Call it being forced out or call it a choice. It’s tough to say whether or not Joe Paterno would have called it quits at the end of this season anyway, considering he is turning 85 in a month. Whether you feel the urge to blame some of what happened with the Jerry Sandusky scandal on JoePa or not, his legacy will forever be tarnished by it. Had Paterno retired years ago when it made sense biologically, he could have avoided at least some of the scrutiny he has faced as a result of the disgusting alleged behavior of Sandusky.
On Wednesday, Paterno released a statement announcing his retirement. Here is the release, courtesy of @MicheleSteele:
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.
We have said it before and we will say it again: The issue is one about doing the right thing as a society and policing one another. The nature of such a disgusting act leaves the general public wanting several people to blame — not just Sandusky. Paterno has a responsibility to report such activity as the coach of the football program, but he has no more a responsibility than anyone else as an American citizen to report the incident to the proper authorities. The lynch-mob mentality, which has been brought about by the release of information that Paterno and company likely were not aware of in 2002, has made it hard for many to come to rational conclusions.
