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I think I underestimated the PSU hate

What happens when the victims of Jerry Sandusky meet the kids who were part of/benefitted from Thon? Both can be linked to the football program. My point is, there's lots of gray areas. People point to PSU and say either 'Black or White'. You can easily make a case that Joe Paterno is the devil. You can also easily make the case that he was a saint. It probably falls somewhere in the middle. Make no mistake - I'm not saying this board is wrong. I'm just not willing to say your right. Both extremes of the argument give me heartburn at times... This is an endless discussion. I'm going to bail out for now. Good luck on Saturday. I hope you guys stay at least 1 point behind us all the way through. I'll be at my sister-in-laws wedding in Wexford, missing the whole thing. son of a.....!
How can you "easily make the case Joe Paterno was a saint"? This is the kind of thing that makes people think you are all cult members with heads in the sand. You claimed to be one of the reasonable PSU fans, but you just said, "You can easily make the case Joe Paterno was a saint." He (at best) ignored a pedophile for 40+ years and did nothing to stop him when he was undoubtedly presented with cases of abuses. EVERYTHING you believe in about the "Grand Experiment" or "Success With Honor" was a ruse. He did it to recruit and sell his program. It was a sham. He wasn't even a good person. Good people don't (at best) just ignore innocent kids getting raped because it might disrupt someone's weekend.
 
Penn State is the fat girl from high school that clung to the popular kids. She looked down on everyone outside of that clique, even though she wasn't really in it - so in reality she had no friend other than herself and her ego. She thought she was popular and cool and everyone liked her, but in reality no one in or outside the clique liked her; they HATED her and her fat ugly face. If you asked anyone in the popular clique why they hung out with her, they'd always respond "she just always shows up, no one invites her." She was a dirty disgusting pig in EVERYONE's eyes, but when she looked in the mirror she saw a 10.

That's who Penn State is.
 
I appreciate what mcm is trying to convey. I am not blaming him as he probably lacks the voice and the means, but more psu fans need to make a stand for what they believe their university should be about. The daily collegian this week had a powerful op-ed. More need to stand for that. Unfortunately the counter to my argument here is that the editor of the student newspaper was subjected to threats and once they found out she was a woman, the typical misogyny erupted.

My suggestion is to get more students and people that want to move on to publically protest these types of paterno worshiping events. Until more do, don't be surprised by the country's outrage
 
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I saw within a friend's family, his daughter elected to attend Pitt for academic reasons...you know, the whole reason we go to school. Her uncle turned his back on her because she didn't choose Penn State. Mind you, the uncle never attended any school. Unfortunately here in good ole central pa, there is an overwhelming majority of people who never attended PSU that claim the school and football team as their own. Since these people have no emotional attachment to the university itself, including the good things higher education provides, the number one priority naturally becomes FOOTBALL! Now don't get me wrong, I want Pitt to win football games too, but reality is Pitt doesn't have such a large base of uneducated folk that buy the shirts and all that other stuff that makes psu football money. Most pitt fans have at least some sort of academic tie to the university. As such, I can say that if something like what happened in centre county happened at Pitt, myself and most other pitt alum would have demanded to shut the football program down. Football isn't worth ruining children's lives. It's unfortunate for those at PSU who truly care for their reputation as a place of higher learning, and not so much as a place the local yokals get to go watch football. PSU and it's trustees are guilty of pandering to the masses. It's stupid, and everyone outside of central pa thinks it's stupid.
 
I just throw my arms up in resignation. Since Pitt is the closest school to Penn State, we knew this would be something that will be brought up instead of football. But really I thought most people are past all of this stuff. I guess I am wrong. It is sad, it is ruining what I was hoping for, a nice football afternoon. I guess I am tired having our football games being sullied by this constant and repetitive rehashing of past events.
I guess the problem is that honoring JoePa so soon when even the trials aren't over is just not very smart. Time heals but that time will not start until the trials etc all end and then maybe a little contrition from the fan base. When Penn State fans were so excited when Florida State's Bowden had to forfeit wins and then that made Joe #1 Penn State was ecstatic. So what do you think the rest of the football world felt when Joe's were restored. It's easy for me to be a little more objective. Retrospectively maybe you put the shoe on the other foot. It's tough to call the kettle black from where you are trying to rationalize from.
 
