The Penn State football team loses, but the family wins
November 12th 2011 21:20
It started I think on Wednesday night, when the board of trustees took sensible action and fired Joe Paterno while also agreeing to accept the resignation of president Spanier. Though this act sparked outrage among the students - and led to riots - most of that can be attributed to youth being young, raw emotions overflowing, shock and later, the mob mentality. It does not condone but merely explains. However, it set into motion I think that which is necessary for all Penn Staters, both athletic and non-athletic, to heal and recover from this tragedy.
I myself wanted Paterno to be the better man. I wanted to believe in him. It is never easy to see that figure whom you held in such high esteem prove to be less than admirable. No one can or will try to take away the decades of positives from his life. But no one will look at him through rose-colored glasses any longer. Paterno has an ego, is an opportunist, and can be cold and calculating. I think that he chose not to pursue action despite I think having a very firm grasp of the facts because it would have hurt him personally. Therefore, delaying action delays the hurt. Turns out that Paterno is the same as all of us - capable of greatness and horror at the same time.
Today, a football game was played, won by the visiting team despite Penn State's furious comeback. What it showed was that the players on the team understand the odious nature of the accused acts and understands that the only people who really matter in this whole mess are the victims. No one should feel the slightest bit sorry for the accused, Paterno, McQueary or Spanier. For the three named individuals, their choices have defined them in the context of this scandal. It also shows, by today's actions in the stadium and last night's actions on the lawn at Old Main, that the Penn State family is still "Penn State proud." We have seen our foundations shaken to the core, but have chosen to fight back in the strongest, most effective and influential way possible. We have decided to take a litany of the worse sort of negatives and try to make it a positive. We have a long way to go to overcome the harm done. We will do it by raising awareness and helping those in need, and being sure to show everyone that despite the dangers and the pitfalls, taking the morally correct action is the only acceptable action.
Mike Wasco
PSU Alum 1995
I myself wanted Paterno to be the better man. I wanted to believe in him. It is never easy to see that figure whom you held in such high esteem prove to be less than admirable. No one can or will try to take away the decades of positives from his life. But no one will look at him through rose-colored glasses any longer. Paterno has an ego, is an opportunist, and can be cold and calculating. I think that he chose not to pursue action despite I think having a very firm grasp of the facts because it would have hurt him personally. Therefore, delaying action delays the hurt. Turns out that Paterno is the same as all of us - capable of greatness and horror at the same time.
Today, a football game was played, won by the visiting team despite Penn State's furious comeback. What it showed was that the players on the team understand the odious nature of the accused acts and understands that the only people who really matter in this whole mess are the victims. No one should feel the slightest bit sorry for the accused, Paterno, McQueary or Spanier. For the three named individuals, their choices have defined them in the context of this scandal. It also shows, by today's actions in the stadium and last night's actions on the lawn at Old Main, that the Penn State family is still "Penn State proud." We have seen our foundations shaken to the core, but have chosen to fight back in the strongest, most effective and influential way possible. We have decided to take a litany of the worse sort of negatives and try to make it a positive. We have a long way to go to overcome the harm done. We will do it by raising awareness and helping those in need, and being sure to show everyone that despite the dangers and the pitfalls, taking the morally correct action is the only acceptable action.
Mike Wasco
PSU Alum 1995
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