USA TODAY/Gallup poll: Penn State football too powerful

[seafan]

This is telling.


November 16, 2011

A new USA TODAY/Gallup poll underscores Joe Paterno's fall from public grace: Two-thirds of those following the Penn State scandal agree with the school's decision last week to fire its iconic football coach.

Most, however, say the university hadn't done enough before then to rein in the program he ran for almost 46 years and built into a competitive and cultural powerhouse.

Of 1,005 adults surveyed Tuesday, well more than half — 665 — said they had "very closely" or "somewhat closely" followed the wave of events buffeting Penn State since the Nov. 5 arrest of former Paterno assistant Jerry Sandusky on child sexual abuse charges. Paterno and university President Graham Spanier were ousted four days later amid withering criticism that officials failed to appropriately act on evidence of Sandusky's behavior.

Paterno, the Nittany Lions' coach since 1966 and winner of a major-college record 409 games, had sought to finish the season before retiring. Among the USA TODAY/Gallup poll respondents following the case, 66% backed the school's move to dismiss him last Wednesday.

Asked if Paterno's program "had become too powerful," 59% said yes.

.....

When the safety of our children is not top priority, whether it is in homes, playgrounds, schools, locker rooms, churches, universities, or as they are sent to fight illegal, aggressive wars abroad, we have truly lost our way.

[progressoid]

1. But would they say the same of their own team?

Football reigns in most American colleges. I just heard that the highest paid public employee here in IA is the head football coach at the U of I.

[Avalux]

2. If that's the case, then all big college football programs need to be examined.

Penn State is just one of many.

[thucythucy]

3. "When the safety of our children

is not top priority....we have truly lost our way."

Amen to that.