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Joe Paterno Fired over Sex Abuse Scandal, Pleads Senility

Joe Paterno Fired over Sex Abuse Scandal, Pleads Senility
StateCollege.com Staff

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Penn State board of Trustees fired legendary football coach Joe Paterno in response to Paterno’s handling of sexual abuse allegations against former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

While Paterno fulfilled his legal obligation by telling Penn State’s athletic director about the abuse, his ethical failure to not notify police led to outrage and, ultimately, his firing.

“This is a tragedy,” Paterno said in a statement released to the public Wednesday. “It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more.”

Paterno went on to add, “With the benefit of a working memory, I believe I could have done more.”

It was at this point that Paterno revealed he’d been diagnosed with dementia in 1997.  This brain dysfunction limited Paterno’s coaching role over the past decade.  Due to these cognitive impairments, Paterno relied heavily on assistants to recruit, gameplan and run the Penn State football program since his diagnosis.

“Ever since I became d-coordinator in 2000, Joe Pa’s never been involved in any scheme making,” said Penn State interim head coach Tom Bradley.  “Ever since his diagnosis, he kind of took a step back from the coaching aspect of coaching and became a figurehead that represents all that’s right in sports, or in Tom Rinaldi’s view, life itself.”

Bradley said the last time he asked Paterno for coaching advice was in 2005.

“We were playing Ohio State and I asked Joe how we should defend Troy Smith.  He replied, ‘Jam the box and watch for the fullback because Woody Hayes loves to run up the gut.’  I knew then that Joe’s problems were serious.”

 

In a press conference Paterno said these memory lapses prevented him from alerting police of the sex abuse.  Every time he picked up the phone to contact authorities, he forgot why he was in the kitchen in the first place, he said. 

Paterno’s lawyer argued Paterno should be forgiven for not acting, given his mental health situation.  He said the blame should rather fall on assistants and administrators who not only knew of the abuse, but had functioning cognitive abilities as well.

Several players testified on Paterno’s behalf.  Former Penn State running back Larry Johnson said Paterno should be held no more liable than anyone else his age suffering from senility.

“Give the guy a break,” Johnson said.  “He’s a generous lovable man, who would do anything for anyone.”

“Like many people his age, he forgets things.  For example, he referred to me as Ki-Jana my whole senior year because the last outstanding running back he had before his diagnosis was Ki-Jana Carter.  I hear he even calls Silas Redd Ki-Jana now.  I took it as a badge of honor,” Johnson said.

“My point is, it’s not his fault he forget things.  He’s 84 years old, what do you expect?  Cut him some slack,” Johnson said.

While Paterno’s senility won’t save his job, it may save his reputation.  Instead of being remembered for severe irresponsibility, Joe Pa supporters hope he’s remembered for what he really was: an outstanding coach and personality whose never ending career was cut short due to cognitive impairments from old age.

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