sickening penn state football allegations

[Chalupa]

Paterno has just been fired by PSU.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7214380/joe-paterno-president-graham-spanier-penn-state

[GA Russell]

More on Paterno's firing (and also Spanier's):

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/joe-paterno-fired-by-penn-state/article2230502/

[papsrus]

This thread is about Penn State, right?

... anyways, the institution failed. That seems pretty clear. Their actions since this all came to light, including tonight's firing of Paterno, acknowledge that.

Just my opinion. I do not intend to research legal statutes to defend it, although hats off to BigWheel for doing so.

[seeline]

Pennsylvania § 42.42. Suspected child abuse—mandated reporting requirements.

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/049/chapter42/s42.42.html

As they note, there is a 24-hour hotline.

It looks like whoever was told (at Penn State, more than once) failed to comply with the minimum requirements of the law re. the timeframe of reporting suspected(or actual) child abuse; further, that standards of reporting were not met.

Or you could all read the actual statute. Legal counsel for Curley, Schultz and Paterno are using a loophole to get by.

Just. not. acceptable.

[Dave James]

Wow, what an ignominious end to a 46 year career. A small part of me feels sorry for Paterno but the much larger part feels that he brought what happened upon himself and that the university has done what needed to be done.

[JETman]

Wow, what an ignominious end to a 46 year career. A small part of me feels sorry for Paterno but the much larger part feels that he brought what happened upon himself and that the university has done what needed to be done.

For years, he has pushed an ideology and a way of life (on a fairly high level, mind you), to impressionable young men which consistently produces BAD and UNACCEPTABLE human behavior in a civilized society. He got what he deserved; it should have happened a long time ago.

[alocispepraluger102]

this is going to get worse before it gets better.

word on the street in pennsylvania now is that the second mile foundation pimped boys out to wealthy donors.

sandusky is free on $100,000 bail.

http://www.nytimes.c...strictattorneys

Questions on Sandusky Are Wrapped in a 2005 Mystery

By KEN BELSON

Published: November 8, 2011

• RECOMMEND
• TWITTER
• LINKEDIN
• SIGN IN TO E-MAIL
• PRINT
• REPRINTS
• SHARE

One of the questions surrounding the sex-abuse case against Jerry Sandusky is why a former district attorney chose not to prosecute the then-Penn State assistant coach in 1998 after reports surfaced that he had inappropriate interactions with a boy.

Enlarge This Image

Nabil K. Mark/Centre Daily Times, via Associated Press

Ray Gricar

Related

• 
  Penn State Said to Be Planning Paterno Exit Amid Scandal(November 9, 2011)
• 
  Paterno, the King of Pennsylvania, Until Now(November 9, 2011)
• 
  Sports of The Times: Grand Experiment Meets an Inglorious End (November 9, 2011)

Related in Opinion

• 
  Editorial: Penn State's Culpability (November 9, 2011)
  Maureen Dowd: Personal Foul at Penn State (November 9, 2011)

Interviews, insight and analysis from The Times on the competition and culture of college football.

Go to The Quad Blog

Division I-A

• This Week's Games
• A.P. and Coaches' Polls
• Scores: Top 25 | All Div. I-A
• Conference Standings
• All Div. I-A Teams

Division I-AA

• Scores | Teams | Polls

Enlarge This Image

Michelle Klein/Centre Daily Times, via Associated Press

In 2005, divers searched the Susquehanna River in Lewisburg, Pa., for Ray Gricar, who was a Centre County prosecutor.

The answer is unknowable because of an unsolved mystery: What happened to Ray Gricar, the Centre County, Pa., district attorney?

Gricar went missing in April 2005. The murky circumstances surrounding his disappearance — an abandoned car, a laptop recovered months later in a river without a hard drive, his body was never found — have spawned Web sites, television programs and conspiracy theories. More than six years later, the police still receive tips and reports of sightings. The police in central Pennsylvania continue to investigate even though Gricar's daughter, Lara, successfully petitioned in July to have her father declared legally dead so the family could find some closure and begin dividing his estate.

Yet as the Sandusky investigation moves forward, questions will be asked anew about why Gricar did not pursue charges against him 13 years ago. A small but strident minority believes Gricar did not want to tackle a case that involved a hometown icon. Others who knew and worked with Gricar say he was a meticulous, independent and tough-minded prosecutor who was unbowed by Penn State, its football program and political pressure in general.

"No one got a bye with Ray," said Anthony De Boef, who worked as an assistant district attorney under Gricar for five years. "He didn't care who you were; he had a job to do."

