![]() ![]() Patrick Rishe is the Director of Sportsimpacts and Associate Professor of Economics at Webster University.įollow Patrick on Twitter or visit www.sportsimpacts. The Thornburg Review of the Freeh Report spells out Freehs failings. Mend the broken reputation of an athletics program and university that housed a pedophile, cowardly administrators, and a legendary coach who now will be legendarily remembered for all the wrong reasons.ĭr. I salute the new administrative leaders at Penn State for now having to tackle a task that surely will be daunting going forward. Former FBI director Louis Freeh and staff authored a 267-page report as a result of an eight-month inquiry into the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal at Penn State University and the. Obviously for the crimes he committed, but all the more sickening when educated men who could have prevented so much did so little. In some cases by consent, but in other cases by cohersion as the supposed role model or authority figure takes advantage of impressionable youngsters.īut clearly the Sandusky matter ratches our collective horror and disgust to the highest degree. I could point out examples at every school I've worked at where these dynamics take place. former FBI director Louis Freeh released a report in July 2012 that accused Paterno. A faculty member having inappropriate relations with a student. However, events in 2011 permanently tarnished Paternos reputation. ![]() A coach having inappropriate relations with a student-athlete. His world-renowned reputation took another huge hit. If there is but one good thing that comes out of this abomination, it is that - at least one would hope - the chances of something like this happening in the future at other universities or high schools will go down precipitously because the magnitude and exposure of this story will hopefully resonate with policymakers at our educational institutions nationwide. Ian Hanford JGregory Shamus/Getty Images Joe Paterno 's legacy has been tarnished with the release of the Freeh Report on Thursday. That Penn State had their 2nd highest donations total for the 2011-12 academic year is shocking, but given the gravity of the Freeh report, I suspect that the Nittany Lion pride that fueled last year's donations will be replaced by alumni digust and embarassment going forward, and thus, far less willingness to assist. Freeh has responded, saying he respects the family's right 'to shape the legacy of Joe Paterno,' but maintains that Paterno should have done more. As discussed as far back as last fall, civil lawsuits will be forthcoming that could cost the university millions Spanier, Curley, and Schultz will soon face a dire fate Some crimes cannot be forgiven, and if he turned his back on hopeless and helpless children who cried out from the dark when cornered by a pedophilic monster, that's a whopper of a crime against those children's souls The Paterno name has been soiled for eternity despite years of great service. His legacy was not permanently stained by Louis Freeh. Freeh's report is as credible and accurate as one would assume given his credentials and the facts that have been researched and documented in his report, then: Joe Paternos reputation was not destroyed by Jerry Sandusky. The revered coach who emphasized integrity on and off the field and ran what was considered one of the cleanest programs in sports died of lung cancer in January at age 85, months after he was summarily fired by the trustees.įreeh said that while he regretted the damage the findings would do to Paterno's "terrific legacy," the coach "was an integral part of this active decision to conceal," and his firing was justified.If Mr. ![]() ![]() The findings of the $6.5 million, eight-month investigation into one of the biggest scandals in the history of college sports could further stain Paterno's reputation. Perhaps the Paterno family-commissioned report, 'Critique of the Freeh Report: The Rush to Injustice Regarding Joe Paterno,' won't change your mind on the former Penn. "The most powerful men at Penn State failed to take any steps for 14 years to protect the children who Sandusky victimized." "Our most saddening and sobering finding is the total disregard for the safety and welfare of Sandusky's child victims by the most senior leaders at Penn State," Freeh said at a news conference in Philadelphia upon the release of the 267-page report. He called the officials' behavior "callous and shocking." ![]()
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