Nothing defensible about what Joe Paterno did, but he paid the price for his actions more ways that one.
When the accusations first came to light in the early 2000s, the Syracuse administration conducted an internal investigation and kept all news of it out of the press. This occurred while the Statute of Limitations was still in effect and Bernie Fine could have been prosecuted, if charges had been brought to the proper officials.
When the accusations come to light a couple of years ago, the first thing Boeheim does is hit the news and absolutely blast the victim in the news. Then the tape recording of Mrs. Fine comes out that supports the accusations and in short order Fine is fired and Boeheim makes a half baked apology. The Chief of Police states that the evidence was credible and a criminal charge would have been pursued if the events had occurred within the Statute of Limitations.
The honorable thing for Boeheim to do would have been to resign at that moment. The fact that he has stayed on and acted as if nothing has happened is disgusting. He was the Head Coach when the abuse occurred against Ball Boys, who should have been under his protection, sometimes in hotel rooms while on official Syracuse trips, paid for by Syracuse funds. How anyone can think Boeheim has no responsibility in this matter is mind boggling!