De Boef said Gricar did not share any information with him about the case in 1998, which involved Sandusky allegedly showering with an 11-year-old boy. Gricar, he said, reviewed the police reports in private including, presumably, notes or recordings of two conversations that the police heard between Sandusky and the boy's mother. But Gricar had a reputation for thoroughness, and if he thought he had enough to charge Sandusky, he would have, De Boef and other lawyers said.

Still, the circumstances surrounding Gricar's disappearance prompt many questions.

On April 15, 2005, Gricar, then 59, took the day off. At about 11:30 a.m., he called his girlfriend, Patricia Fornicola, to say he was taking a drive on Route 192. About 12 hours later, she reported him missing.

The next day, Gricar's Mini Cooper was found in a parking lot in Lewisburg, about 50 miles from his home in Bellefonte. Gricar's cellphone was in the car, but not his laptop, wallet or keys, which were never recovered. Months later, the laptop was found in the Susquehanna River without its hard drive, which was discovered later. It was too damaged to yield any information. On the fourth anniversary of his disappearance, investigators revealed that a search of his home computer yielded a history of Internet searches for phrases like "how to wreck a hard drive," according to a report at the time in The Centre Daily Times.

When Gricar disappeared helicopters, dive teams and patrol cars were deployed, and the F.B.I. was brought in. Reports of Gricar turning up in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Maryland and other states proved to be dead ends.

So what happened? Friends and colleagues say Gricar was not the type to walk away. His bank accounts were not touched after he disappeared, he had no other sources of income and he had no major debts, said Robert Buehner Jr., a friend and the district attorney in Montour County. Though divorced twice, he seemed happy with his girlfriend and close with his daughter. Gricar had already announced that he was retiring at the end of his term.

"He was absolutely looking forward to his future," Buehner said.

If Gricar committed suicide, Buehner added, he would have wanted the body to be found. Foul play is the next possible conclusion. By the nature of their jobs prosecuting criminals, district attorneys end up having many enemies. But no credible suspects have emerged.

"I don't think you'll find too many district attorneys who disappear," said Ken Mains, a detective who works on cold cases in Lycoming County. "D. B. Cooper, Amelia Earhart, Jimmy Hoffa, until a body is found, there are going to be conspiracy theories."

Edited November 10, 2011 by alocispepraluger102

[T.D.]

A lot of these arguments are kinda comical to me.

Fact of the matter is, this is the most dead serious kind of shit. It could potentially take down not just the PSU football program, but the whole f**g university.

In order to avoid a shutdown, everyone even remotely responsible is gonna have to walk the plank. End of story.

It's even more comical that our jock-sniffing culture can blind seemingly intelligent adults to the obvious reality.

[7/4]

A lot of these arguments are kinda comical to me.

Fact of the matter is, this is the most dead serious kind of shit. It could potentially take down not just the PSU football program, but the whole f**g university.

In order to avoid a shutdown, everyone even remotely responsible is gonna have to walk the plank. End of story.

But they probably won't.

It's even more comical that our jock-sniffing culture can blind seemingly intelligent adults to the obvious reality.

No kiddin'.

[Dan Gould]

Yeah the whole university is going to be shut down. What the fuck are you smoking?

[paul secor]

As others have said, this should be about the children who were victimized.

It shouldn't be about Joe Paterno or the Penn State football program. College football is a scam that the American public has bought into. Joe Paterno has been a part of the scam as a coach or assistant coach for over fifty years and made a good living at it. If there were no college football, he probably would have sold insurance or run a restaurant. Who cares about Joe Paterno?

It should be about the children who were victimized.

Edited November 10, 2011 by paul secor

[Big Al]

As others have said, this should be about the children who were victimized.

It shouldn't be about Joe Paterno or the Penn State football program.

Unfortunately, Paterno is making damn sure it is.

The more I read about this guy, the more nauseated I get.

Whether he's guilty or not, he's doing a grand job of putting himself as a grade-A douchebag.

Fuck your hindsight, Joe Pa.

[JETman]

As others have said, this should be about the children who were victimized.

It shouldn't be about Joe Paterno or the Penn State football program. College football is a scam that the American public has bought into. Joe Paterno has been a part of the scam as a coach or assistant coach for over fifty years and made a good living at it. If there were no college football, he probably would have sold insurance or run a restaurant. Who cares about Joe Paterno?

It should be about the children who were victimized.

