Posse Incitatus

Sympathy for the Fraud Five

The advent of warm weather has kept me far away from the computer – there is simply too much to do at the ranch.

However, I cannot let an article as perfect as this go by without comment:

Jalen Rose not 'bitter' over Michigan president's stance toward basketball era

What makes this article so beautiful is Rose’s utter lack of self-awareness.  He seems blissfully ignorant of the shame his actions and those of his teammates brought upon the University of Michigan, or why the university president may not want to celebrate his dubious “achievements.”

Rose was of course part of the “Fab Five,” a group of corrupt freshman basketball players who made it to the NCAA finals before losing at the last second to Duke.

Thus they failed to win either a conference or national title, but are still venerated in Ann Arbor because they wore baggy shorts.

The comments on the article are full of the usual sturm und drang, but once again I note that no one has fully addressed the real problem of the Fraud Five – that we do not know how far their corruption extended.

U-M “booster” and criminal mastermind Ed Martin died before the investigation was complete and many of his secrets died with him.  Martin was able to lavish money on the athletes thanks to the profits from his gambling operation and it is this element that Skunk Bear faithful never want to address.

You see, since Martin depended on profits from his gambling to pay the players, it would be a simple thing for one of them to shave a point here or there, or even offer a tip that a “sure thing” was not as sure as it looked.  One could even make money on the over-under or fail to make the spread on a blowout.  In short, there are lots of ways to “fix” a game short of throwing it.

I have no specific information, but it seems inconceivable to me that at some point one or more of these players did not try to compensate their benefactor by shaving a few points or otherwise boosting his haul from a bet.

Needless to say, none of the athletes would ever admit to this even now, as the damage to their reputation would be catastrophic.  Pete Rose remains banned from baseball for gambling and were it to emerge that any of the games of that era were even slightly influenced, a similar ban would likely be put in place, barring the Fraud Five not only from their alma mater, but also professional basketball as well.

The problem is that once one bears the taint of wrongdoing, no one is sure where it ends.

Jalen Rose has little credibility – and his teammates wisely are leaving the issue dormant.

Still, there is a case to be made for U-M restoring its squalid banners to the rafters of Crisler Arena.  After all, the Skunk Bears continue to tout themselves as the “winningest football program ever,” despite the fact that several of their early teams consisted entirely of non-student hirelings.

 A win is a win, and one could argue that the Wolverines would at least be consistent.

Reality strikes in Ann Arbor - Plus NCAA gets a clue

It is a rare thing for the Skunk Bear fan base to come to terms with reality before it actually smacks them in the face – even then, it doesn’t always happen. However this article takes a remarkably clear-sighted look at their upcoming season.

In the process – by dwelling on the fact that there are six road games rather than four, and they are against ranked opponents rather than sacrificial lambs – the author reinforces my argument that U-M’s prestige was inflated by an amazingly soft schedule.

It is worth noting that MSU’s schedule was much more difficult – road games at Notre Dame, Ohio State, Nebraska and Iowa last year, and at Ann Arbor, Northwestern, Iowa and Penn State the year before. In addition, MSU has had to face the Wisconsin juggernaut – a fate the Skunk Bears have managed to sidestep.

A key variable for both teams will be the quality of the Fighting Kellys. With the Irish return to form or is Brian Kelly really just an ill-tempered poseur with a resume built on harvesting the fruits of others’ labors? Kelly’s tenure has been controversial, from the death of videographer Declan Sullivan  to sideline theatrics and most recently returning quarterback Tommy Reese’s arrest .

Seems that Kelly has his back to the wall and is now in Ron Zook territory.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE SPARTANS? Congratulations to the NCAA for making an obviously correct decision and allowing DeAnthony Arnett to take the field with MSU this fall. Normally, I would regard this as somewhat of a non-issue – he would lose no eligibility and an extra year in the system would be to his benefit and help MSU as well. However, his father is in poor health and the possibility that he might pass away without seeing his son play college football was a compelling reason to let him play right away. 

Memo to the NCAA: Remember when you worried more about students and less about rules and revenue?

Defense Dominates Green and White Game - Plus Fall Predictions

Because we are powerful and influential members of the Spartan Nation, the Posse viewed Saturday's Green and White game from the luxurious comfort of the new press box. 

From our lofty perch, it was clear that the Spartan defense has the upper hand, though without starting quarterback Andrew Maxwell, there was bound to be some weakness on the offensive side of the ball.