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As a PSU alum, I'm not overly thrilled with the idea on Sept 17 (I DO think there is a time/place to recognize Paterno's contributions to the school at some point). But the question I often ask is 'why are people outside of the PSU program so consumed by this?'

I am disgusted by the Joe-Bot crowd as much as you are - trust me. They have put all PSU alums in a very difficult position. How can we balance currently supporting our alma mater while not attaching ourselves to that pathetic, lunatic fringe ('Sandusky might not be guilty', etc)?

I think honoring Paterno's first game as coach is harmless. I think it's a bit tone-deaf - but it's not malicious. And if the PSU folks want to do that, without infringing on another program, why do non-PSU'ers feel the need to be heard in the matter? The past cannot be washed clean - and that should apply to both the good and bad. I know that no one will forget the bad. But are we then supposed to turn around and forget the good? I dunno, its a weird situation now. Which sucks...

I don't pretend to speak for everyone but my guess is that sentiment exists mainly because the most vocal minority (hopefully) of Penn State fans took control of the narrative from the Penn State side of things very early and showed an ALARMING lack of self-awareness, contrition and basic compassion for the victims.

That was very weird and self-absorbed and it rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. Of course that rubbed a lot of people the wrong way because the message was as clear as it was callous.

"Sure, a lot of kids were hurt and yada-yada-yada...and we feel very badly about that, we really do.

"However, what or we supposed to do with our Saturday afternoons? Also what does this mean for Joe's legacy?"

I would argue that the stupefyingly tone deaf and defiant reaction from the Penn State fan base hurt their reputation more than what happened with Sandusky or the others in their attempts to cover up those myriad child rapes.

I think prior to the PSU fans' reaction, people were generally sympathetic towards them. Pitt fans weren't the least bit sympathetic or forgiving of course, but most others were.

I will always believe that Penn State University missed a phenomenal opportunity to take the lead in a national conversation about the very serious subject of child abuse.

Instead they chose to defend a bunch of people who were pretty indefensible in their actions and that is why they continue to find themselves on the wrong end of this ongoing PR war.

Many still refuse to accept that the war is over and opinions sealed. Now it's time to negotiate a peace settlement in the way you do that is through contrition and compassion, not by honoring the guy most hold most responsible for covering up these crimes.

That's why the reaction has been so strong nationally. I would use the term "polarized" but that's really not true. Most people outside of the Penn State bubble agree almost uniformly on this issue.

That's what makes it so striking that the folks inside the Penn State bubble continue to behave this way. It just confirms people's worst fears about Penn State – and maybe the sports culture in general.

Time is a funny thing and there may be a time where it is appropriate to honor Joe Paterno and all the rest of them. However, we are clearly nowhere near that time now.

Further, any ceremony that honors him is a direct slap in the face of the people he allowed to be victimized.

I just can't look at it any other way and I don't think any other reasonable person can't either.
 
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As a PSU alum, I'm not overly thrilled with the idea on Sept 17 (I DO think there is a time/place to recognize Paterno's contributions to the school at some point). But the question I often ask is 'why are people outside of the PSU program so consumed by this?'

I am disgusted by the Joe-Bot crowd as much as you are - trust me. They have put all PSU alums in a very difficult position. How can we balance currently supporting our alma mater while not attaching ourselves to that pathetic, lunatic fringe ('Sandusky might not be guilty', etc)?

I think honoring Paterno's first game as coach is harmless. I think it's a bit tone-deaf - but it's not malicious. And if the PSU folks want to do that, without infringing on another program, why do non-PSU'ers feel the need to be heard in the matter? The past cannot be washed clean - and that should apply to both the good and bad. I know that no one will forget the bad. But are we then supposed to turn around and forget the good? I dunno, its a weird situation now. Which sucks...

