Joe Paterno should be fired!

[SuzySunshine]

They'll let him retire at the end of the season - I bet you a million bucks!

Who's paying me my million bucks?

The whole thing still sucks though!

[scarlett09]

Who's paying me my million bucks?

The whole thing still sucks though!

Wish I could pay up on that!

Yup, the AP is reporting and Paterno's son is confirming that he will retire at the end of the season. Penn State has 3 games left - Saturday vs. Nebraska, and away at Ohio State and Wisconsin. Actually, they could have an additional 2 games with the Big Ten championship game and a bowl game. Unless the team drastically falters due to the turmoil surrounding them, they could possibly play in the Big Ten Championship game and will definitely play in a bowl game, as the team is currently 8-1.

I wonder if the school will do something similar to what other schools have done when forcing a coach out the door and that is allow him to finish out the regular season, but put an interim coach in place for any post-season games.

And Penn State better get rid of their president. What a turd. This is his website: http://president.psu.edu/
I'm sure the school's BOT will be discussing how to get rid of him on Friday. He's been there for 16 years as president, which is a pretty long tenure for the president of such a large institution. Besides this whole debacle, his leadership and perspective were probably starting to stagnate, so this will be the impetus for finding a leader with a new perspective. Here is his original statement from last week: http://live.psu.edu/story/56236

Here is the text of Paterno's retirement announcement: http://espn.go.com/college-football/...ire-end-season

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Yup, the AP is reporting and Paterno's son is confirming that he will retire at the end of the season. Penn State has 3 games left - Saturday vs. Nebraska, and away at Ohio State and Wisconsin. Actually, they could have an additional 2 games with the Big Ten championship game and a bowl game. Unless the team drastically falters due to the turmoil surrounding them, they could possibly play in the Big Ten Championship game and will definitely play in a bowl game, as the team is currently 8-1.

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According to a friend (and lifelong Penn St fan), they've been trying to figure out how to get rid of Paterno for years. Though he's much beloved, he wasn't doing much actual coaching. I mean the man has broken his leg twice in the last few years because he can't move out of the way fast enough when plays come toward him out of bounds. His aura was still helping with recruiting but in this day and age lots of recruits wanted to go to schools with younger, more dynamic coaches (especially in the PAC-10 and SEC because of the TV contracts). It's so sad that it had to come to this but I bet there are some Penn St insiders/fan who are pleased that he's leaving and a new era can start.

[SoonerTexan]

I wonder if the school will do something similar to what other schools have done when forcing a coach out the door and that is allow him to finish out the regular season, but put an interim coach in place for any post-season games.

That will be interesting to see. I cant say I'm *completely* against letting him finish out the season, though...if only for the good of the athletes that will suffer if the rest of their season tanks. Probably is too late to fix that anyway, though.

He's been there for 16 years as president, which is a pretty long tenure for the president of such a large institution.

Haha, OU's President has been around for 17 years. And if you think Joe Paterno has a cult following, you need to take a trip to Oklahoma and hear about Bob Stoops!

[Meenah]

I think he should not be allowed to finish out the season. Make him go NOW.

[corn poffi]

I agree. He and everybody who dropped the ball need to go NOW.

I it should be interesting seeing him coach his last game at Camp Randall. We're a bunch of assholes. I can only imagine the horrible t-shirts that will be made for that game. Ticket prices have just skyrocketed.

[HouseofWool]

I agree. He and everybody who dropped the ball need to go NOW.

I it should be interesting seeing him coach his last game at Camp Randall. We're a bunch of assholes. I can only imagine the horrible t-shirts that will be made for that game. Ticket prices have just skyrocketed.

oooooh. The student section should have a field day with this. hehehe

[corn poffi]

Hahaha it should be interesting! I so wanna go to that game!

[Phoebe]

They fired the president and Joe.

[scarlett09]

Constant news coverage of this here. I swear I don't even think I saw the local weather, lol!

And if this goes down too, it will have MAJOR implications on the university: http://www.ed.gov/news/press-release...sconduct-alleg

Do any of our law-knowledgeable members think that this is possible? http://chronicle.com/blogs/ticker/pa...sor-says/37961

And a great commentary on the situation (one of several I've read tonight): http://chronicle.com/article/The-Ste...-State/129683/

[Momo]

Ms.Yanity's editorial is spot on.

This story hits close to home. One of my brothers was a victim of the Catholic church sexual abuse scandal. Too bad the Vatican did the opposite, of what the BOT of Penn State did. I'm referring to putting into the papacy a man that was in full knowledge of several of the sex crimes committed against children.

My heart breaks for those poor sweet boys...I just wish the student body would keep the victims in mind instead of their "demi football god"Paterno.

[houseelf]

A couple of thoughts here before I'm off the boards for awhile. (Yes, the depths of my addiction that I'm checking in before catching a plane).

This was a good reminder for me personally to wait and evaluate a situation before I believe the first press release. The right decision was made in the end, but I was in here debating before I knew the whole sordid story.

Second, I couldn't agree more with Momo, my heart breaks for those kids. They were disadvantaged to begin with and then taken advantage of in a situation that should have been such a memorable treat. That is going to leave such a huge mark.

Finally, the feeds on my Facebook regarding this incident remind me why I freaking HATE facebook and really must quit. My cousin opines that this is "just another witch hunt a la Jim Tressel at Ohio State". *I kid you not*. Let's make a deal, cousin, and keep awkward, bizarre conversations for holidays only, o.k.? In another FB post, a former law school classmate offered a warning "if I find out your inappropriately touching kids, I"m kicking your ass first and then calling the police later." Ironically, I find this guy to be a bit rough around the edges, but his analysis is spot on.

[GrayMatterWife]

Do any of our law-knowledgeable members think that this is possible? http://chronicle.com/blogs/ticker/pa...sor-says/37961

Perjury is not just "lying"; it is knowingly making a false statement under oath. Did he give testimony to the grand jury? If so, and if he lied, he could be subject to both criminal and civil liability.

Obstruction of justice is kind of a broad concept, but it refers to the knowing interference with the operations of a court or officers of the court or law. I don't know enough about was Mr. Paterno is alleged to have done, but it he acted to interfere with a police investigation into the matter, then he could be in trouble--again, both in the civil and criminal contexts.

Also, bear in mind that Penn State didn't fire him because they wanted to do the right thing, or because it was appropriate under the circumstances, or because they were appalled at the prospect that he was involved. They fired him because it was in their litigation best-interests. If Paterno was working for Penn State, he can be subpoenaed in his capacity as an employee of Penn State. Non-individual entities (corporations, LLCs, LLPs, partnerships, etc.) do not have 5th Amendment rights. Perhaps they were seeking to limit the ability to subpoenaed him as a current employee. Not sure--but I am quite certain that they fired him with an eye to future legal liabilities.

[SuzySunshine]

I'm glad they fired him, this year's players deserve to finish the season without his distraction. Yes sports take to big of a role in many universities but they also allow a large contingent of people who would otherwise not get an education get one. I hope Penn State is able to move on and I hope Paterno is able to enjoy his retirement. He made one MAJOR mistake but he's also an institution at that university and should be remembered as such.

[Momo]

He is a moral failure. He made a hypocrisy of the values he preached & supposedly instilled, in his over glorified program.