Backup QB Connor Cook looked terrible in the first half, with several pics and near-pics, but we are inclined to believe this is because he was forced to run both offensive schemes.

While this gave him extra playing time, it prevented him from developing a rhythm.  Often QBs can huddle on the sideline after a 3-and-out and discuss problems with patterns, coverage, blocking and so forth.  But with Cook having to do double duty, there was no chance for him to adjust.

In the second half, Coach Dantonio changed things up, allowing Cook time to focus on one set of players.  The third and fourth string QBs then took some snaps while he rested and adjusted.  The result was a much more effective offense.

MISSING PERSONS:  In addition to Maxwell and the other injured players, Larry Caper and La'veon Bell were both scarce during the game.  Nick Hill was the only known running back to see much action.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE FALL:  In 2009, the Posse - like many observers - thrilled to the epid shootout between Kirk Cousins and Keith Nichol.  The high-scoring scrimmage seemed to bode well for the future.  It fact, it was the harbinger of doom.

The Spartans were not the offensive powerhouse we assumed, they were simply weak on defense.  Since then, both Green and White games have been underscoring grinds - and this has resulted in highly successful seasons.

Based on the highly effective secondary, the Posse expects a similar dynamic.  If Maxwell can perform and the offensive line can provide adequate protection, we should do well.  The schedule shows the usual tough stretch in the mid-season, with road games in Madison and Ann Arbor, bracketed with home games against Iowa and Nebraska.  This stretch is tough, but less than those of previous years, leaving the Spartans solid contenders (if not outright favorites) to repeat their division championship.

MEANWHILE, SNOW EXPECTED IN ANN ARBOR:  For the Skunk Bear faithful, the schedule looks a lot worse.  In fact, it looks positively grim.  Starting with what we predict to be a massacre at the hands of Alabama, the Wolverines then must face Air Force and Notre Dame on the road - a far cry from last year's roundup of patsies.

They also play Ohio State and Nebraska on the road, which leads me to predict that they will probably lose at least five, possibly six games (Air Force may get an upset, depending on how badly Alabama mauls them).

DEATH TO THE BCS:  Rumors of some sort of playoff game leave me cold, but anything is better than the current travesty where teams can claim the national title without winning their own conference.

As a traditionalist, I much preferred the old system where rival organizations handed out rival trophies, creating a truly free market for claims to national dominance.  The creation of the BCS was yet another example of how baby boomers ruined everything they inherited.

Still, a system where merit rather than attendence figures and popularity would be an improvement.  One cannot simulateously claim that we are rewarding excellence while denying teams like Boise State a chance for glory because they won't sell enough tickets.

I also hope that Big Ten considers adopting a rule making conference standing a determinant over bowl selection.  Last season's travesty of punishing a division champion for losing the conference title game will be repeated unless something is done.

The agony of defeat

 I did not watch the game.  I was busy Saturday and caught a few minutes on the radio and had to get up early Sunday.  I went to bed with the halftime score in my head and had beautiful dreams of roses.

Talk about a rude awakening.

Because controversy sells, there is a lot of it right now about how the Skunk Bears have “leap-frogged” MSU to get a BCS bowl despite finishing lower in the conference and losing the head-to-head game.

Now is a good time to remind people that college football is about making money, nothing else.  I personally like making money, and I laud the efforts of those that do so by creating something of value.  College football is great entertainment, and I wish the various athletic departments the best (well, not Penn State for obvious reasons).

Why is Michigan going to the Sugar Bowl?  Ratings.  Ticket sales. Money. 

Like Rick Blaine in “Casablanca,” it isn’t that I have no sympathy for the fox, I simply understand the point of view of the hound.

Bowl committees are there to make money.  They don’t much care who plays, they are entirely focused on revenue from ticket sales and television viewers.  Bigger names mean more of both.

This leads to my second point:  The BCS is not about quality.

Let me repeat that:  It is not about quality, it is about money.

The polls are nothing more than a popularity contest and “computer rankings” are a giant electronic thumb that is placed to the scale to ensure the desired result.

I want to be clear:  I have no problem with this.

None.

College football has always been a popularity contest.   Back in the day, there were multiple championships and the team that had the truly most impressive season was dubbed the “consensus national champion.”  Otherwise you’d get several:  UPI, AP, and so on.