The Fuhrer decreased unemployment drastically. He commissioned the creation of the Volkswagon, Built the Autobahn, Funded research against smoking and banned it in government buildings, promoted animal rights and reinstated the celebration of the Olympic Torch Ceremony among other positive actions.
Are the German people celebrating the 90th anniversary of the publishing of Mein Kampf this year?
 
That rag is chock full of half-truths, innuendo, and whole lot of bias. I prefer what is referred to as FACTUAL EVIDENCE.
 
Joe Paterno is dead. Your not changing your opinion on him. I'm not changing mine. And the Joe-Bots aren't changing theirs. So what is the debate? This is what I don't understand. What do the non-PSU folks want to get out of these types of discussions? If they are waiting for PSU supporters to say all PSU is scum and Joe Paterno is the devil, that's never going to happen. "But JoePa is an enabler" is the response I would expect to this question. That's why PSU folks like myself get frustrated. I'm not going to detest my love for the university and it's history. I don't have another alma mater.

I am a Pitt alum.

If this happened at Pitt, I would be done with the football program if it responded as Penn State did. I would at the very least be on the phone with the leadership demanding accountability. Certainly not being upset that they allowed this to go public and damage the football program.

I realize that football IS Penn State's identity, but that's what is really sad about the whole thing. It is that you love your football so much that you don't give a rat's who is hurt to preserve it. Fools and cowards.
 
"mcm265, post: 1567096, member: 10992"]you bring up a good point. This puts that spotlight back on the university and its people. The issue is just getting recycled and recycled over and over. The story just never ends. Its awful for everyone associated with the school. And I blame the FEW IDIOTS who are hell bent on restoring perceptions. Nobody is changing their opinions on the matter at this point. It's exhausting and now I can't stand my own fans (the crazy crowd) in addition to our opponents. In my experience this is the case for about 90% of PSU alums under the age of 40....
Well said, the University has moved on but still has many details to settle in Criminal & Civil Lawsuits. Until those come to an end, it is Headlines that keep making all factions respond to them.

My opinion, once Penn State put in the 2012 Reforms it restored all Constitutional Controls and is a Model of Compliance Excellence, and the Football Program is as Powerful as ever.

Great game coming up, time to embrace it, enjoy it, and accept it, and many good things done by both Schools, Coaches, and Programs. Joe did many great things too and made some mistakes in judgment like all of us.

Have a great time at or watching the game and I thank Penn State and Pitt providing such a game for all of us and proud of both in many ways now more than ever!
 
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"mcm265, post: 1567401, member: 10992"]Joe Paterno is dead. Your not changing your opinion on him. I'm not changing mine. And the Joe-Bots aren't changing theirs. So what is the debate? This is what I don't understand.
You hit on it the first time, Joe's Coaching was Great, preaching how Joe was running some kind of Superior Moral Program grated on many Top Coaches knowing that was untrue, but still respected Joe's Coaching.

Yet, it was the University that gave Joe his opportunity to Coach & Build a Great Program but had to put in 2012 Reforms to correct many things that wrong during the Paterno Era, due to Sandusky lying to Joe and others, but Joe's Program had to be corrected on many levels within PSU too?

So, there is good and bad and every Poster, Person, and Media Pundits have their own values and views too, and some find it disgusting there was so much silence and secrecy, and others like me can see how Joe did many great things but caused his own problems too, to be fair, and therefore mixed views by everyone all the time.

Moreover, it is still not over, until Lawsuits & Trials are resolved and even after that Victim's Voices will come out later into Publications, Media and Movies, and more will come out and back, for another Decade.


What do the non-PSU folks want to get out of these types of discussions? If they are waiting for PSU supporters to say all PSU is scum and Joe Paterno is the devil, that's never going to happen.
I agree it can't happen because Joe help build Penn State Football that helped build the University, but Joe himself got bigger than the University, and the University had to pass, approve, and implement 2012 Reforms that proved that the University allowed Joe was not running a Program within NCAA, Big Ten, Educational Laws on Athletic Integrity, while claiming Joe's own Athletic Integrity was superior, and it came crashing down when Sandsuky's Crimes (Not Any Joe's Crime) exposed a badly flawed Program of Success but not Honor in anyway.

