Penn State "The Cover Up"

Paterno who has the most wins in Division
1 history (409) won't be known for football anymore

Respected, honorable, integrity, leader, these were the words that for the past 20 years have been used by everyone to describe Penn State football coach Joe Paterno (Joe Pa). A man, who has helped make the university millions of dollars, has coached some of the greatest athletes, raised 18 year olds into men, and has done so many things for the community that rarely got noticed. He was a legend not only among the college football ranks, but a household name across the country. Now he is gone, fired for his despicable actions, by the very Board of Directors that has praised him for so long.

It goes back to 2002 when then graduate assistant and now assistant coach Mike McQueary witnessed then defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was sexually assaulting a 10 year old boy in the Nittany Lions shower room. McQueary said that the young boy and Sandusky noticed him, and he walked away. McQueary did not take action at that present moment he simply informed Joe Paterno of what he saw, and then let the matter settle itself out. When Paterno was informed of the allegations he did not directly ask his defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky if it was true, nor did he immediately call the police. He followed the legal protocol and informed Athletic Director Tim Curley and also told VP Gary Schultz. Once the news got to the top Curley and Schultz decided to protect Sandusky and attempt to sweep this under the rug. For the most part they did by not reporting it to the release, and with Sandusky retiring from Penn State, although he still had free reign on the campus. Thankfully the family took action and reported it to the local police

An investigation was launched but it took years before any trial was held and during that time Sandusky continued abusing young children (between the ages of 7 and 11), and he even had some over at his house over night. It wasn’t until this year in March that Sandusky is wanted for his crimes and a warrant is put out for his arrest. As the police try to arraign Sandusky, Penn State refuses to respond to questions from police, as they continue to try and cover the issue up. On November 5^th Sandusky is arrested but let free on $100,000.00 bail for 40 criminal counts. 2 days later the District Attorney announces Joe Paterno is not indicted on any charges, but will be asked for testimony during the trial. At this time Paterno comes out and announces he will retire at the end of the season. On November 9^th, 2011 the Penn State Board of Directors fire Paterno for his involvement in the cover up of the Sandusky case That brings us to exactly what did Paterno do, and what didn’t he do.

Joe Paterno followed every legal guideline, he informed the Athletic Director, and let the VP and AD settle the issue. However, Paterno was a man who lived on morals and making the right decisions. He along with the Penn State faithful made him out as this god like figure. In this case though, Paterno did everything humanely wrong. He covered up the most gruesome inhuman crime a person could ever commit (molesting a minor). Paterno remained silent in the face of monstrous actions, and for that Paterno is just as guilty as Sandusky. However Paterno is not the only one to blame. The man, who witnessed these gruesome events (Mike McQueary), did not take action and stop the poor excuse of a human being in Sandusky, he did not try to save the child, and he simply told Paterno and remained quiet after that. Now Paterno is out and for reasons that can’t be understood McQueary will still be allowed to coach this Saturday against Nebraska. The bigger culprits in this are the Athletic Director Tim Curley and VP Gary Schultz, these two top officials kept everything quiet just so they could keep the Nittany Lions name safe and holy. Both have now been forced out which they fully deserve. The next step should be legal actions against them both, and hopefully they are sentenced for a long time. There is one main culprit though, the man who did these horrible things to the young boys, and hurt them for the rest of their lives. Sandusky will immediately be tried and if there is a justice out there he will never see the light of day again, but that still will never be enough for the boys whose lives were forever damaged not long ago. There should be no sadness or remorse for Joe Paterno, the only grief that should be given is to the children, who will never be able to forget what happened to them. As I finish this article I ask that you pray for these boys and their families, because the pain they went through so long ago will now again be relived as the trial takes place, and that is a tragedy in itself. As for Penn State the name will forever be tarnished, the students and football players will now live under the dark shadow that was the “Penn State Cover Up”

NFL vs. College Football

                                            




                                            vs.







It has long been the debate between football fans, which league is better the National Football League (NFL) where the greatest college athletes go to play, or College Football (NCAA) where young men g.o to try and achieve their dream of being a professional athlete. There is tailgating, rivalries, tradition, and more that all will be compared to try and solve the age long question, which is the better game.

Tradition:

Nothing can beat the tradition and
history more then Vince Lombardi

Both sides are deep in tradition with the NFL starting in 1922, and NCAA Football forming in 1906.  The National Football League has brought us greats like Vince Lombardi, Don Shula, Bill Bellichick, Bill Parcells any many other great coaches. In College Football we have seen Robert Neyland, Joe Paterno, Knute Rockne, Bear Bryant, Bobby Bowden and several other greats. On the players side most of those who were stars in college saw the same recognition in the NFL, but for the millions that didn't make it, still left an impact on their schools' history. Both leagues have long standing tradition, but when you consider who the greats have been on both sides, and the history, there is one clear winner.

