The Italian Mama considered this question earlier this year as she watched the Paterno family and the Penn State community say a final farewell to the long-beloved coach, family man, and mentor. Sixteen thousand friends and fans who were lucky enough to secure admission in the eight minutes tickets were available, as well as thousands more in the TV audience, watched a moving memorial service honoring Joe. Underlying all of the heart-felt and stirring testimonials to Paterno's guiding light was a defense of his response to learning of possible child sex abuse by a colleague in the football facilities. Every speech honoring Paterno's leadership, wisdom, and courage bore an asterisk indicating that when it mattered most, when lives were at stake, Coach Paterno did the minimum of what was required of him, and since this was a day to honor him, well, that was OK by everyone. Except the victims and those who love them.
The consequences of Paterno's merely reporting what he learned to his superiors were devastating to many people to varying degrees. The most serious consequences of Paterno's doing the legal minimum were for the many young boys who continued being abused and pursued by Sandusky. These young men lost their innocence and bear the scars of their abuse for the rest of their lives. Many of us can not even imagine the profound anguish these men continue to grapple with. By not following up on his report Coach Paterno himself suffered consequences that changed his life for the remainder of his days. In addition to losing the job he had devoted 61 years of his life to, Joe lost his nomination for the Congressional Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. After 61 years of a honorable and storied career, Paterno spent his dying days under intense media scrutiny and speculation about his measure of culpability in the Sandusky scandal. The Penn State community lost a beloved coach and mentor under a veil of possible disgrace. Students suffered mocking and abuse from their acquaintances back home who gloated as Penn State's glossy reputation took on a duller sheen.
All because Paterno didn't make a few follow up phone calls. Didn't he at least wonder what became of the allegations against his long-time colleague? A call to the police to begin an investigation would have had serious consequences for the University and the football program. Not calling the police to begin an investigation had serious consequences for the University and the football program and possibly caused years of more abuse. Joe said himself "I wish I had done more."
But he didn't. The Italian Mama shudders to think that a few follow up calls might have ended this horrible story in a dramatically different way. Most importantly, of course, many young boys, now grown men, might have been spared lifetimes of self-loathing, distrust, and despair. The Penn State Community might have suffered a few days' shame upon learning that the perpetrator of the alleged horrific deeds used the football facilities to groom and victimize his prey. But they would have rebounded and used the opportunity to demonstrate to the world how they deal with those who would bring shame on Dear Ol' State. Joe would have retired with the dignity and untarnished reputation he had earned, and there would have been no question in the minds of his fans if he had died with a clear conscience. All this and more could have happened if Joe had picked up the phone.
Yep, it's that easy to mess up your life.
