LOS ANGELES: It is one of college football's fabled institutions, untouched by sanctions, scandel or even the hint of any wrongdoing under coach Joe Paterno. But, in recent days, sexual assault allegations have rocked the university, and college football, over what could paint a dark picture of former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky's past at the university. According to initial reports from Happy Valley, the school's athletic director and a senior executive allegedly lied to an earlier investigation concerning a series of sexual assaults on young boys. Sandusky, once the heir apparent to Paterno – the NCAA's most successful coach – before his retirement over a decade ago, is being accused in the growing scandal. In addition to Sandusky's alleged sexual assaults, Penn State athletics director Tim Curley and Senior Vice President Gary Schultz may have perjured themselves before a grand jury. In a statement Sunday, Paterno called the charges against Sandusky shocking. “If this is true, we were all fooled, along with scores of professionals trained in such things, and we grieve for the victims and their families,” he said. “They are in our prayers.” Already, some 40 counts have been dished out, 21 of them felonies, accusing that Sandusky abused 8 boys over a 15-year period beginning as far back as 1994. A two-year grand jury investigation found that Sandusky encountered each of the victims through The Second Mile, the youth services foundation he established in 1977 and remained associated with until a little more than a year ago. Punishment for each of the felonies ranges from 7 to 20 years in prison and $15,000-$25,000 in fines. For the 19 misdemeanors, it's two to five years' imprisonment and $5,000-$10,000 in fines. “There were whispers about it,” said Alex Ricker, a former Penn State student and current football season ticketholder who has worked several Second Mile camps in State College and Reading, Pa, in comments published by the USA Today. “But when it came out, I don't think anybody expected that big of a hit or that serious of an indictment, as well as that many charges. It was sad. “He was a very public figure that a lot of people viewed as a very strong charitable figure, and his organization did a lot of good. It could impact the university, and unfortunately it will probably impact The Second Mile. It's hard to say if it will have an impact on how much longer Coach Paterno stays.” In Los Angeles, one official from the University of Southern California, hit hard by NCAA violations, told Bikyamasr.com that the best thing Penn State can do now is to “own up to the allegations and get to the bottom of the situation as quickly and as best as possible.” He said, on condition of anonymity, that “USC should be an example of what not to do and Penn State has a long history of honor and success so I believe they will do the right thing and assist in any investigation.” For now, Paterno hopes that fans and supporters will focus on the team and not let the allegations distract from the field. “I understand that people are upset and angry, but let's be fair and let the legal process unfold,” Paterno said in his statement. “In the meantime, I would ask all Penn Staters to continue to trust in what that name represents, continue to pursue their lives every day with high ideals and not let these events shake their beliefs nor who they are.” BM
