If anyone has tuned into ESPN in the last 24 hours they have seen just how serious the situation at Penn State is right now.  Over 40 counts of sexual abuse have been charged to Jerry Sandusky, former Defensive Coordinator at Penn State.  The Athletic Director Tim Curley has also stepped down from his position, as he is being charged with perjury in the case.   The person everyone has been looking at, though, has been Joe Paterno, the face of Penn State football.  He has now been removed from his position at the University.

What did Joe Paterno have to do with this horrible situation?

He was informed of it in 2002 by a graduate assistant on what allegedly had been going on between Sandusky and kids, and then Paterno passed the information along to the AD.  The issue though is whether he should have just passed the information along or if he should have done something more like contact the authorities.

Should Paterno have been given a chance to at least finish the season with his team?

Penn State needs to wipe the slate clean due to the severity of the allegations.  Paterno did know about what was going on and the best thing for the university to do was to let him go.  It is sad to see a legend have to go out like this rather than being on the field with his team for the last game.

(Image via Mike Pettigano under a Creative Commons license.)

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