Now we have one:  The BCS.  They get a crystal football and lots of attention.

But the fact is that these teams are not necessarily the best, merely the most popular.

So, having made it clear that I have no problem with this setup, what is my problem?

The mendacity.

The pretense that teams are something they are not.

Michigan is not a better team than MSU.  We know this.  It is certain.

But its brand is more popular.  For a variety of historical reasons, Spartan Nation is smaller and less influential than the Cult of Bo.

It is a sad fact, but a fact all the same.

Another fact:  The sports-industrial complex hates change.  The rise of upstart powers upsets too many apple carts and so when Michigan went into eclipse, it was inevitable that the Powers That Be would do everything they could to put them back on the top.

I do not have a problem with this fact either, I just am annoyed by the lies that must accompany it.

The sports pages are already filled with glowing tributes to the “Skunk Bear Revival” and how greatness has returned to Ann Arbor.

Whatever.

The Wolverines had one good game this season:  They beat Nebraska.  That was it.

Otherwise, they ran up the score on crappy teams, played eight games at home, beat a 6-5 OSU squad under a temporary coach, and avoided the Wisconsin juggernaut. 

Congratulations on those accomplishments.

And now they are puffing out their chests with pride that the BCS has proved itself to be corrupt as everyone knew it was.

It would be a simple thing to use computers to create a football RPI and sift through strength of schedule, margin of victory and so forth to create a ranking based on overall team quality.  College basketball does this.

But that would hurt schools like U-M that trade on their reputation and their glorious victories over cross-town rival Eastern Michigan.

In the short term, the Spartans have but one option:  Keep winning.  In the long term, the university should throw its weight and push for some change.  We got hosed last year and took it on the chin again this year.  Until the university is willing to do something serious, the treatment will go on.

 

Championship Saturday

I've been away from the computer for a few days thanks to weather, work and network issues.

This is prevented me to from making several key observations and announcements.

GO STATE!  BEAT WISCONSIN! As my esteemed co-blogger has done, I congratulate the Spartans on a second 10-win season and the inaugural division championship.  Let's hope they pull and upset and re-defeat the Badgers tomorrow night.

SKUNK BEAR SURPRISE:  I must now acknowledge that the Skunk Bears have some bare level of talent.  Beating Nebraska gives them a credible win, their first of the season.  Yes, I know they also beat Ohio State, but that is not a credible win - I don't care who they are, an unranked five-loss team is not a signature victory.  And with Urban Meyer now running the show in Columbus, they may be in for a long dry spell.

BUCKEYE PRESTIGE: Speaking of the Bucks, how about landing one of the hottest coaches in college football without really trying?  Kind of telling given that Michigan spent the last four years thrashing around trying to find someone who wanted to run the Winningest Program in College Football History ^(TM).  Indeed, a few weeks back I noted the Detroit News excerpts of a book telling the sad and sordid tale of RichRod's hiring - and how the staff figured their biggest problem would be choosing among the many, many big-name applicants.

Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke.  Yep, truly the cream of the college football crop.

ZOOKERDAMMERUNG II:  THE FINAL CHAPTER?  Well, to the surprise of no one, Illinois fired Ron Zook.  I'm disappointed, chiefly because the guy had a great name.  He also had an amazing ability to recruit top talen and then do nothing with it.  Ask Florida about that.

Where he goes from now, I can't guess, but I hope they put him on the Big Ten Network so that Gerry DiNardo has someone to look down on.

 

Zookerdammerung strikes again, Penn State rehab begins

Well, I was wrong.  Sure, I knew Ron Zook had terrible judgement, awful clock management and basically managed to underperform in every way, but I did not expect the Illini to come out looking that bad.  Not the whole team, mind you.  The defense was solid.  It was the offense that sucked.

In some cultures, a performance like that would be followed with ritual suicides by those responsible.

I want to be clear - when i say the Big Ten is having a "down year," I do not mean that my favorite team is doing poorly and therefore the conference is weaker.  This is what Skunk Bear and Buckeye fans do - especially when they find themselves losing games.  They use it to deny other teams any kind of credit.

But the Big Ten is objectively down this year - the Penn State/Iowa game was horrid to watch.  Same with the Penn State/Illinois game.  Ugly, inept football by badly-coached teams unable to execute even basic fundamentals.  Sad to say it, but if I want to see decent game play, I have to watch the cheaters in the SEC.  It's that bad.

