I have similar positions to be fair but hope you comeback and respond with your own objectivity and subjectivity that I respect but on something I will be posting later after spending some time with some great PSU people.
I myself have serious doubts how much Paterno knew and cannot believe he would find it acceptable to intentionally accept what Sandusky was convicted of doing, I just believe Joe did far more good and was a Great Coach. At the same time, I can wait for the Criminal Cases & Civil Lawsuits to play out and reveal what will come out sooner or later that may change my own opinion?
My Question to you is if it is proven that Joe Knew before 1998 and 2001 will that change your view as Joe as an Icon of Virtue and maybe was not as open and made mistakes in protecting, or ignoring, or just did not believe the allegations in Sealed Documents?
It would change my opinion to be fair and I may be able to explain it if I read such Documents, but Joe would no longer hold a high place if he new before 1998.
Yet, it still would not change that Joe would still be a Great Football Coach separate from those moral issues, and Joe did many great things more than mistakes in the Sandusky Info once out in totality.
Regarding your beliefs on the PSU BOT being responsible for taking down penn State image and Program. I also going to post what the PSU people taught me on the Penn State 2012 Reforms and would like your own comments and thoughts on that postings later.
There I learned the PSU BOT did have Conflicts of Interests of Business Interests and they needed many Reforms that the BOT was not following, but it includes being in Business with Paterno's too, and explains there was a serious Lack of Institutional Control? So a mixed bag of BOT & JOE that required Reforms now overseeing PSU!
I will post Links to those Reforms as I was taught why they were investigated, recommended and approved and now are in place that makes PSU Model of Compliance, Rules, and Regulations now but was not followed during the Paterno Era and Paterno refused to allow some of those Reforms too?
In the meantime, hope you come back and critique my postings with no offense taken and glad you share your thoughts on the Lair so we can learn together.