Great article about Mike McQueary about his actions or lack thereof

[CtCardinals78]

Out of all the articles written about this whole disgusting mess in Penn State this scathing article on Mike McQueary may be the best one. It certainly has the best ending that sums up that 2002 incident perfectly:

"We all know Mike McQueary didn't walk in that locker room expecting to be faced with a situation where heroism was needed. That boy didn't need an out and out hero that night. Neither did the victims after him. What they needed was a leader. Hell, what they needed was a human being. Instead, they got Mike McQueary."





http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ycn-10399373

 

[thirty-two]

Spot on.

If in fact, he walked in on Sandusky ANALLY RAPING A YOUNG BOY, and he didn't do ANYTHING but run to his daddy to find out what to do... then this dude is a sad piece of crap.

He better be let go as well. Good riddance.

 

[Folster]

The criticism of McQueary's actions or lack thereof is absolutely fair. I am in no means excusing it. He should have immediately stopped the abuse or at the very least called the police. However, I can somewhat understand his lack of action.

We see and hear many examples of such behavior when institutions have such a vertical hierarchy. The military has had countless stories that demonstrate this problem. Abu Ghraib is a recent example that comes to mind. Was everyone who witnessed the mistreatment/torcher of prisoners and said nothing a horrible person?

My questions are, What kind of environment did decades of dictatorship create at Penn State? Was there an understanding that everything that happened was to be kept in house or that Paterno had to know about everything prior to it leaving house? Was there a strict chain of command that had to be adhered to at all times?

I remember being told in the Marines many times by a squad leader or platoon sergeant that they were to informed of any issue and at no time should they be circumvented. In fact, bypassing them would lead to punishment. This has to be the only explanation for McQueary's cowardly actions. Was he indoctrinated in the Penn State institution from the day he walked on that campus as an 18 year old student athlete?

This is why Paterno had to go.

 

[TheHopToad]

The criticism of McQueary's actions or lack thereof is absolutely fair. I am in no means excusing it. He should have immediately stopped the abuse or at the very least called the police. However, I can somewhat understand his lack of action.

We see and hear many examples of such behavior when institutions have such a vertical hierarchy. The military has had countless stories that demonstrate this problem. Abu Ghraib is a recent example that comes to mind. Was everyone who witnessed the mistreatment/torcher of prisoners and said nothing a horrible person?

My questions are, What kind of environment did decades of dictatorship create at Penn State? Was there an understanding that everything that happened was to be kept in house or that Paterno had to know about everything prior to it leaving house? Was there a strict chain of command that had to be adhered to at all times?

I remember being told in the Marines many times by a squad leader or platoon sergeant that they were to informed of any issue and at no time should they be circumvented. In fact, bypassing them would lead to punishment. This has to be the only explanation for McQueary's cowardly actions. Was he indoctrinated in the Penn State institution from the day he walked on that campus as an 18 year old student athlete?

This is why Paterno had to go.

The problem with this is that if there was a strict reporting hierarchy, then you also have to give Paterno himself a pass for the same reason. He told his superior, the University Athletic Director, which would be loyally following the chain of command.

IMO, the seriousness of the crime that was committed transcends any hierarchy or reporting chain. McQueary had a responsibility to stop what he witnessed and then follow it up by calling the police. Whatever sanctions he risked by circumventing the chain of command would have been well worth it.

It's kind of like the young Marines in "A Few Good Men". They may have been following orders, but they were still guilty because they should have known better and they should have protected those who couldn't protect themselves.

McQueary was an adult, he knew better and failed.

 

[Southpaw]

This sort of behavior or lack of reaction may be an insight into the psyche of individuals immersed in the mental state of the athletic universe. Behavior experts could probably speak volumes about the differences between their world and the world outside their controlled environment. It would seem that extreme loyalty and inner circle trust are factors that enhance individual success within this structure. How many times have we heard players and coaches proclaim that "things " will be handled internally and "what happens to the team stays with the team" ? This controlled environment could easily create an atmosphere of "secrecy", no matter the circumstances. I am sure some of this will be discussed in the ensuing analysis of what went wrong.

One can only hope that these structures can be challenged and the "good old boys club" mentality cocoon of secrecy is broken down. Free thinking individuals, in this series of events, may have reacted differently and the tragedy short circuited.

 

[DeAnna]

Spot on.
If in fact, he walked in on Sandusky ANALLY RAPING A YOUNG BOY, and he didn't do ANYTHING but run to his daddy to find out what to do... then this dude is a sad piece of crap.
He better be let go as well. Good riddance.

Completely agree.

 

[DeAnna]

The problem with this is that if there was a strict reporting hierarchy, then you also have to give Paterno himself a pass for the same reason. He told his superior, the University Athletic Director, which would be loyally following the chain of command..

The problem is that everyone knows JoePa ran the show .. the AD deferred to him. By all accounts, JoePa seems to be the one who decided this should be kept in-house.

 

[Mulli]

The problem is that everyone knows JoePa ran the show .. the AD deferred to him. By all accounts, JoePa seems to be the one who decided this should be kept in-house.

Of course. I don't know why I didn't figure that out already.

 

[Southpaw]

The problem is that everyone knows JoePa ran the show .. the AD deferred to him. By all accounts, JoePa seems to be the one who decided this should be kept in-house.

The man and the myth or just the man behind the curtain?

 

[thirty-two]

The letter this coward sent to possible recruits.

UGH, the irony.

 

[Southpaw]

The letter this coward sent to possible recruits.

UGH, the irony.

Holy ****. Hubris has been taken to a new high. This is just one item that needs to go on a lengthy compiled list validating why this program is worthy of the death sentence. This Penn State crowd is living in a bubble.

 

[Renz]

Wally said it best when he called McQueary a company man in the worst sense of the word. These Penn State administrators and coaches must define honor and loyalty the same way it was defined by the SS.

Even if innocent children are hurt, even if it makes us criminals, even if it flies in the face of everything we are supposed to stand for, we will pledge our undying loyalty to Penn State and our leader, JoePa.