I don’t follow college football At. All. I know nothing about who is in the top ten, nationally ranked, who has the best football program, the NCAA rules- any of that. But I do know, what has and continues to unfold on Penn State’s football program is disturbing, sickening, and heartbreaking.
If you haven’t heard, former defensive coordinator, Jerry Sandusky, has been accused of sexually assaulting at least eight victims, young boys for 15 years, and some of the rapes and assaults were witnessed right on Penn State’s campus. As the developments continue, is it well known by now, the athletic director, some coaching staff, and the vice president for finance and business, knew about Sandusky’s actions, never stopped him, never reported the allegations to police, and even allowed him to continue having free reign on the university campus, years after the first allegation was reported.
On Wednesday, the board of trustees fired head football coach for 46 years, Joe Paterno. Some rioting occurred among students over the dismissal of Paterno. It is hard to fathom, Paterno who was in charge of the football program for almost 50 years, wasn’t aware of the allegations surrounding Sandusky. Paterno even admitted he “wish he had done more,” and it is “one of the great sorrows of my life.”
I think Paterno and countless others at Penn State, had ample opportunities over the years to “do more,” to stop Sandusky. Why didn’t they? It appears they aren’t sorry, they helped and protected a known sexual predator for years abuse at least 8 victims who have come forward, but they are awfully sorry the whistle has been blown, and the gig is up.
As a mother, parent, and human being, it is mind boggling how Sandusky was allowed to continue. After a witness came forward and said he saw Sandusky raping a 10 year old in the Penn State football locker room shower, how could not just that allegation alone, send all kinds of red flags to university officials? What grown man has any business whatsoever being in a shower with a 10 year old boy?
Not reporting alleged allegations to the police speaks volumes on the culture in the Penn State football program. Football is a game. At times, an important game, but it is a game nevertheless. Rape and sexual assault is a CRIME, and rape of children is abhorrent. By law, every single person who suspected, was told about, had heard, or knew about Sandusky was required to report the sexual abuse allegations to police. No one ever did. They all kept it to themselves and within, to assumably protect their football program. That’s a crime and a disgusting commentary on placing more value on winning, being successful, etc. than following the law, and protecting children from the known and repeating sexual predator among their own.
As more and more details emerge on Sandusky and his alleged crimes, it gets more sickening. The most disturbing part for me is Penn State, Joe Peterno, and the staff should have been looking out for these boys. Their parents entrusted their care and well being to these university officials. There comes a time in every child’s life, when we, as their parents, have to turn their care and well being over to others. Parents and children have a right to expect when their children are in the care of coaches, that position of trust will not be abused. Penn State failed and abused this trust on every level, for years. For what? So they could have winning football seasons? This never, never, should have happend on the level it did.
It is sad and scary as a parent to think, even when there are witnesses, reporting to officials sexual abuse is happening, it is covered up, so the precious sports program is protected. It appears if boys have to be raped so the university can keep winning at football, then so be it. Where is the human decency here?
This incident will have me on the lookout for my boys’ welfare for years. It feels like the noose is tightening on assuming your children are safe with people they should be safe with. We can’t trust them with clergy members anymore, we can’t trust them with Boy Scout leaders, and now we can’t trust them with coaches.
Has winning at all costs become so important, we overlook and turn away when young, innocent victims are being abused? If you ask the victims of Sandusky and their families, and most of the country, sadly today, the answer is “yes.”