Making it worse is that the Wolverines are rolling along in the fetid wake of this Tsunami of suck, acting like their team has accomplished something.  It hasn't, it has simply showed up to watch other teams self-destruct.

Tomorrow's game against Nebraska will be decisive.  I expect the Huskers will stomp all over the Wolverines, who (as one would expect) are starting to buy into their own hype.

Beating Nebraska would be huge for the Skunk Bears because it would mark their first quality victory of the season.  I think it says something that a team can go 8-2 without beating anyone ranked and still think they have accomplished great things.  Oh well, time will tell.

PENN STATE'S HELPING HAND FROM ESPN:  Well, that was fast.  here I thought Penn State might pay some sort of price for its grotesque pederasty scandal, but the college-football-industrial complex can't let an institution like that go down without a fight.

It was all I could do not to vomit during the ABC/ESPN coverage last week featuring maudlin music and Paterno's sobbing kid saying "We miss you, dad."  Yeah, I bet you do.  And I bet those kids miss their innocence and not feeling violated.  Shame how your football program self-detonated.  Let the record show that this blog feels no sympathy whatsoever.

Indeed, the more I find out about Penn State, the more twisted the whole thing becomes.  Joe Paterno is indeed a tragic hero in the Greek sense - a man with great gifts who is ultimately doomed by his own flaws.  That's pretty much the definition of tragic.

But I do not have a lot of sympathy for a man who basically got to punch his own ticket for 40+ years.  JoePa's supposed to be a Catholic, so he should remember the Seven Deadly Sins.  Pride is the one that got to him.

Seriously, the time to retire is when the put up a statue to you.  Honestly, they should at least wait until you are dead, but since we now live for the moment, having you totter over in your walker upon your well-deserved retirement is fine.

The problem with putting it up while you are still working is that if things go badly, they may want to take it down.  Oh, the university is saying they plan to leave it alone, but it's still early yet.  Wait till the trial starts.

Pride is what did in Paterno.  He wanted to be the winningest coach evah, but what does that even mean in this day and age?  We play 50 percent more games than teams used to, so it's an easy mark to make.  Brady Hoke has an "unprecedented" eight wins already in his first year.  Back when Michigan had nine games on the schedule, that was saying something.  But now?  It's hitting par, nothign more.

Indeed, despite the record, it's been clear for a while that Paterno doesn't really coach much.  he's been sitting in the press box more often than not, and his assistants do all the recruiting.  Things were different when he started, of course, and that's the point.  Paterno's old enough to know that Bear Bryant didn't have platoons of grad assistants to cater to his every need, which is why his "milestone" is even more pathetic.  He's old enough to know better, and that what makes this whole thing so tawdry.

GO STATE, BEAT INDIANA:  Of course I cannot neglect my beloved Spartans and enthusiastically support their efforts against the hapless Hoosiers.  No mercy!  Give them nothing, take from them everything!

And start saving it up for Wisconsin.

The Carrier Classic was brought to you by the Obama re-election campaign

Well, tough break for the Spartans.  They looked good for a while there, but the kids in the Powder Blue Argyll jerseys were too much.  After watching North Carolina take control I ceded control of the television and busied myself with gun cleaning.

Overall, it was a cool event and the pause for evening colors was great.

I was, however, a bit put-off by Presidet Obama showing up and basically taking things over.  What is it with this guy?

I'm trying to think of a recent president that would have walked down to center court and done a mini-election plug like that.  Even Bill Clinton would have been content to wave from the stands and acknowledge the crowd.

You see, it wasn't about him.

Yet our Narcissist-in-Chief acts like everything is better once he touches it.  When he started on the "that's why I've signed into law..." I couldn't believe it.  Absolutely no class.

As for the rest of the presentation, it was great.  And of course because he was the president, no one could tell him not to talk on a Navy ship.  Pure, unadulterated abuse of power to hijack an unrelated event - an event that had nothing at all to do with him.

To some folks, this is nitpicking, which is fine.  But it would be nice for those of us who are getting burned out on politics to be able to watch a freaking college basketball game without the president popping into tell us how great he is.

Enough already.

Veterans Day 2011

As always, the Posse offers deep thanks to our military veterans for their service.  Perhaps I was just inattentive, but it seems to me that more businesses are offering discounts and promotions for veterans than ever before.  This is a good thing.

