Paterno Makes Statement about Sanduskygate (Updated)

Since the time I wrote the previous post about the Sandusky morass, Joe Paterno has issued a statement of his position with regard to the allegations. No doubt written by university attorneys, or at least edited by them, Paterno’s statement is troubling to this Turkey, because either he is lying to protect Tim Curley and Gary Schultz (and ostensibly, the university) or Mike McQueary lied to the grand jury about what he saw Sandusky doing in the shower with the ten year old Second Mile youth in 2002. Here’s Joe’s statement, with my comments interspersed (in Italics):

If true, the nature and amount of charges made are very shocking to me and all Penn Staters. While I did what I was supposed to with the one charge brought to my attention, like anyone else involved I can’t help but be deeply saddened these matters are alleged to have occurred.

Sue and I have devoted our lives to helping young people reach their potential. The fact that someone we thought we knew might have harmed young people to this extent is deeply troubling. If this is true we were all fooled, along with scores of professionals trained in such things, and we grieve for the victims and their families. They are in our prayers.

If Joe had ended the statement right here, it would have been fine. However he seems to have felt the need (or the lawyers did) to go further, apparently with the hope of exonerating Curley and Schultz of their perjury charges.

As my grand jury testimony stated, I was informed in 2002 by an assistant coach that he had witnessed an incident in the shower of our locker room facility. It was obvious that the witness was distraught over what he saw, but he at no time related to me the very specific actions contained in the Grand Jury report. Regardless, it was clear that the witness saw something inappropriate involving Mr. Sandusky. As coach Sandusky was retired from our coaching staff at that time, I referred the matter to university administrators.

This is in conflict with Paterno’s testimony to the grand jury, to wit: “Joseph V. Paterno testified to receiving the graduate assistant’s report at his home on a Saturday morning. Paterno testified that the graduate assistant was very upset. Paterno called Tim Curley, Penn State Athletic Director and Paterno’s immediate superior, to his home the very next day, a Sunday and reported to him that the graduate assistant had seen Jerry Sandusky in the Lasch Building showers fondling or doing something of a sexual nature to a young boy.” [Emphasis mine. —TNT]

[Thanks to K.B. for pointing out my omission. —TNT]

Paterno’s lawyered up statement above uses the words “…very specific actions contained in the Grand Jury report.” Obviously, Joe’s testimony does not make clear what “very specific actions” occurred between Sandusky and the boy in the shower; however, his grand jury testimony, albeit nebulous, does allude to “fondling or doing something of a sexual nature.”

So, Paterno is accusing McQueary of lying to the grand jury. Is he throwing McQueary to the wolves to save Curley and Schultz? If so, I and countless other fans and alums have been wrong about Paterno’s honesty all these years. I am seriously disappointed. Is Paterno just another university official taking care of his own?

By the way, Paterno knew that McQueary was a GA, not an assistant coach, in 2002. Was this an honest error on Joe’s part, or did he miss it in the paragraph that was written for him by the university attorneys?

I understand that people are upset and angry, but let’s be fair and let the legal process unfold. In the meantime I would ask all Penn Staters to continue to trust in what that name represents, continue to pursue their lives every day with high ideals and not let these events shake their beliefs nor who they are.

This sounds much more like Joe than the previous paragraph. I would expect him, as always, to reiterate that those people charged are innocent until proven guilty. And how many times have we heard him tell us to be patient and let the legal process unfold? Yeah, that’s Joe.

Obviously, there will be much more to come on the Sandusky affair. I intend to comment on issues as they arise.