Advantage: National Football League

-While College Football was the first league created, the rich tradition belongs to the NFL. Their history of Hall of Famers, legendary teams, and incredible records rise above College Football. It was a close contest, but the National Football League pulls ahead 1-0

Rivalries:


The games that every fan loves to watch more then any other are rivalry games.  Bears vs. Packers, Michigan vs. Ohio State these are the games football fans love to watch. In the NFL we have rivalries like the Patriots vs. Jets, Steelers vs. Ravens, and Raiders vs. Broncos. On the college side we have Texas vs. Oklahoma, Florida vs. Tennessee, and Army vs. Navy. These are the games that make your blood boil, you love to hate the other team and if you lose to them it ruins your work week, but if you beat them you will gloat about it for the rest of the year. It goes on in both leagues, but who has the better rivalries, and which rivalries are the strongest.



The greatest rivalry in football has to be Michigan vs. Ohio State



Advantage:  College Football         

-While the NFL does have long standing rivalries, they don't match up with the college rivalry games. Nothing beats college kids who cringe at the thought of having to sit near a rival fan, no matter in what sport they want to see them fail. Then the icing on the cake is the rivalry names, the "Red River Rivalry" between Texas and Oklahoma, "Third Saturday in October" Tennessee vs. Alabama, and hundreds more. You have to give the advantage to college football, sorry NFL but nothing beats college rivalries.

Playoff System
-Really this is not even a contest but I will try and make an argument for both sides as to who has the better system. In the NFL you have the traditional playoff system. 6 teams, the Top 2 seeds from each conference get a bye week, and there are 3 rounds leading up to the Super Bowl. It is a well balanced system that gives all 12 playoff teams an equal shot at the championship. The most hated playoff system in all of sports has to be college football. No playoff system just a computer assigning points to decide which bowl the top teams will go to. It is a money maker for the NCAA they have different endorsement names for each bowl, and bowl games give lower ranked teams a chance to play in a post season game.

Advantage:
- NFL and this one is not even a close comparison. The playoffs is a win or go home atmosphere that every fan of those 12 teams has their eyes wide open during the game knowing one play could decide if they are one step closer to a Super Bowl, or if they will be going home early. That compared to a system where depending what division your team is from you get the better bowl, and there is really no comparison

Overtime

Really NFL a Coin toss, you can do better then that

One of the most intense moments in sports is Overtime. Neither team succeeded in outscoring the other in regulation, so the fans get free football. The NFL and NCAA have 2 very different methods however, and both are controversial. In the NFL possession is decided by a Kickoff and if that team scores first they win (unless it is in the playoffs, then only a TD wins it. If a FG is converted the other team gets a chance to score). It has long been a controversy due to the fact that one game is decided on a lucky coin toss, and what kind of effect that can have on playoff implications, and games could also end up in a Tie. In College Football each team starts with the ball at the opponents 25 yard line. After their possession the other team will get their chance to score. If both teams fail to outscore the other after 2 OT's, then after every touchdown going for a 2 point conversion is mandatory. The game will continue to go on until each team gets a position and one can't match the others score. Some people believe it is a easy Overtime, because each team gets the ball at their opponents 25.

Advantage:

 College Football reigns supreme when it comes to overtime. While it may easier to automatically get the ball at the 25, they have 2 key deciding factors in this. First, both teams get the ball, meaning the game isn't left up to a coin toss. Then the main factor, there will never be a tie no matter how long the game takes. The NFL lacks those two elements and until they find a way to fix their system, they fall short in this race.

Trophy

 For all the marbles it comes down to this, which side has the better trophy. The NFL and the Vince Lombardi trophy awarded to the best team in the NFL, or is it the Heisman trophy awarded to the most phenomenal college football player that year. The argument for the NFL is that what is better then knowing your team is the best in the entire league. After a long season with 52 of your teammates you sit atop the world with the beautiful Lombardi trophy made out of the best silver money could buy. Then you have the Heisman trophy, you were the best college football player that year and you get to join the selected few to ever win the ward. Sure it is made out of bronze, but every person on earth has done the Heisman pose, at least once in their life, and that in itself makes it great. It all comes down to this though, which side has the better trophy.

Advantage:

The closest race between the two leagues, and it goes to the National Football League. While the Heisman trophy is awarded to one single player, and billions of people have done the pose, the title goes to the NFL. The Lombardi trophy is awarded to the best team in football, is the most historical trophy in either sport, and it costs more to make it. There is no I in team, and every team trophy means more then an individual trophy. For those reasons the best trophy is awarded to the NFL.

The NFL is the winner here, they have the best trophy and they
get the NFL vs. NCAA trophy

Winner:

The Winner is the National Football League. While they fall behind College Football in rivalries and Overtime, they take the cake due to their deep tradition, great playoff system, and amazing trophy. Every college athlete dreams of making it to the National Football League, and only some are successful. The greatest players and coaches are in the NFL, and more people watch the Super Bowl then any other television program. I hope this answers the debate for some of you, but this is just one writers opinion.

What do you think college football and NFL Fans, which league is better. Leave your thoughts below