What was thought to be inconceivable just a week ago, became official on Wednesday morning: Joe Paterno will retired as head coach at Penn State at the end of the 2011 season.
The 84-year-old coach released a statement this morning, which read:
I am absolutely devastated by the developments in this case. I grieve for the children and their families, and I pray for their comfort and relief.
I have come to work every day for the last 61 years with one clear goal in mind: To serve the best interests of this university and the young men who have been entrusted to my care. I have the same goal today.
That’s why I have decided to announce my retirement effective at the end of this season. At this moment the Board of Trustees should not spend a single minute discussing my status. They have far more important matters to address. I want to make this as easy for them as I possibly can. This is a tragedy. It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more.
My goals now are to keep my commitments to my players and staff and finish the season with dignity and determination. And then I will spend the rest of my life doing everything I can to help this University.
It is sad ending to the legendary career of the winningest coach in college football history, but isn’t without controversy, as Paterno steps aside in a sea of turmoil. Accusations have come against former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky and his role in the sexual abuse of dozens of upwards of 20 children, and the role that Paterno may have played in covering them up.
In 2002, a graduate assistant saw Sandusky engaging in sexual acts in a Penn State locker room shower, and then reported it to Paterno. Paterno in turn reported it to Athletics Director Tim Curley, and Curley turned to Gary Schultz, the school’s senior vice president for business and finance. Neither of those two went to authorities, which is in violation of Pennsylvania law. Both Curley and Schultz resigned their positions earlier this week and each has been brought up on perjury charges.
And while Paterno is in no sort of legal cross-hairs, there are plenty of ethical and moral questions that remain unanswered. They are too many to list, but essentially start and end with why he allowed the allegations against Sandusky to go unreported to the police, even if he did tell his superiors. With the allegations now out in the open, many have called for Paterno’s resignation since the beginning of this week, and it appears as though that request has been assuaged.
The question now becomes what is next for Paterno. It seems as though Paterno is intent on coaching out the final season of tenure at the school, which would include Saturday’s final home game against Nebraska, two more regular season games beyond that, a potential Big Ten title game, and bowl appearance. However because of public outcry, even those games are now in question.
On the field, it’s hard to question Paterno’s impact as a coach. His 409 wins are the most in FBS college football history, easily surpassing Bobby Bowden, who retired just two years ago with 377. He also won two National Championships in his tenure at the school, with four other undefeated seasons, and three Big Ten championships since Penn State joined the conference in 1993.
But for now, all of the coaching records, awards and acumen are forgotten, with the legal proceedings involving Sandusky still ahead. As it relates to Paterno, many will still want to know what he knew, and why he didn’t try to do more.
Stay with Crystal Ball Run as we continue to deliver late-breaking news on the subject.
