Graham Spanier, The Cowardly Lion

Penn State University continues to get it very wrong in their handling of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

Head football coach Joe Paterno was scheduled to have his weekly press conference today in State College.  Penn State sent out a memo yesterday saying that the only questions that would be taken would center on the current football season. 

Nice to know the priority at PSU at this time remains football.

PSU President Graham Spanier
a.k.a. The Cowardly Lion

Twenty minutes before today's press conference was to occur, Jeff Nelson (Assistant Athletic Director of Communications) announced that the press conference had been cancelled and would not be rescheduled.

The silence from Penn State at this point is deafening and, to be honest, quite infuriating.  They have completely failed to handle an already volatile situation.  Talk about "Fail To The Lion"

The only official statement the school has made to this point are the release from University President Graham Spanier in which he tastelessly referred to the allegations as "troubling."  He also pledged unconditional support to AD Tim Curley and Vice President Gary Schultz, the two administrators facing perjury charges.

No mention of the victims.  No mention of the University fully cooperating with law enforcement.  None of the usual PR buzzwords that you expect from leadership.  In fact, President Spanier has been completely invisible as the face of PSU.  Multiple sources report it was HIS decision to cancel the press conference today.

Why does Penn State have a PR department?  Where did they learn how to do their jobs?  Surely someone must think it's a good idea to try and get SOME information to the media camped out all over campus.  Why are the only ones talking the students and former players being interviewed by outlets like ESPN?

Spanier is the epitome of a coward.  A cowardly lion...  He may be king of the forest, but the forest is burning.  In the past he has never seemed to turn down an opportunity to get interviewed by the media.  He's the chairman of the BCS for god's sakes.  Talk about a prominent role in college athletics. 

Yet now, when the school needs leadership in the worst way possible, Spanier is nowhere to be found. 

Ignoring this won't make it go away.  More and more details emerge almost every passing moment on Twitter.  The only one who seems to be willing to talk is Joe Paterno and he was silenced by Spanier today.

What is the administration afraid of?  What could Joe possibly say to make this mess any worse?

There is no doubt anymore this is Paterno's last season.  Even if he somehow manages to remain the coach for the rest of the season (which he shouldn't) his contract is up.  Seeing as he did play a role in this mess there's no reason any PSU administrator could give for rewarding Paterno with a contract extension.  NONE.

Reports are already starting to swirl that Paterno's support with the board of trustees has eroded.  One report says he was asked to resign but refused.  Paterno's son has repeatedly said no such request was made.

Penn State can't even get their own stories straight.  Total lack of "institutional control" right now. 

What kind of message does this send to alumni?  What kind of message does this send to current students?  When the crap hits the fan -- hide?

The only thing I can take pride from in this entire mess is that just about anyone you talk to who went to Penn State is sickened by the ordeal.  We all want to see justice served.  We all want those responsible for helping to cover up this terrible tragedy to be removed from power and, if appropriate, face the full wrath of the law.

That to me is the definition of Penn State Pride, even if our pride is wounded today.

We obviously didn't learn it from our cowardly leader.