Of course you are right. But the "phonies" in this system, such as the Lavins, the Boeheims, the Calhouns, the Krzyzewskis, et. al. need to have their power to help shape young minds stripped away. These ARE educational institutions, after all.

[Tim McG]

"With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more."

As do all of us who report on child abuse.

Pennsylvania § 42.42. Suspected child abuse—mandated reporting requirements.

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/049/chapter42/s42.42.html

As they note, there is a 24-hour hotline.

It looks like whoever was told (at Penn State, more than once) failed to comply with the minimum requirements of the law re. the timeframe of reporting suspected(or actual) child abuse; further, that standards of reporting were not met.

Or you could all read the actual statute. Legal counsel for Curley, Schultz and Paterno are using a loophole to get by.

Just. not. acceptable.

Oh?

And how is it "acceptable" for that grad assistant who didn't use that 24-hour hotline, eh? Where is the public outcry over that?

You guys have shown me that a lynch mob mentality is alive and well in this country. Shame.

Paterno has just been fired by PSU.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7214380/joe-paterno-president-graham-spanier-penn-state

Looks like I'm in good company regarding the classless firing of Joe Paterno [on a taped recording]:

Thousands of Penn State students riot over Paterno's firing

And I hope Penn State never recovers from this.

Edited November 10, 2011 by GoodSpeak

[paul secor]

Good to see that you put yourself in a class with a bunch of drunken rioters.

[JETman]

"With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more."

As do all of us who report on child abuse.

Pennsylvania § 42.42. Suspected child abuse—mandated reporting requirements.

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/049/chapter42/s42.42.html

As they note, there is a 24-hour hotline.

It looks like whoever was told (at Penn State, more than once) failed to comply with the minimum requirements of the law re. the timeframe of reporting suspected(or actual) child abuse; further, that standards of reporting were not met.

Or you could all read the actual statute. Legal counsel for Curley, Schultz and Paterno are using a loophole to get by.

Just. not. acceptable.

Oh?

And how is it "acceptable" for that grad assistant who didn't use that 24-hour hotline, eh? Where is the public outcry over that?

You guys have shown me that a lynch mob mentality is alive and well in this country. Shame.

You are still focusing only on a tragic result of a BIGGER problem, dude.

My best guess is that McQueary has avoided scrutiny so far because he is unfortunate proof of the product PSU has been pedaling for decades -- production of BAD human beings exhibiting BAD behavior.

[Tim McG]

Good to see that you put yourself in a class with a bunch of drunken rioters.

Proof?

Once again, we see that assumption rules the day.

"With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more."

As do all of us who report on child abuse.

Pennsylvania § 42.42. Suspected child abuse—mandated reporting requirements.

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/049/chapter42/s42.42.html

As they note, there is a 24-hour hotline.

It looks like whoever was told (at Penn State, more than once) failed to comply with the minimum requirements of the law re. the timeframe of reporting suspected(or actual) child abuse; further, that standards of reporting were not met.

Or you could all read the actual statute. Legal counsel for Curley, Schultz and Paterno are using a loophole to get by.

Just. not. acceptable.

Oh?

And how is it "acceptable" for that grad assistant who didn't use that 24-hour hotline, eh? Where is the public outcry over that?

You guys have shown me that a lynch mob mentality is alive and well in this country. Shame.

You are still focusing only on a tragic result of a BIGGER problem, dude.

My best guess is that McQueary has avoided scrutiny so far because he is unfortunate proof of the product PSU has been pedaling for decades -- production of BAD human beings exhibiting BAD behavior.

Bullshit.

He's escaped scrutiny because his name isn't Joe Paterno. They ought to fry his ass.

And you can take that to the bank.

Edited November 10, 2011 by GoodSpeak

[Dave James]

Here's some major irony for your early Thursday morning. Paterno has Krzyzewski-like relationship with Nike and has had for years. As is being reported this morning locally, the Joe Paterno Center For Child Development is housed on the Nike campus in Beaverton, Oregon.

I see there was some rioting at Penn State last night as students took to the streets to protest the firing of their football coach. Hard to believe. If any of these morons put the welfare of children ahead of their precious football team and its coach, they'd either be studying or asleep in their dorm rooms. Talk about misplaced priorities.

One thing for sure. The game with Nebraska on Saturday should be pretty interesting on a number of different levels.

Edited November 10, 2011 by Dave James

[Tim McG]

Here's some major irony for your early Thursday morning. Paterno has Krzyzewski-like relationship with Nike and has had for years. As is being reported this morning locally, the Joe Paterno Center For Child Development is housed on the Nike campus in Beaverton, Oregon.

