As an individual who has seen Penn State football coaches come and go, I can say Joe Paterno was an anomaly, failing to retire after his 70th birthday in contrast to both Bob Higgins and Rip Engle, incidentally Mr. Paterno's coach and mentor. At his age, when the problem occurred, namely 75, the job of coaching a now perennial contender was overwhelming, and each year he worried that even as a legend at Penn State, his team would not live up to the expectations of both the student body and alumni.
Winning became the overwhelming motivation at the end of his career and the obvious troubling signs among his coaches were passed over. Joe Paterno is suffering, but not as much as the victims. May his glory days be remembered and the others serve as a warning to future coaches.
Nelson Marans, Silver Spring