What is happening at Penn State is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in my lifetime.  The story should center, and remain centered around the victims, but the media now has it centered around Joe Paterno and the Penn State football program.  Since the Grand Jury Report was released this weekend, the story has picked up momentum faster than Denard Robinson used to pick up first downs.

Reactions to a story like this aren’t just negative, but explosive.  The unspeakable acts that transpired with these kids are indicative of a sentencing that puts a man in jail for life.  Outside of murder, I don’t know of a more terrible crime someone could commit, time after time to victim after victim.

This story involves a handful of parties: Sandusky, JoePa, the PSU Athletic Department and university leadership, current players, the victims and their families, and the students.  Why isn’t the media focus and energy put more towards the victims?  While this topic was being discussed today on radio – a 47 year old man called in and reflected on being a child abuse victim himself.  When he was abused he was the same age as Sandusky’s victims.  This guy could barely push his voice through the web of emotions that were taking him over.  It was sad, man.  So, all of these kids that were harshly and criminally abused, will be affected for the remainder of their life.  Yes, lives have been effectively ruined, not lost, but ruined.

Sandusky will be sentanced and go to prison for a long time, as he should.  A time that might get cut short – as imprisoned pedophiles to Sandusky’s degree don’t go over too well with the inmates.

As for Joe Paterno?  Well, the right thing to do would be to step down effective immediately.  Joe Paterno doesn’t have a good enough reason to remain the coach.  In 2002, JoePa knew of the prior incident in 1998 and should not have given inaction a thought, or lack there of.  All you have to hear are the words “60 year old man”, “shower”, and “10 year old boy” in the same sentence and it should be like a mental jackpot of alarm, concern, responsibility, and action.

Paterno leaves a great legacy at Penn State.  Tarnished?  Certainly, how could you say it’s not?

Lastly, to reiterate, why aren’t more people talking about the victims?  Shut up about Joe Paterno already.  These victims need to be found and helped.

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