All PSU Alumnus have to accept those Facts too, and they are Facts, not Views?


"But JoePa is an enabler" is the response I would expect to this question. That's why PSU folks like myself get frustrated.
Joe with his own Attorney actually told a Grand Jury Under Oath he was told Sexual Inappropriate Conduct, Touching, etc but the all 3 Penn State Spanier, Curley, and Schultz said they were told it was just Horse Play? This is part of the problem still be resolved in the Courts.

You are frustrated as many because this happen over 40+ Years and not just 14 Years before it all came out, and still not all resolved or Information out either? Even the current Penn State Administration and Coach Franklin are just as frustrated and have to live and address it in someway every day, until it is all over.


I'm not going to detest my love for the university and it's history. I don't have another alma mater.
I Agree, you should not especially since the University implemented many Policies & Reforms that have Penn State Athletic Integrity corrected as well as recognized by the NCAA and making sure it won't happen again under any one person or coach.

However, once the Unsealed Records came out and still not fully disclosed, the Court of Public Opinion and many others may never forgive what happen in their own personal value views to children based Sandusky Crimes that did exposed the flaws and failed laws of PSU FB Program during the Paterno's Run Era?

Just like Baylor is dealing with there own problems and even art Briles admits mistakes just the other day, it is what it is, and will never go away, but we can move on as FB Fans for this and all Future Game.

Unfortunately, Joe can't speak or write his own history, but Sandusky was lying to many people and threatening and bribing children victims no one wanted to believe, and lying to Joe, but to be fair!

Unfortunately, at some point, Joe did know and and before 1998 and it is my contention Joe did not believe it in the 1970s but it was coming little by little as more Children complained, but to be fair too, Joe did little to nothing after 2001?


Until the Media gains access to all Unsealed and Sealed Documents and Lawsuits Discovery are over, and Criminal Trials are resolved, not knowing all Info is what is frustrating too. It is what it is too until that day it all ends!

In the meantime, Game On, even the Scandal Lingers with Unknown Info not decided on the Grid Iron, and still in Courts, but the Court of Public Opinion as already weighed in, and they say Paterno should not be Honored, and PSU felt the other way?
 
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But the problem is that it's not just a few idiots. Based on your alumni elections for the board, the constant petitions signed by hundreds of former players, the Paterno merchandise for sale in every campus shop and other incidences, it's clear that it is a large and significant portion of the Penn State alumni and fan bases. Even if what PSU is doing is harmless, it just encourages the cultists and pushes them further and further. It doesn't appease them. It just makes them move onto the next item on their agenda: restore the statue, publicly apologize to the family, rename the stadium after him, purge the BoT and fire the President. By now, the PSU leadership should understand that there is absolutely no middle ground that they can meet these people on in order to move on. I seriously have to wonder at what point do kids, particularly out-of-state kids, start crossing PSU off a list of potential schools.
Good point, this not a Pitt, Big Ten, NCAA, OSU, Michigan or any others problem, it is and always has been a Penn State University Football Scandal created, participated, and joined by all at Penn State University with intentional decisions to do and not do things and dealing with many unknown omissions and admissions that now has all PSU Employees, Contributors, and Students doing New Orientation Policies to change the Culture of Football at Penn State! Change is seldom accepted anytime and at anyplace, and especially when many still refuse to believe it was not needed and blame the University itself for doing it?

Penn State University has put in 2012 Reforms, paid Million$, and admitted it required outside Powers to help them change what helped cause the Scandal in the first place. This is just a Trial Balloon to placate some Trustees, but the Media Blowback, has shown it is an error as far as the Court of Public Opinion.

Penn State is helping its own Alumni to see why it should not or why it may never be done again?

The Older Alumni with Great Memories of Joe's Success & Accomplishments of Autumn can't let it go, but the Penn State current and Younger Alumni want to move on, and never knew Joe and want it to go away, and they will make it happen every day in the future?