Our nation is not only divided between the producers and consumers (or "makers" and "takers" but also between those who serve and those who do not - and will not.

I never liked all the flowery rhetoric about the World War II generation being the "Greatest Generation."  First off, every generation faces is challenges.  To say that this one or that one had more strikes me as the height of arrogant self-importance. That this label came from the Baby Boomer made it even more obnoxious.

When I think about important generations, I think about the parents of the "Greatest," the people born between 1890 and 1910.  They weathered slumps, two wars and ignited the greatest period of technological advancement in human history.  The leaps forward in medicine, communication, transportation - and even warfare - far exeeded anything before or since.

When war came, they went.  When the economy collapsed, they muddled through.  The World War II generation provided the footsoldiers for victory, but the architects came from this age group.

As everyone should know, today marks the anniversary of the culiminating moment of that earlier generation - the end of the World War I.  Back then they called it the Great War, the World War, the War to End All Wars.  It gets little attention here in the United States, but it lies like a chasm across human history, a break with what went before every bit as significant as the fall of the Roman Empire or the Norman Conquest of England.

That calamity saw the collapse of the old ways - religion, tradition, family - and the rise of new beliefs, like Communism, National Socialism, moral relativism.  We are now, almost a century later, still trying to pick up the pieces of that conflict.  The constant crisis in the Middle East, the uncertain rise of China, Russia's turmoil, Africa's uneasy borders and the strife in the Balkans are all the legacy of that perfect storm and imperfect peace.

Where do veterans come into this?

In 1917, for the first time since the Civil War, the United States implemented conscription.  The fear was that were would be draft riots, as their had been in 1863.  It did not happen.  Instead, millions of young men registered and, when called, reported for duty.  Almost from scratch this country went from a miniscule peacetime army to millions of Doughboys ready to go "Over There" and fight in France.

It took time to call up, train, equip and ship them there.  More than a year after the declaration of war, the US Army was still pulling itself together.  In the meantime, the desperate Germans launched the Kaiserschlacht - one last desperate gamble to win the war before our troops arrived in force.  It failed,

The Allied counterstroke was terrible, and starting in July 1918, it proceeded without stop.  Unlike previous offensives, this was no localized affair, but a series of hammer-blows all across the Western Front.  There was no pause, not respite, and as American divisions became ready they were marched to the front and hurled into the inferno.

The American portion of the offensive has gone down in history as the Meuse-Argonne campaign.

To call it a bloodbath is to cheapen the term.  In the space of six weeks, roughly 120,000 American troops were hit with 25,000 of them killed.  In six weeks.

The American commander, "Black Jack" Pershing, used tactics as subtle as a tire iron to the head, but it worked. By early November, the German army was reeling. The Armistice took effect 93 years ago today, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

Since then, World War I has faded from memory.  Its veterans are all dead, and those who remember them are mostly gone.  Yellowed pictures, dusty uniforms, spiked helmets - these are all we recall.  Even the Red Baron has been distorted and commercialized.

The point here is that a generation was called and went.  In 1941, 1950 they also went.  Some disagreed in the 1960s, but enough went to give us a victory - that we pissed away.  After that, it fell to the volunteers, and they have performed admirably.  The prestige of American arms has never been greater -and the reputation of American politicians has never been lower.

Looking at the "Occupy" protesters, one cannot help but contrast their self-indulgent tantrums with the quiet sacrifices of the veterans.  Let there be no mistake, military people are no saints (f they were, the JAGs would be unemployed).  They expect to be paid and complain about everything (a time-honored tradition).

But they do their duty.  They join to be part of something bigger than themselves and they yearn for the opportunity to prove that they are just as tough as those who went before.

The Occupiers want none of that.  They want free wi-fi, guaranteed income and a life of unearned leisure.  A half-hour of PT would leave them begging for death.

This Veterans Day, think about that contrast and what it says about those who choose to serve despite every reason not to.  MSU's basketball game today on the USS Carl Vinson is a great example.  I admire coach Tom Izzo, but his remarks about how sports pale in comparison to the military life are heartful and utterly appropriate.

Enjoy the game, and thank a veteran.

 

Will the Spartans finally bring payback to Iowa?

At a certain point, getting beaten by the same team no longer provides motivation – it provides an inferiority complex.  Iowa is looking spectacularly weak this year and MSU honestly has no reason not to pound the Hurtin’ Hawkeyes into the turf.

