Columnists across the country today are weighing in on former FBI Dir Louis Freeh's report, which was sharply critical of how Penn State and late football coach Joe Paterno dealt with the allegations of sexual abuse against Jerry Sandusky. USA TODAY's Christine Brennan writes, "If the school is truly serious about addressing the atrocities that occurred in its football complex by its so-called leaders in the name of big-time football, it must stop playing football and contemplate college life in Happy Valley without it." The N.Y. DAILY NEWS' Dick Weiss: "The NCAA needs to establish a new penalty for moral bankruptcy and make Penn State its first example with – at the very least – a year without football." The BOSTON GLOBE's Dan Shaughnessy: "Playing football this fall would be just another demonstration that the vaunted football program is more important than protecting innocent children."
The L.A. TIMES' Bill Plaschke: "This is what happens when a university sports program becomes bigger than the university. This is what happens when a coach becomes more important than the ideals and values he is hired to coach." The WASHINGTON POST's Sally Jenkins: "Joe Paterno was a liar, there's no doubt about that now. He was also a cover-up artist."
This morning’s edition of NBC’s “Today” first reported on the Freeh Report at 12:49 into the broadcast, with a 3:12 report. The segment featured a live report from NBC’s Michael Isikoff from State College, Penn. CBS’ “CBS This Morning” first reported on the Freeh Report at 13:30, with a 3:36 live segment in-studio from CBS’ Armen Keteyian. ABC’s “GMA” did not devote any airtime to the Freeh Report (THE DAILY).
