As we await the arraignment of Curley and Schultz in Harrisburg at 2 pm, I wanted to quickly pass on some thoughts about Joe Paterno and Graham Spanier, with respect to how they might fare as the weeks wear on in the shadow of Showergate.
I’ve spent many years in state universities, both working there and going to school there. I’ve seen university presidents and football coaches come and go. I think I have a feel for who will stay and who will go, although I’m no more qualified than anyone else to opine on that subject. In the wake of the present serious and disgraceful scandal at Penn State, I my opinion is that both head coach Joe Paterno and president Graham Spanier will continue on in their positions until they are personally ready to retire.
I’ve likened Spanier to Bill Clinton before. He’s a master politician with strong, well cultivated ties in Harrisburg. Nothing really sticks to him that he wants to shrug off. He’s very intelligent, although he has made a couple of miss-steps in this case. A powerful man at the head of an organization, whether that organization is in turmoil or not, will be hard to bring down. Who is going to force Spanier to resign? The Board of Trustees could, but won’t. Spanier simply has too much power in Harrisburg. The governor? I’m not sure there. Interesting proposition, as he has stated that he will attend the public meeting of the Board of Trustees. Of course he will, to cover his own ass. But I think in the end he’ll support Spanier instead of attempting to give him the ax.
Paterno vows to leave on his own terms, and has maintained that posture for as long as I can remember. He is the Godfather, the Tony Soprano of Penn State football. He brings in lots and lots of money, which gives him lots and lots of power in Harrisburg. This has been tested over and over again. He did what the law said he should do, which was to report the incident to his “boss”, Tim Curley. (“Boss” is in quotes because Paterno has known Curley since he was a boy, was instrumental in getting him hired, and has subjugated him to a sycophant role.) Paterno will be protected by Spanier and by Harrisburg. You’ve already seen the state attorney pat him on the head for doing the right thing regarding Showergate. That office unequivocally stated that Paterno is not a defendant and will not be. This is not to say that anyone can’t see through what happened. I’m sure that even those in Harrisburg who feel obligated to protect Joe feel that he had a moral obligation to do much more to ensure that justice was done, particularly because of the youths and their families. Hanging onto power comes first with Joe, in spite of what his statement (co-written by son Scott, who is an attorney) might have said. Public outcry might be fierce, but Joe has lived through fierce public outcry before. I don’t think he’s going anywhere.
Spanier and Paterno are content to let Curley and Schultz take the fall. However, Spanier, Paterno, and the Board of Trustees left the door open, at least for Curley. (Schultz is merely reverting to his formerly retired state.) Curley is not fired. He hasn’t resigned. He’s merely on administrative leave while he’s ostensibly working on his legal defense. This leaves the Spanier/Paterno/BOT continuum the option of letting things cool down and quietly reinstating Curley, or if things get too hot, severing the ties. It’s probably appropriate that he doesn’t get fired while “we let the legal system do its job”, but of course, if he’s convicted of perjury, he’ll get the axe. If he is merely convicted of the summary offense of not reporting the Showergate incident, he could still wind up keeping his job if Paterno and Spanier want him there.
I might be full of beans (I just had some chili for lunch), but this is the way I see it. These guys didn’t build their nuclear arsenal to not use it when it appears that all-out war will break out.
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jonathan says
i disagree as to spanier. i predict he’ll take a handsome payout and sail off into the sunset…
The Nittany Turkey says
I hear what you’re saying. But Spanier is only 63, and he’d probably like the security of a few more million before he finally retires. At Penn State, mandatory retirement age is 84 plus how many more years Paterno wants to coach. :/
—TNT
Colin McGinnis says
To be honest, I’m surprised Spanier has lasted as long as he has. I suppose part of that attitude was his arrival during my undergraduate years, but I assumed exec roles in academia were like revolving doors. Legacy was the exception, and that was naturally a huge part of the Paterno mystique.
Until this weekend, I always conceded JoePa’s right to die on the sidelines no matter how the team performed on the field. Now, I’m not so sure. I know he’ll want to stay, but I’m skeptical whether this something he can overcome, especially if recruiting drops (with or without McQueary) and the program goes through another early-00s patch. My money’s on him finishing out the season and announcing his retirement in mid-January after the bowl season… even if the Lions finish with an undefeated conference record and BCS bowl victory.
The Nittany Turkey says
My guess is that by mid-January, Spanier and Paterno will have covered their butts six ways to Sunday, deflecting the attention toward vilification of Sandusky, and both will continue to do whatever they feel like doing. Of course, I could be waaaaaay off base.
—TNT
plumber says
JoePa is done. Wait until he goes on the road and is heartily booed. He is a national pariah now because of his inaction. There was basically a rape of a 10 year old boy by a semi-employee of the University in the University locker room, witnessed by a University employee and reported to top University officials. This is a total failure and the University would be best served by someone stepping forward and saying this was wrong and they will do whatever it takes to make this right. The University and police still do not know the name of this boy. Sad.
The Nittany Turkey says
I think that anyone and anything associated with PSU is going to be booed for a while.
I agree with you about the university changing its tune and being forthcoming, but there’s little chance of that happening.
Based on today’s New York Times article, Paterno is history. However, he is trying to arrange a press conference through son Scott off-campus, to talk about his position, which he said he was going to do at the scheduled press conference that Spanier’s office canceled without consulting him. If there’s going to be a war, no one will win and they’ll both be out.
The BOT is supposed to be meeting tomorrow morning to discuss Spanier’s fate.
—TNT
George says
Does this mean Spanier’s wife will lose her tenure on the faculty at PSU – the one she was given – not earned.
If this guy has any class at all he’ll resign in disgrace.
The Nittany Turkey says
I agree with you completely. I doubt that Spanier’s wife would want to stick around, even if she could. But we’re putting the cart before the horse.
Spanier is responsible for the university. Ultimately, any misconduct at lower levels is on his shoulders. If Curley and Paterno engineered the coverup (Paterno, really, because Curley is not going to do anything without Joe’s concurrence), they would be stupid not to have covered their asses by telling Spanier. Once Spanier knew, he became responsible.
I don’t know who said what to whom, but I think Spanier has to go down.
—TNT
Happy Valley???? says
Spanier’s inaction, irresponsibility and insincerity in all this is deplorable.
There’s an old Chinese proverb “The fish rots at the head”… in this case it’s Spanier’s rotting head that must be removed form Happy Valley.
The Nittany Turkey says
I guess I was convinced yesterday that Spanier, doing his best Bill Clinton act, could weather this storm. Now, I’m not so sure. I guess the New York Times article about Paterno being through gave me a different perspective.
When I lived in the Bahamas, we had an earthier version of the Chinese proverb: “Da fish stink from da head.” Spanier has to go.
—TNT