Letters: Penn State’s shame

Re “This is about football,” Column, July 13

Decent people are greatly in the debt of former FBI Director Louis Freeh and his team of investigators for conducting a truly independent investigation into the atrocities that occurred at Penn State University. The report is stunning and horrific, and it needs to be widely absorbed in the hope that what happened on such a grand scale at Penn State will never be allowed to occur anywhere else.

There are many individuals in positions of authority who are culpable in enabling former football coach Jerry Sandusky to continue his crimes, but the late head coach Joe Paterno stands out as one whose actions, and lack of action, is particularly shameful. His credo was to regard the school’s football program as a supreme, sacrosanct feature of life in “Happy Valley.” It is ironic that Paterno’s actions ultimately served to bring national disgrace to the university and sports program to which he devoted his life.

Paterno shall be fondly remembered by some for his genius on the playing field, longevity and his modesty. He will be recalled with contempt by others who value the lives and innocence of children. Paterno said last year, “I wish I had done more.” So do we, coach.

Oren M. Spiegler

Upper Saint Clair, Pa.

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