The moral standard of the college football world took a nose-dive Sunday. Typically, the fans and media are quick to judge a coach when they commit wrongdoing.
Jim Tressel was regarded as one of the greatest minds in college football before he was caught covering up a pay-for-play scandal with one of his stars. Now he is nothing more than a liar and a cheat compared to others. Mike Dubose, Alabama’s own head coach during the late nineties, will forever be known as the cheater whose actions put Alabama on probation.
The acts of these men are nothing compared to what has gone on at Penn State University for the past 15 years. In a very detailed Attorney General’s report, dozens of child sexual abuse allegations were made against long time defensive coordinator Jerry Sanduskey.
In the chilling grand jury presentation, graphic details are given in which Sanduskey used “The Second Mile Foundation” to identify, exploit and molest children since 1996.
The “Second Mile Foundation,” created by Sandusky in 1977, began as a group foster home dedicated to helping troubled boys. It eventually grew into a statewide charity in which Sandusky remained the primary fundraiser until 2010. Its mission is to “help children who need additional support and would benefit from positive human interaction.”
Sandusky used his charity to meet victims. He would then invite them to his home, give them gifts, pay them money and molest them. He literally had access to hundreds of boys in their most vulnerable conditions. These were poor children, some with little to no financial support. Many of them had no other option but to take Sandusky’s gifts.
These acts of sexual deviance and manipulation are enough to make any person’s blood boil. They are heinous and reprehensible, and Sandusky will most likely receive the maximum legal punishment.
However, the most gut-wrenching and disturbing aspect of the investigation was that many within the Penn State athletic department had knowledge of what was happening and did their very best to cover it up and allow the predator to continue his evil deeds.
Sanduskey was allegedly seen sexually abusing a ten-year old boy in a locker room shower in 2002. Superiors were notified, and he kept his job. The only attempts Penn State made to stop this predator was to take away his keys. He was also no longer permitted to bring children into a locker room.
That is like telling a cold-blooded murderer he can’t carry an automatic weapon around in plain sight.
Legendary coach Joe Paterno was told about the incident, and simply reported it up the chain of command. He did not call the police and he did not tell anyone besides his supervisor. Meanwhile, Sanduskey remained director of the Second Mile Foundation for eight more years.
He was still given access to young children and he could have continued his pedophilic attacks.
Multiple Penn State administrators have stepped down, and more are undoubtedly going to follow. Two have been arraigned for the cover up, while many managed to avoided a grand jury.
Anyone who had any knowledge of this situation should be fired. The mere fact that those in charge were willing to risk more children being hurt to protect a coach’s legacy is utterly disgusting and disheartening to the human spirit.