Then again…

QB Kirk Cousins has been having a bad couple of weeks.  Nebraska was a debacle of the highest order, almost as bad as Iowa’s rout last year – and that’s saying something.  Coach Dantonio has wisely banned the team from talking to reporters and hopefully the results will be seen on the field.

To be clear:  Cousins has the talent, he just needs to execute.  He can be cool and accurate in the pocket.

Yet he also tends to lock on a single receiver and force throws into coverage.  That is where he gets into trouble.  If he can remain cool, we will win.  If he has problems, so will we.

I also hope Dan Roushar has figured out that with its present offensive line, MSU cannot run to the inside against anyone.  Bell to the outside is the ticket.

MEANWHILE, BACK IN ANN ARBOR:  Well, the bloom’s off of the Hoke-a-mania rose.  Michigan’s defeat in Iowa City was surprising only to the Blue Aid drinkers who think that Denard Robinson is still in Heisman contention.  Of course, everyone else knew this was a joke even in September because his completion percentage was under 50 percent, despite facing the likes of Eastern Michigan and SD State.

He’s since managed to break into positive territory, but his numbers are still ugly: 53 percent completion rate, 13 touchdowns vs 12 interceptions. 

What amuses me is that the Skunk Bear faithful are not only screaming about bad calls (of course) but I am also detecting some dissatisfaction from Hoke’s play calling.  As I noted in my pre-season roundup, I was not sure Hoke was all that the Skunk Bear propaganda said he was, but it was hard to do worse than RichRod, who was objectively terrible.

Still, the Spartan Curse may yet be in force, for reasons I’ve given before:  the Wolverines pushed all the tough games to the back end of their schedule.

Some weeks ago I thought Illinois would destroy Michigan at home, but the Zooks are looking a might tired of late.  Their offense is anemic and their coaching is as awful as one would expect.  Still, despite a three-game skid, there is hope for the Illini:  two of those losses were on the road, and they had a bye week to focus and regroup.

Plus, rumor has it that Robinson is hurt.  Advantage:  Zooks.

After that come Nebraska and Ohio State.  Final answer:  Skunk Bearks go 0-3 and finish 7-5.

 

The Wreck of the Edmund Paterno

Well, it looks like Paterno's career is finished and the college president is getting the sack.

There are two lessons we can take from this whole sordid episode.

The first is that cover-ups never work.  Sooner or later the truth will out and sooner is almost always better than later.  What might have been a one-week story in 1999 about how JoePa was betrayed by a sick assistant has now grown in both number of victims and Penn State’s own culpability.  Just get it out there.  As the harmonica players say:  It’s your harp, face up to it.

The second lesson is that change is necessary for good governance.  No matter who is involved (Republican or Democrat) and what you are dealing with, (military, business, politics, sports) stasis breeds corruption.

No one should hold a position of responsibility for 40 years.  No one.  I have nothing against Paterno, but it is clear that anyone who sticks around that long is going to develop blind spots.  It is human nature.

Too much was made out of his longevity.  Penn State’s victory over Illinois was one of the ugliest games I’ve ever watched.  Sloppy, uninspired play topped with one decent scoring drive.  It should have been an embarrassment to the Big Ten.

Instead, all the announcers could talk about was how wonderful it was the Paterno was getting his 10,000th victory and setting the college world record for wins.

The problem was that this was essentially meaningless.  Paterno achieved this feat thanks to the tail winds of longevity (hard to set a record if you die at 65) and longer seasons (in the 60s, they played nine games a season, now we play 12).

Now, if a guy hears how glorious it is that he’s going to set the all-time win record, when he gets his own trophy and has a statue in front of his stadium – well, a certain amount of arrogance sets in.  Not necessarily of the “I’m better than you” kind, but the “My reputation and that of my school is more important than arresting a child rapist” kind.

In any event, this whole episode is a tragedy in the classic sense.  The work “tragedy” has been debased in recent years to mean “something sad,” but in true form, a tragedy is about how a hero is ultimately destroyed by his own flaws.  One could arguably ask for no better example than a long-time coach with a record of integrity who – at the culminating moment of his career – is driven from his job in shame.

Thus the hero - and the is much to admire about Paterno - is destroyed by his own flaws, in this case his vanity.  A tragedy - not the least for the additional victims once Penn State knew they had a problem on their hands.