So Happy Valley”

  2. Mespo,
    Thanks for the statute language. It does look like a tough sell to the court. I think if grad assistants and assistant coaches do interface with children(student athletes that are not adults yet) I think there is at least an argument that they had a duty to report. I think Joe Pa is dirty and he needs to step down immediately. Horrible situation. What about civil suits against all parties by the victims?

  3. Blouise wrote:

    “My first thought was for that little boy alone in that shower room with a monster and a 28 year old male witness leaving him there to suffer. There are layers and layers to this story … each more horrible than the other.”

    Yes…the crux of it really, it seems. All of those who turned a blind eye or assumed the ostrich “head in sand” position could have prevented the abuse that followed. As you also rightly say, “there are layers and layers”… It sickens me. And I wonder how long Sandusky’s wife has known and/or had inklings about her husband’s problems…

  4. Here’s the Pennsylvania mandatory reporting law (Child Protective Services Law). It’s not the easiest case I’ve ever seen against Curley and Shultz, but it’s risky saying it doesn’t apply to them given the breadth of the language which seems to apply to most all people who work and who come into contact with children.

    6311. Persons required to report suspected child abuse
    (a) General rule.–A person who, in the course of employment, occupation or practice of a profession, comes into contact with children shall report or cause a report to be made in accordance with section 6313 (relating to reporting procedure) when the person has reasonable cause to suspect, on the basis of medical, professional or other training and experience, that a child under the care, supervision, guidance or training of that person or of an agency, institution, organization or other entity with which that person is affiliated is a victim of child abuse, including child abuse by an individual who is not a perpetrator.

    http://www.pa-fsa.org/CPSL_5_09.pdf

    1. Whether there was a duty to report under the law doesn’t speak to the issue in a way that captures the horror of the act. This was a middle age man anally raping a sub teen. To have observed this act and not intervened is disgraceful. To have knowledge of this man’s actions and not exposed him is ethically disgusting. To have avoided hearing the truth to protect one’s now specious reputation is the act of a man in a dishonorable occupation, college football coach, is the mark of a narcissist. Joe Pa is a fraud and must go. The others need prosecution and/or disgrace.

  5. mespo,

    That was my second thought when I initially read your post. My next thought was “Confidential Settlement”.

    My first thought was for that little boy alone in that shower room with a monster and a 28 year old male witness leaving him there to suffer. There are layers and layers to this story … each more horrible than the other.

  7. Blouise:

    Even if he wins with those technical defenses, he “loses” in the eyes of most people. I am anxiously awaiting the civil case by the now-grown victim against all of the ostriches.

  8. mespo,

    Catholic Church defense from the ’90s … didn’t hold up too well in front of a jury.

  12. “Who are you trying to convince? Yourself?”

    I’m hoping that was a rhetorical question, mespo, as the answer is obviously “yes”. Joe Pa is not just a football hero to many, he’s one to himself. After all he’s spent years of his life being told exactly that. He can’t be a real hero if he allowed someone to molest a child so he’s fired up the JetSki and is going to try to dodge crocs on DeNial.

  13. Thanks for the update, anon nurse. Here’s my admittedly cynical take on things:

    From the Grand Jury Report:

    “Paterno testified that the graduate assistant was very upset. Paterno called
    Tim Curley (“Curley”), Penn State Athletic Director and Paterno’s immediate superior, to his home the very next day, a Sunday, and reported to him that the graduate assistant had seen Jerry Sandusky in the Lasch Building showers fondling or doing something of a sexual nature to a
    young boy.”

    From Paterno’s Statetment Today:

    “As my grand jury testimony stated, I was informed in 2002 by an assistant coach that he had witnessed an incident in the shower of our locker room facility. It was obvious that the witness was distraught over what he saw, but he at no time related to me the very specific actions contained in the Grand Jury report.”

    Memo to Joe:

    Of course, Joe, you needed specifics. You needed information. You were surprised. You were confused … blah, blah, blah ….

    Whether you’re 18 or 84 do we really need to draw you a picture before you act to protect a child of 10 from a naked middle-aged man in a shower under your control “fondling or doing something of a sexual nature” to him? How many “specifics” do you need there, coach? Would a scouting report from SCI-Greene help?

    Who are you trying to convince? Yourself?

  14. Paterno’s full statement:

    http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2011/11/joe-paterno-issues-statement-regarding-sandusky-child-sex-abuse-charges/1

    Nov 06, 2011

    Joe Paterno issues statement, calls Sandusky charges “shocking”

    Joe Paterno has released the following statement regarding the child sex abuse charges filed against former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky:

    “If true, the nature and amount of charges made are very shocking to me and all Penn Staters. While I did what I was supposed to with the one charge brought to my attention, like anyone else involved I can’t help but be deeply saddened these matters are alleged to have occurred.

    “Sue and I have devoted our lives to helping young people reach their potential. The fact that someone we thought we knew might have harmed young people to this extent is deeply troubling. If this is true we were all fooled, along with scores of professionals trained in such things, and we grieve for the victims and their families. They are in our prayers.

    “As my grand jury testimony stated, I was informed in 2002 by an assistant coach that he had witnessed an incident in the shower of our locker room facility. It was obvious that the witness was distraught over what he saw, but he at no time related to me the very specific actions contained in the Grand Jury report. Regardless, it was clear that the witness saw something inappropriate involving Mr. Sandusky. As Coach Sandusky was retired from our coaching staff at that time, I referred the matter to university administrators.

    “I understand that people are upset and angry, but let’s be fair and let the legal process unfold. In the meantime I would ask all Penn Staters to continue to trust in what that name represents, continue to pursue their lives every day with high ideals and not let these events shake their beliefs nor who they are.”

  15. If college football was honest, the players uniforms would look a lot like the suits NASCAR drivers wear.

  16. In the above link anon nurse posted the article mentions a 2 year statute of limitations. That mention reminded me of the Cleveland Diocese handling of charges against priest by young girls claiming they were raped as fourth graders:

    Excerpt:
    “After church lawyers battled the women for five years over exactly when they remembered the abuse and how quickly they reported it, the diocese prevailed in the case in 1998, when the lawsuit was dismissed.

    Again, as with so many other such suits, the case ran aground not on the truth or falsity of the allegations – which were never officially adjudicated – but because the statute of limitations had expired.”

    http://www.cleveland.com/abuse/index.ssf?/abuse/more/101584620371312.html

  20. Mark E: “Why didn’t you step up and confront that old bastard in the showers and hit him with all your might right square in the nose?”
    —

    “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” E Burke.

    I just don’t know how that grad student didn’t clock him (Sandusky) in the shower either. That has not been my first instinct when confronted with some act of brutality arose, how do people just shuffle their feet and walk on by? In a situation like the one depicted above the only way it should end is with the perp or the ‘witness’ in the hospital.

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