Joe Paterno to Retire
A rally by more than a hundred students outside his house, a full investigation by the Board of Trustes, and even cheers of “We are Penn State!” in the dark were not enough to keep Joe Paterno from retiring. The Associated Press reported that Joe Paterno will retire as Penn State's football coach after this season. All caused by the alleged child sexual abuses of multiple children involving a former assistant defensive football coach. His announcement is expected today.
The unofficial rally occurred last night when hundreds of students of Penn State protested in support of Joe Paterno. They marched across campus and ended up at Mr. Paterno's house. Mr. Paterno came out after 10:00 PM and led the students in a cheer of “We are Penn State!”
Earlier in the day, the Board of Trustees for Penn State announced plans to start “a full and complete investigation of the circumstances that gave rise to the Grand Jury Report.”
Mr. Paterno has an 8-1 record in football this season, but allegedly has an 0-8 record in defending little boys against a child predator. Paterno is in his 46th season as the football coach and is headed to the Hall of Fame for college football. If these allegations pan out, he will likely become a member of the Hall of Shame for humanity.
He has faced mounting criticism for failing to be contact authorities when he allegedly heard about showers and little boys and Jerry Sandusky. Personally, Mr. Paterno faces no criminal charges.
Yesterday however, a mother of an alleged victim spoke to a reporter for the Patriot News.
“He admitted to taking the shower, he admitted to some extent something bad happened,” says the boy's mother about the confession. “He asked her for forgiveness. He said 'I probably won't get it from you,' and then said 'I wish I were dead.'”
Certainly, that is the same sentiment that Mr. Paterno feels today. However, Mr. Paterno can take some solace in the fact that King Solomon said it best: Meaningless, Everything is meaningless. Mr. Paterno's records, his championships, his trophies and his reputation. It's all meaningless, if these allegations are true and if Mr. Paterno sat by and did nothing.
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