Joe Paterno Rally: Penn State Coach Talks About Scandal From His Home (VIDEO)

Penn State head coach Joe Paterno spoke to a group of 200 to 300 people rallying outside his home this evening.

The head coach, who was scheduled to speak in a press conference this afternoon before it was canceled, told the crowd while standing at his window, "My wife and I, we have 17 grandkids [ages] 16 to 3, and we pray for them every night. We're going to start praying for those kids that got involved with some of the problems that were talked about."

The head coach also spoke with students and reporters outside of his home as they surrounded him on the lawn, saying that "we ought to say a prayer for the [victims]." (VIDEO BELOW)

According to Philadelphia Inquirer intern Jake Kaplan, Penn State players Matt McGloin and Eric Shrive drove by the home to check out the scene.

@MacQB11
Matt McGloin

Great to see so many supporters at coach paterno's house.

November 8, 2011 11:45 pm via TweetCaster Reply Retweet Favorite

Andy Staples, college football writer for Sports Illustrated, took exception via Twitter with Paterno's statement that he would pray for the children involved.

@Andy_Staples
Andy Staples

You know what would have helped the victims more than a prayer? The most powerful guy at Penn State stopping it when he had the chance.

November 9, 2011 12:06 am via TweetDeck Reply Retweet Favorite

A report in the New York Times this afternoon indicated that Paterno's exit from Penn State is currently being planned. His son Scott nixed the report however, claiming that there have been no discussions about retirement for the longtime coach.

Hat tip to CrossingBroad.com for the video

Comments

[DennyCrane]

09:33 PM on 11/10/2011

I guess we can conclude that those supporting Paternoster see nothing wrong with child rape.

[Cuyahoga]

01:39 PM on 11/09/2011

The students (and many others) supporting Paterno -- their reactions are emotional, not rational. As a Buckeye, I clearly remember the day Woody Hayes was fired. Firing him was the rational thing to do after he punched a Clemson player. My reaction to stand where I was and cry was emotional.

Paterno stayed quiet and inactive after he reported what he heard Sandusky did. The right action for Paterno at the time would have been to follow through after he reported it -- to make darned sure that a pedophile was NOT on the property and using PSU facilities and that the pedophile was investigated to the hilt.

Children first. Sports way down on the list but always - children first.

[Peppers Dad]

04:36 PM on 11/09/2011

You should know, then, that at football factories, "children first" only applies when they're 17-18 years old and run a 4.37 40-yd dash and can catch a ball in a crowd.

My question about JoePa's "power" in the PSU community at-large is what the Catholic Church's view of all this is. I'm assuming JoePa's Catholic and McQwery might be. How much sway, how powerful is the head coach in Happy Valley? Has anyone heard or read anything about the church's stance? (No pun intended.)

[budweezer]

12:15 PM on 11/09/2011

If someone came to Paterno and said this about one of his football recruits, he would have vetted the kid like he was running for president. The lack of action and constantly passing the buck while these kids' lives are being destroyed is sickening.

[sloLes]

12:09 PM on 11/09/2011

JoePa seems to have placed the welfare of his long-time friend over that of the molested children. Yes, Sanduysky deserves his day in court and due process. But didn't the children deserve better protection, too? Having lots of grandchildren doesn't absolute Joe of doing nothing more than telling his nominal boss. This incident occurred in his locker room, in his shower. At some point along the way here, his friend needed to be investigated by the police a second time. He was not absolved by the first investigation. So, why were further allegations and incidents left unpursued?

[Stilts9]

12:09 PM on 11/09/2011

Sandusky was on PS campus last week. Think about it.

[Gerald Ward]

11:58 AM on 11/09/2011

Thanks for all your support, next time maybe I'll call the police. Yea for Next Time. Coward! Stay rally Penn State.

[Nica73]

11:58 AM on 11/09/2011

This goes to show how backwards people are. This guy knew about what was going on, but instead of turning the creep in to the police, he did nothing at all and turned his back on it. And here we have people cheering him on saying how much they love him! I wonder if they would feel the same way if they found out some of their kids where the victims.

[fatuglynerd]

11:56 AM on 11/09/2011

They always go to the "We're going to pray for them" stunt ... It DOESN'T EXONERATE you!

We don't care who you call "God" at the end of the day ... YOU'RE FILTH!

[Cuyahoga]

01:39 PM on 11/09/2011

Agreed. God expected more of these men - much more.

"Pray for them." What nonsense.

[KarateKid]

11:50 AM on 11/09/2011

"We're going to start praying for those kids that got involved with some of the problems that were talked about."

Oh, NOW he's concerned..............how touching.

[Klyn]

11:50 AM on 11/09/2011

"We're going to start praying for those kids that got involved with some of the problems that were talked about"... seriously, after 15 years you're going to just START now? sick.

[UtahLiberal45]

11:50 AM on 11/09/2011

The power of college sports. It clouds people's thinking.

[CR46]

11:46 AM on 11/09/2011

"those kids that got involved with some problems" !!!!????? You mean those kids that were raped by your buddy Joe, is that what you mean? One call to the police would have done much more than a few random (if I believe you-which I don't) prayers.

[susane07]

11:44 AM on 11/09/2011

How he could work with a man who he has known for years has been raping young boys is beyond me! WTF was he thinking...duh? He can't leave fast enough. As far as I'm concerned, all these people at PS should go to prison along with this child rapist for not dialing 911. This is a crime against humanity.

Whether it's Wall Street bankers or child molesters and their accomplices, we need to get these people off our streets for the crimes they have done!

[dtd]

11:40 AM on 11/09/2011

It's been said that a person's character is defined by what they do in a moment of crisis. I think we know the character, rather lack there of, of all the men who ignored these innocent helpless children who needed just one of them to do what was right. How can they live with themselves?

A couple of weeks ago I watched the video of the baby in China who died on a street like a dog after being struck by a car then again ran over by another car while people passed by and did nothing. I thought this could never happen in America. This is what sets us apart from the rest of the world. We protect our children.

[kareemachan]

11:29 AM on 11/09/2011

Pray all you want, Joe, but a little ACTION would have really, really helped. I'm sorry to hear this, because you were one of the coaches I had some respect for. I don't now. Your silence helped a pedophile abuse children, and that isn't right in any way, shape, or form.

So pray a lot, whatever. An apology wouldn't be remiss right now, either.