But it will take Decade and maybe more!
 
"mcm265, post: 1567455, member: 10992"]What happens when the victims of Jerry Sandusky meet the kids who were part of/benefitted from Thon? Both can be linked to the football program. My point is, there's lots of gray areas.
Yes there is always Gray Areas on any Scandal.

People point to PSU and say either 'Black or White'.
Well, there is a Black & White Reality too even more so than the Gray Areas?

The Black is the Penn State Football Program Scandal Happen and many Crimes Happen & a Penn State Jury Convicted a PSU Alumnus & Employee & Professor that did the Crimes. Society Can't ignore that kind of Black Crimes to Children and far more heinous than any Gray Areas?

The other Black is that these Crimes that happen at Penn State University exposed Penn State Football Program that was violating and ignoring many NCAA, Big Ten, and Department of Education Athletic Integrity Policies, Rules, and Laws? No one can ignore that kind of Black View?


The White is Penn State itself admitted, took responsibility, and implemented many 2012 NCAA, Big ten, and Educational Department Athletic Integrity Reforms in 2012 to correct the Black at Penn State and reduce future Gray Lines areas.

You can easily make a case that Joe Paterno is the devil. You can also easily make the case that he was a saint. It probably falls somewhere in the middle.
Not really, that is just outright wrong reasoning? If Penn State itself put in 2012 Reforms to correct its Football Program under the Paterno Era, Joe can't be a Saint in anyway at anytime in the past, present or future? Children were hurt and Joe's Success had no Honor? This is not Gray it is Black!

Make no mistake - I'm not saying this board is wrong.
Well, in a way you are saying that exactly. Just ask yourself are Crimes against children proven in a Court of Law Black?
And
Penn State University Football Program Paterno Era is Black because it required many Million$ to put in PSU 2012 Reforms to correct an NCAA University Program lacking Athletic Integrity and put in under a NCAA Monitor. There is no Gray Area there whatsoever is there?


I'm just not willing to say your right.
I say the same thing and that is just my opinion, but I respect my fellow lair, PSU, and Other Posters's views of values that their Opinions based on the Voices of Victims now Unsealed shows Joe Knew before 2001, and 1998, something was wrong with Sandusky at some point earlier in time? I say Joe fell for Sandusky's lies but I admit i don't know when and will wait for more to come out. I call that an Gray area.

Both extremes of the argument give me heartburn at times... This is an endless discussion.
Where I agree with you and why you are frustrated is my own doubts on my opinions too but stand by them. Joe was a great Coach that cannot be denied, so is Pete Carroll, and Art Briles and they did many things right too, and many charities off the Grid Iron and helped build Great University's Successful Football Programs and that is White in my opinion. Good Husbands and Fathers too!

Yet, they ended up leaving Penn State, Baylor, and USC's University's Names in Shame and all required Reforms and that is Black!

Yet, Great Coaching is not a Black or Gray Area in my opinion, so I respect them as Great Coaches, but they left little to none Honor in the way they ran and did and did not do proper things in their Programs and that is Black!

How they did it and got caught later, is Gray without any Honor, but that is still Shaming The University Name?

Joe's Success In Winning Games Is White but how left Penn State is Black because that is part of his legacy too, just like 409 Record wins? Opions now abound on Joe's legacy and that is Black, White, and Gray as entitled to each Person's opinions!

The Money Joe helped bring to Penn State is in the good BLACK too, but the Money Penn State has been paying out to Correct Paterno Era & Errors is RED! Not much Gray there?


I'm going to bail out for now. Good luck on Saturday. I hope you guys stay at least 1 point behind us all the way through. I'll be at my sister-in-laws wedding in Wexford, missing the whole thing. son of a.....!
Penn State University & Football Program is and has been in full Athletic Integrity Compliance since 2012 and that is White.

Winning above .500% never left and more winning is expected on a Program under Franklin without Sanctions, and that is always Gray until he does it. Same with Narduzzi at Pitt!

