PENN STATE Ugly

In a nationally televised news conference, Pennsylvania Atty. Gen. Linda Kelly described the allegations of child sexual abuse against a former Penn State assistant coach that are threatening the reputation of a program famous for cultivating both winning ways and men of character — and perhaps even threatening the legacy of its iconic architect, 84-year-old head coach Joe Paterno. The accused coach, Jerry Sandusky, 67, served as Paterno's defensive coordinator for 23 years before retiring in 1999. He was arrested Saturday on suspicion of sexually abusing eight young boys from the late 1990s to 2009.

The lurid grand jury report describes a predator who allegedly used the razzle-dazzle of big-time athletics — including his access to Penn State facilities — to lure male victims as young as 8 years old. "This is a case about a sexual predator accused of using his position within the community and the university to prey on numerous young boys for more than a decade," Kelly said.

Kelly noted another facet of the ongoing investigation that was "equally significant": the allegations that two top Penn State administrators — Athletic Director Tim Curley and Gary Schultz, a senior vice president for finance and business — lied to a grand jury about the case and failed to report suspected abuse, raising the possibility that the administration at the 44,000-student school sought to protect the program's vaunted reputation at all costs.

First and foremost all should be concerned with the emotional well-being of the kids involved, and also encourage that the facts come out, with those being charged with crimes able to present their positions. 

In the meantime, what can a parent of a child involved in youth athletics/programs take away from all of this?

In time, we'll learn about what happened and didn't happen at Penn State University. But we can immediately address issues tangential to youth sports that involve blindly entrusting kids to school and school athletic officials.

Systematic sexual abuse of children is an extreme example of corruption. But other forms of corruption in youth athletics abound that also hurt a child’s emotional well-being.  

Can anyone blame a student-athlete when he/she resigns from the program  after perceiving favoritism, when they see administration officials with power condoning parents cozying up to coaches? What is one to think, for example,  when coaches and administration not only allow but appreciate parents that give sizeable donations,  free meals, expensive gadgets, to even free dental work to coaches and staff?

Don’t be fooled by the length of time an administration official has been on the job. The  longer the administration has been in place, there's potential for heightened arrogance, and a desire to eschew conversations in confidence about  serious topics.  

And don’t necessarily count on other parents to support fair treatment. Parents who feel their kids are getting decent amount of playing time -- or who think that if they criticize the status quo their kids’ playing time will be diminished -- are frequently the first to turn away from friction/conflict.

I’m not recommending to be paranoid and to be suspicious of ALL involved in teaching/coaching. Certainly innuendos that can’t be substantiated with evidence can and should be dismissed. If, however, evidence is presented and a bona fide assessment of the facts is not taking place in confidence, don’t accept the status quo.

If you really believe that there is a wrong to be rectified, you must fight, or, sadly, flee from a toxic environment.

Hopefully as more information is revealed in what occurred or didn’t occur at Penn State, parents of youth will be more conscious about athletic programs and those who oversee them.