The Penn State Football situation goes beyond just what is considered to be a crisis – it is more like a disastrous catastrophe. A dark light has fallen in the Happy Valley where a dominant and prestigious football program once called home. Now, this home has been transformed in the central stages of microphones, cameras, and thousands of people asking the football staff and university officials regarding the sex scandal that has rocked the nation – how did this happen? Why didn’t anyone take responsibility and stand for something to do the right thing? And – what else do we not know – are there more cases like this happening not only at Penn State, but other universities and programs? These are all questions that need to be answered and addressed immediately. Here is a video from the Associated Press on the Penn State crisis:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HBBAFKCzco[/youtube]
The Penn State crisis has been circulating in the media quite extensively both in traditional and social media. Joe Paterno and the president of Penn State were both fired yesterday by the Board of Trustees and students at Penn State took to the streets late night at campus to support the former football coach. The list of officials associated with this scandal at Penn State continues to grow and be presented in various media outlets for the world to see. The university recently named Tom Bradely the new interim head football coach of the remainder of the season. As more details come out and the facts begin to show how long this has been going on at Penn State – tougher questions, heightened emotions,and increased scrutiny among fans and the media continue to emerge.
Forget reputation management – this is not even an option in this situation. There are just some situations that are inexcusable and unforgivable, and this one is clearly one of those situations. The football program at Penn State will forever be remembered for this scandal and those associated with it. The message should not be focused on the future of the football program at Penn State – the focus needs to be on the children impacted by this horrific event. Moral questions are begin raised – the university officials and athletic staff members need to report this to the proper legal and law authorities – not within the university. There needs to be straightforward answers to the victims and the families in this situation. The university needs to enforce strict evaluation policies for those operating in the athletic team – make coaches and staff follow the same protocol academic faculty and staff go through.
Football is just a sport – the crisis is dealing with lives that will forever be impacted and changed. The victims and their loss of innocence should be the focus here, not a game, not a program, and not a coach. Everyone involved – whether it is university officials, media, students, boosters and football fans – need to remember this.
Hope you all are having a great day.
Best Wishes,
Karen
0 Comments