I see thee was some rioting at Penn State last night as students took to the streets to protest the firing of their football coach. Hard to believe. If any of these morons put the welfare children ahead of their precious football team and its coach, they'd either be studying or asleep in their dorm rooms. Talk about misplaced priorities.

One thing for sure. The game with Nebraska on Saturday should be pretty interesting on a number of different levels.

So you're still laboring under the delusion this is about PSU Football? Really?

This is about a man who is being scapegoated for a crime he did not commit and because his name is bigger than all the rest of the jackasses involved...including the molester himself.

[JETman]

Good to see that you put yourself in a class with a bunch of drunken rioters.

Proof?

Once again, we see that assumption rules the day.

"With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more."

As do all of us who report on child abuse.

Pennsylvania § 42.42. Suspected child abuse—mandated reporting requirements.

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/049/chapter42/s42.42.html

As they note, there is a 24-hour hotline.

It looks like whoever was told (at Penn State, more than once) failed to comply with the minimum requirements of the law re. the timeframe of reporting suspected(or actual) child abuse; further, that standards of reporting were not met.

Or you could all read the actual statute. Legal counsel for Curley, Schultz and Paterno are using a loophole to get by.

Just. not. acceptable.

Oh?

And how is it "acceptable" for that grad assistant who didn't use that 24-hour hotline, eh? Where is the public outcry over that?

You guys have shown me that a lynch mob mentality is alive and well in this country. Shame.

You are still focusing only on a tragic result of a BIGGER problem, dude.

My best guess is that McQueary has avoided scrutiny so far because he is unfortunate proof of the product PSU has been pedaling for decades -- production of BAD human beings exhibiting BAD behavior.

Bullshit.

He's escaped scrutiny because his name isn't Joe Paterno. They ought to fry his ass.

And you can take that to the bank.

You have a responsible position, right? Responsible people do not have attitudes like yours.

[paul secor]

Good to see that you put yourself in a class with a bunch of drunken rioters.

Proof?

Once again, we see that assumption rules the day.

You're right. Perhaps they weren't drunk. Maybe they were just a bunch of wild destructive vandals. Either way - you still classed yourself with them.

[Tim McG]

As others have said, this should be about the children who were victimized.

It shouldn't be about Joe Paterno or the Penn State football program. College football is a scam that the American public has bought into. Joe Paterno has been a part of the scam as a coach or assistant coach for over fifty years and made a good living at it. If there were no college football, he probably would have sold insurance or run a restaurant. Who cares about Joe Paterno?

It should be about the children who were victimized.

And the focus should be on that grad assistant who didn't call the authorities [given the "logic" displayed on this BBS regarding CPS reporting] and not on a coach who had nothing to do with the crime.

[JETman]

Here's some major irony for your early Thursday morning. Paterno has Krzyzewski-like relationship with Nike and has had for years. As is being reported this morning locally, the Joe Paterno Center For Child Development is housed on the Nike campus in Beaverton, Oregon.

I see thee was some rioting at Penn State last night as students took to the streets to protest the firing of their football coach. Hard to believe. If any of these morons put the welfare children ahead of their precious football team and its coach, they'd either be studying or asleep in their dorm rooms. Talk about misplaced priorities.

One thing for sure. The game with Nebraska on Saturday should be pretty interesting on a number of different levels.

So you're still laboring under the delusion this is about PSU Football? Really?

This is about a man who is being scapegoated for a crime he did not commit and because his name is bigger than all the rest of the jackasses involved...including the molester himself.

Trust me, he had much more power than the President of the University. Real power. He was not a figurehead. He has implanted a sick, macho mentality into the heads of many a Pennsylvania farm boy. Sandusky was an extension of Paterno. However, Paterno is guilty of a much more overriding and long lasting crime --- that of making sports more important than life. I have seen this up close and personal, as I've been hinting at all along. Keep up, man. You're like 4 or 5 thought processes behind me!

[Tim McG]

Good to see that you put yourself in a class with a bunch of drunken rioters.

Proof?

Once again, we see that assumption rules the day.

You're right. Perhaps they weren't drunk. Maybe they were just a bunch of wild destructive vandals. Either way - you still classed yourself with them.

Proof?

They were all "wild destructive vandals"? Every one of them?

Once again, we see asumption rules the day.

And I will happily align myself with any college student with the huevos to stand up for a man wrongly accused and fired for child molestation...any day of the week. My conscience is clear.

[JETman]

A conscience can only be clear if it exists.

On another note, if a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound?