Let me be clear on some things here...
I think the fact that people think JoePa got screwed are idiots.
Do I think McQ had zero responsibility? No. However, when it comes down to the legal side of things, the fact that he was a student, no matter what his age was, and reported it to people considered to be authorities is likely why he still has his job- at least so far. And I understand that, because I understand what it's like to be the person on both sides (authority and student). That's all I'm saying...and keep in mind, I'm talking about the initial report, which is where a lot of this stuff is coming from, and it's been the focus of the conversations here.
Did I ever say that I agreed with him not stepping in? No. Did I ever say I supported him? No. If that's the impression I gave, it was a mistake. I've been typing from my phone, so I guess I wasn't as articulate as I could've been.
Having been on the side of the boys, I can say that I know how damaging an event like that can be on your life. And I can also say that people are idiots when it comes to this...the righteous indignation is almost too much. "Why didn't you run? Why didn't you kick him in the balls? Why didn't you call the police?" ..."*I* would have punched him in the balls and called the police, you can be certain of that!!"....Oh, can I? Can I really? I hope you never have to find out. I truly don't. You don't know what you're going to do until you do it, and you certainly never know what that will be until it's happening to you. The same goes for the people screaming that McQ should've done x, y, and z.
SHOULD he have done x, y, and z? Absolutely. I never said he SHOULDN'T have. Did he? No. Does that make it right? No, it doesn't. But, it's not difficult to comprehend how someone low on the totem pole, who also played football for Penn State, likely idolized both Sandusky and Paterno, who walked into that situation thought nothing but 'oh my god, oh my god, oh my god' and then did the next best thing he could think of and told his father what he saw, and then did as his father suggested and told Paterno and other ranking officials at the university.
Do I think he should have called the police if he didn't see any action taking place to remove Sandusky? I certainly think that. Do I understand the reasoning behind why someone doesn't do what is expected? Yes, I do. Does that make it right? No. People were arguing that he should be fired for his lack of action, and at the initial report, I disagree. The INITIAL report, mind you. Once he was officially a member of the coaching team, I believe he does have responsibility and blood on his hands for those boys. But, that initial report, when he reported it to Paterno? There shouldn't have been time for McQ to GET that blood on his hands as a member of the coaching staff. They should have done something immediately. No excuses there...which is why they have lost their jobs.
This incident is so much larger than who is to blame. It is so much bigger than who should have done what and all the finger-pointing that is going on. What's being forgotten is the victims, who would have been the focus of this entire thing all alone. Instead, everyone wants to exonerate Paterno because of him being a beloved football coach, which is just another example of the poison of sports culture in the country. People are more interested in the number of wins than the number of victims who have suffered.