NOTE: The views and opinions in the following are strictly that of the author.
Just months ago, I did a two-part column on the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal that shook the Pennsylvania State University down to its very foundation.
I was praised and punished. By both longtime friends and "friends" quick to de-friend me from their Facebook accounts for taking the stand I did.
I remained supportive of Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno, because, at the time, like everyone else, I did not know the facts of the case. Thus I felt that proof, rather than raw emotion, should be my guide in forming an opinion.
This is why we have the judicial system we have in this country. Not perfect, but by far, the best we have until I see proof otherwise.
In other words, "innocent until proven guilty in a court of law".
The man himself said "I should have done more".
I thought to myself "well, what more could he have done?"
Then the report from Louis Freeh came out almost two weeks ago.
They say it takes a lifetime to build up a reputation. At least a good one. But it can take one bad moment to destroy it.
Joe Paterno's finally came last week.
The only problem was, it wasn't one bad moment. It was a series of bad moments stretched over 14 years.
14 years.
Fourteen years of enabling. Fourteen years of sacrificing justice for the sake of the university's reputation and that of its football program, and it's all in writing.
It's something I'm still trying to wrap my brain around.
And it hurts.
Plus I've heard from a couple of others who have said their childish na-na "I told you sos".
One of them went as far to say "the silence from Paterno supporters is deafening".
The silence is not from denial. But rather from the length of time it's going to take for complete acceptance to just what has happened here.
Acceptance from alumni and supporters of the legendary football program. Those who sank large and small amounts of cash into supporting the program. Because it was a very good one, and at its foundation was a coach who was quick to yank one of his players off the field if there was a hint of trouble on the field or off.
Let's also not lose sight of the fact that Paterno is only one of a great many who share blame at varying degrees in this.
We all know who bears the majority of the responsibility.
Penn State's football program was a testament to all that was right in this world, with a coach who believed in his players enough to keep them on the straight and narrow, with many of them going on the NFL or have done well professionally in their lives after football.
An entire belief structure has been shattered here.
Beaver Stadium was the church. Paterno its pastor. The university's Board of Trustees its elders. The players the energetic choir that kept the parishioners on their feet. The fans were the parishioners who gladly tithed. And tithed some more.
What's frightening is, how many other schools are also hiding such behavior?
The hardest part of it all is, the man we affectionately called "JoePa" is not around anymore to say anything for himself, especially to the deafening cry of those who supported him:
"Why?"
Only God and Joe know.
NEXT WEEK: Paying it forward...with interest
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