...the only word I can think of to describe it is despicable.
Penn State will have plenty of time for healing. Right now, they need to collectively own their feelings.
You know, I have been silent on this subject so far because I have trouble getting all of my emotions around it and once I start writing on here when I'm emotional, I get skewered for it. Also, I have 9 month old and am too tired to read posts and then write anything worth reading in response. But suddenly I am compelled to write about this, not necessarily as a response to any one post here (thought the despicable comment got me), but as a response on the whole situation, which I am sure will address some things I have read here and either agreed or disagreed with. Let me also say that I am proud to be a member of this board as I read through the pages dedicated to these crimes and the subsequent scandal. There is some very good, and very personal stuff in here, and it's been a pleasure to read about 95% of it.
I am a victim of sexual violence, so I certainly have a biased point of view in terms of expressing and feeling a sincere amount of sadness for the boys who were, the men who are, victims of Jerry Sandusky. Let us remember, though, that Sandusky was the predator. As far as we know, no one else who was directly involved in the covver-up of these crimes was a sexual predator of boys. Were they inept? Immoral? Corrupt? Greedy? Cowardly? Yes, a thousand, million, billion times yes. Were they even criminally responsible for some things? Probably. But they were not sexual predators. Sandusly vs. Paterno isn't even close in a fight of dudes who should be tarred, feathered and pulled apart by a team of horses. When I was raped, I was a college student. My school handled it as poorly as a school possibly could - and that means mostly the public safety/police tandem and out Dean of Students. But I never, ever compare them to the men who raped me. Did they let me down? So very far. But they did not rape me. They didn't.
And as far as we know, no current PSU players were either sexual predators OR inept, immoral, corrupt, greedy, cowardly men with regard top this particular and specific situation. Nor were any PSU fans. These fans number, what, in the millions? If 100,000+ sit in the stands every week, and even more are on campus or around not at the game but watching/celebrating it how many are out there in the world with some sort of ties to PSU Football? Maybe a million? I know someone will correct me on that number. I'm not sure how to find it, and I'm not sure it matters - what matters is that it's a very marge number and as far as we know, NONE of them are a part of these very specific allegation(s) of rape and abuse of boys.
I am not a religious person by any stretch and in fact have a hard time believing in God (or god for that matter) most days of the year. Ironically (or not), one of the only times I remember praying to a God in my whole life was when I was being raped. But my belief in God is utterly self-serving, as evidenced by that moment, and I am aware of it. Most people who truly believe in God are not necessarily aware of how self serving that belief is; they think that prayer can cure evils, can cure illness, can cure grief, can change lives, can heal all ills of the flesh, mind and soul. Ok. It is what it is. It does not make these folks inherently bad or selfish when they pray; in fact, it might make them the opposite. Many want the best and hope and believe that prayer will help the best happen for them, and so often for others, too.
I think it was entirely respectful for the student athletes on these teams to meet at mid-field and kneel down on Saturday - be it in prayer or some other show of respect for all that has happened over the course of the last week, for the losses suffered by all victims. What else were they supposed to do? What else could these specific young men have done to show that this has affected them, that they are human, that they grieve, both for the victims, and yes, for themselves and their team and coach and school - for they have lost something in this, too. The enormity of the loss of the boys who were raped does not mean that those indirectly involved who were negatively affected do not have a right to also feel saddened, betrayed, angry - while also feeling regret and horror for Sandusky's victims. I don't see how this particular action by players, who had nothing at all whatsoever to do with these crimes and their cover-up, could be considered despicable. Is there another way for them to show their own need to grieve and also their understanding of the grief that this has caused for others (and I am sure this includes Sandusky's actual victims - how could it not??) that the fans in the stadium and the country (this was a nationally televised game) as a whole might identify with?
I don't see how the applause by fans in the stadium could be considered despicable, either. These are people, like you and me . Many are blue collar, hard working, church going folks from the middle of Pennsylvania. Everyone in the country, the world, is hating on their former coach, who was perhaps the most beloved and respected coach in the history of all sports in this country; everyone is hating on the institution to which they are loyal; many in the press and general public are immediately lumping them in with said institution. In reality, the "institution" is a handful of powerful yet flawed men (and women?) who have made some deplorable decisions. Why should the fans turn their back on a team, and an entire institution because of these flawed men? Should they be angry and feel betrayed by the PSU administration and by Sandusky, Paterno and others on the staff? Yes. But feeling betrayed, being angry and demanding accountability do not necessarily mean you turn your back on the laundry. Should they not give PSU the chance to right the wrongs? Indeed, should not fans of all ilk give their institutions this chance when things go insanely down the wrong path? Should fans' support not be in good times and in times of great shame and need? How else would change come to these institutions? Will PSU ever get the chance for redemption without its fans? And isn't redemption the ultimate goal here? Shouldn't we all want to never, ever see anything like this happen again? Wouldn't the prevention of such crimes be absolute redemption for fans, for players, and most importantly for Sandusky's victims at this point? Might PSU not have the best opportunity now to make a difference in a world that, both inside and outside of its walls indeed does include sexual abuse and pedophilia? And aren't these things so engulfed in and surrounded by shame that they are too easily swept under the rug? Penn State and it's fans and students and alumni have a unique opportunity to demand change and accountability when it comes to sexual abuse in this country. They have a chance to make a huge difference. Call those who are idiots out, prosecute the guilty, and shame those whose morals failed them and our children...but give PSU - the entirety of it - a chance to do something with this scandal that might change lives down the road. Why wouldn't we give them this chance? And why shouldn't it start how it did on Saturday (and let's take ESPN out of the equation if we can)? It is never too late to save the next victim..Paterno won't do it, but maybe, just maybe, someone that was in that stadium on Saturday will stand up and make a difference for some other boy who is now being, or would have been, abused because they were moved by what they saw and were a part of. I doubt very much that the opposite would happen and that someone who saw that would start or perpetuate a cover up of sexual abuse because of it.
PSU, the players and fans are in a position to make a difference. It's a unique position because it is so public. EVERYONE was watching. And their first real chance to "say" something (aside from the minority of morons we've seen since last week rioting and at JoPa's house - and be sure they are a minority overall) to the public about this was met by young men kneeling in silence (what they were thinking to themselves is not for us to know) and in respect, met by a thunderous applause by a fan base that needed that moment and that particular avenue - applause - to say, "We are acknowledging Sandusky's victims, this scandal, these young men who play for us every week, and we are saying we support this institution because we love it and we want it to do better." So, they are Penn State. It's not an awesome thing to be right now, but they still embraced it. I don't think they did so out of some defiance, but more likely out of a need to start they healing process for themselves. And what's wrong with that? I don;t see what is wrong with that. The healing really does have to start somewhere, doesn't it? I don;t think that place at that time was inappropriate.
edit: multiple typos that I do not have time to fix. Sorry!