The Games are always Gray before the Coin Flip and always either Black or White based who Won or Lost and that can bring on Heartburn, Frustrations, but I glad they are playing too.

Good Luck!
 
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perhaps the victims should should attend and attest as to how they feel about the great enabler
Yeah...identify themselves so that the Joebots can go after them even more? I doubt that being stalked - both physically and "cyberly" - is what they want at this point in their lives.

I have no doubt that there are plenty of Sandusky victims who haven't come forth for these very reasons, not including the pain of having to re-live the experience via a trial.
 
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What happens when the victims of Jerry Sandusky meet the kids who were part of/benefitted from Thon? Both can be linked to the football program. My point is, there's lots of gray areas. People point to PSU and say either 'Black or White'. You can easily make a case that Joe Paterno is the devil. You can also easily make the case that he was a saint. It probably falls somewhere in the middle. Make no mistake - I'm not saying this board is wrong. I'm just not willing to say your right. Both extremes of the argument give me heartburn at times... This is an endless discussion. I'm going to bail out for now. Good luck on Saturday. I hope you guys stay at least 1 point behind us all the way through. I'll be at my sister-in-laws wedding in Wexford, missing the whole thing. son of a.....!
For the sake of discussion, let's say that you're points are valid: that the saint/devil dichotomy is true. So what does that mean? That we "accept" the bad things that he did because of the good that he did? That's comparable to our praising the neighborhood "Don" (crime family leader) who engages in extortion, racketeering, drug-dealing, murder, kidnapping, etc. just because he contributes money to his church and pays the rent and buys groceries for the little old lady down the street.

El Chapo is beloved by some Mexicans because he donated large sums of money to charities and spread money around to the locals in his community. So that makes him a "good guy", too?

We're talking about a person who is strongly suspected of knowing about a serial child rapist in his midst, yet condoned and enabled the perpetrator. In essence, he looked the other way as bad things were happening on his campus. Does any amount of good that he did make that forgivable? Does 409 wins for the blue 'n white and large donations to the school library make it acceptable?
 
I just throw my arms up in resignation. Since Pitt is the closest school to Penn State, we knew this would be something that will be brought up instead of football. But really I thought most people are past all of this stuff. I guess I am wrong. It is sad, it is ruining what I was hoping for, a nice football afternoon. I guess I am tired having our football games being sullied by this constant and repetitive rehashing of past events.
Dude. You guys and YOUR school are the ones that won't let it go away.

Bad stuff happens, you move on from it. You don't honor one of the fuggers invoved in cover up of raping little boys. its as bad as VT or Kent honoring a shooter, its completely mind blowing you guys are so zombiefied you can't see it.
 
not from just Pitt fans but people in general lol. This plan to honor Paterno on the 17th has the rest of the country seeing red.

Maybe they need to rethink this lol, people are back talking about giving PSU the death penalty again
Maybe you need to ask Tom Corbett what he said the day after he lost his bid for Governor? He said that the president ,Joepa and the police at Penn State sent everything to him right away to TC right after it happened . TC said he was the Attorney General.He made his confession. I which you would of heard it . We love Penn State-Linda Zaz
 
Maybe you need to ask Tom Corbett what he said the day after he lost his bid for Governor? He said that the president ,Joepa and the police at Penn State sent everything to him right away to TC right after it happened . TC said he was the Attorney General.He made his confession. I which you would of heard it . We love Penn State-Linda Zaz

Keep defending baby. Don't stop.
 
I just throw my arms up in resignation. Since Pitt is the closest school to Penn State, we knew this would be something that will be brought up instead of football. But really I thought most people are past all of this stuff. I guess I am wrong. It is sad, it is ruining what I was hoping for, a nice football afternoon. I guess I am tired having our football games being sullied by this constant and repetitive rehashing of past events.

Oh, shut the **** up with this garbage. We're the ones who have the problem? Not the CURRENT people on your board posting about how Sandusky is innocent? Not the people on your freakin' Board of Trustees who demand the statue get put back?

You have to be kidding. Yeah, we're just going to forget about it, while half of your fanbase routinely denies and minimizes it.
 
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