Why does chirping about a scandal that broke more than 13 years ago still give fans of Penn State’s football opponents such glee? A grand jury indictment in November 2011 accused former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky of sexually abusing young boys in his care. In 2012, he was convicted on 44 counts of child sexual abuse, and has been in a state prison ever since. The scandal cost legendary coach Joe Paterno his job, and he died in early 2012.
The resulting NCAA sanctions — some eventually lifted — set back the Penn State football program for years. But not forever, which might be the impetus for the steady stream of sickening comments. Penn State officials in 2012 took necessary steps to improve safeguards for children on the University Park campus and elsewhere across the system, to support and compensate those who alleged that they had been abused by Sandusky, and to allow for justice to play out in local courtrooms.
Despite all of that, the snide remarks continue — many voiced by people too young themselves to have any memory of what took place in 2011 and 2012. Those traveling to Arizona for the Nittany Lions’ Fiesta Bowl game against Boise State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal on New Year’s Eve can expect to be targeted by insults that have nothing to do with the current Nittany Lions team or its play — flippant comments that instead bring further insult to victims of abuse everywhere. Penn State backers should expect to exp.