[NU Sports] Paterno's "Dark Side?"

[Beamsley, Jeff]

First a disclaimer:  I'm not defending Joe's actions regarding the Sandusky scandal.  This post is about all of the other stuff that is now getting printed.

This "other" stuff happens every time a key person is removed from a position of power in any organization.

Being in charge means making decisions and taking responsibility for them.

Joe Pa couldn't do that and also be everyone's friend.

If that is the definition of a "dark side", I think every leader has one. 

So now all of those folks who LOST an argument with Joe are popping up to tell their side of the story.  The problem is that Joe isn't getting any chance to tell his.  

This is the point at which the mob gets ugly.  We all loved the Joe Pa story.  As a result, we turned him into a pop idol.  He played along because it gave him the power he needed to stay on the job that he loved.  Now when we find that he was just another flawed human, we condemn him for not being the perfect person WE created.  Worse than that we also seem to have a morbid fascination with the whole process of destroying his character.

Those Greeks knew what they were talking about.

Jeff



-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of Roy S. Lamberton
Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2011 11:52 AM
To: 'Northwestern Wildcats'
Subject: [NU Sports] Paterno's "Dark Side?"

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/bigten/story/2011-11-22/11-22-11-Paterno-D
iscipline/51346682/1

not a flattering picture of State Penn football, altho I know just about every head coach
in every intercollegiate sport wants problems with players to come to him or her first.

I also suspect that most school administrators would rather have the coaches deal with
discipline problems - after all, they control the money that keeps the kid in school.

And I'm sure Fitz gets called every time one of his guys screws up. Come to think of it, I
wouldn't want to screw up and have Fitz on my case....

rsl

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