May the lord bless and keep Joe Paterno and may Joe Paterno rest in peace butttt…I have a comment for those of us who are left behind.
Perhaps Joe Paterno was an icon to some…but good or bad…right or wrong…his failure to render a decision more than a decade ago will define his career. Joe Paterno becomes a tragic hero like so many before him. In many ways, I respect Joe Paterno for the good things he accomplished but I don’t respect the ‘powerful’ icon who lorded over a public university for the ‘self serving’ mission of becoming the so called ‘winningest’ coach in football history. And make no mistake, Joe Paterno lorded over Penn State University under the guise of doing good work.
It would be fair to say, all football decisions went thru Joe Paterno but when it mattered most, Joe Paterno remained silent and failed to make a proper decision. In that regard, Joe Paterno failed to do the right thing when it mattered most and while Paterno built a legacy as a football coach, he had detractors in the world of academia. One former Penn State professor called Paterno’s altruistic focus on academics a farce. But, regardless of those who liked or disliked Joe Paterno, in the end, Paterno failed to help those who were incapable of helping themselves.
A few weeks ago, Joe Paterno responded to his detractors and was quoted as saying (the following quotes are reprinted from the Associated Press):
"I didn't know which way to go ... and rather than get in there and make a mistake… "You know, (McQueary) didn't want to get specific," Paterno said. "And to be frank with you I don't know that it would have done any good, because I never heard of, of, rape and a man. So I just did what I thought was best. I talked to people that I thought would be, if there was a problem, that would be following up on it."
"This is a tragedy," he said. "It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more."
It’s a tragedy because Joe Paterno arguably knew what was right…he knew what to do and moreover he knew his silence was a mistake. Let’s put this into perspective. Joe Paterno spent 60 years at Penn State…45 years as Penn State Head Coach making thousands of decisions in the hottest caldron of all. Paterno made game day decisions…at game speed…where silence is not an option if one expects to be successful. Make no mistake, Paterno built a Kingdom because he was assured and decisive and in that capacity, he told people what to do and when to do it. If Paterno wasn’t good at ruling the monarchy or making decisions he would have never lasted as Head Coach for more than 45 years.
This is a sad lesson for humanity in general and specifically it’s a sad lesson for the NCAA and Universities throughout this land. Here is the lesson that should be taken away. Football is a grand game that should be honored by honoring the rules and metaphorically, playing between the white lines…and the game should never be bigger than the mission of the university…and never…ever…allow anyone…a president…an administrator…an educator…a coach…a clerk…to stay in ‘one’ position for 45 years to build their own little monarchy. And, the same lesson should be applied in corporate America. Maybe the US has it right as it relates to the US presidency. 2 terms…8 years. That’s it!
As it relates to hiring a coach, the rule for every university should be: Come to the job with the intent of doing your best work. Be prepared…work hard…but in the end…you get 4 years to build your program and 2 terms to coach…twelve years max to write your legacy. Thereafter, you can join the university in an advisory capacity. At the very minimum, after 12 years you must move over and allow a successor to bring in fresh ideas…but in no case will you stay on as head football coach thru 7 presidential administrations and recruit and coach young men who are young enough to be your great grandchildren.
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