Paterno was toast as soon as it came out that he behaved marginally after a trusted colleague told him about the abuse. He and other senior people were simply never going to see 2012 as PSU as employees. The only question was this week or next month; better this week.
Paterno's rigidity and arrogance came through when he made the above announcement. I don't much care whether it was face to face or by phone, the dismissal wasn't up for debate, and Paterno was NOT going to make it easy for them even if they felt like delaying the announcement while a board rep tried to wade through the PSU fans who were embarrassing themselves by wildly supporting a guy whose teams they enjoy watching but whose apparent moral failings don't seem to bother them.
I think it's inappropriate to blame the media for this. Is there a frenzy, as in a lot of media interest? Yes. Have people rushed to judgment? Yes. Is there any indication that a rush/stampede isn't appropriate when we're talking about such behavior?
Why didn't the board fire McQueary? Because university boards don't spend a whole lot of time dealing with wide receiver coaches; they were focused on their demigod coach and the university president. Nevertheless, I have no patience for someone who simply leaves the scene of such a crime without rescuing the boy, even if the boy is not complaining. Ain't no way McQueary will last until next season, and I'd assume the replacement coach will fire him soon, if not within the next week. And 'd be surprised if he gets a job within football anytime soon.
And why aren't we talking about Sandusky? The guy is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison as a pedophile rapist. What's there to say?
Why aren't we talking about the other guys? Because most of us had never heard of them, and they didn't hold themselves up as pillars of American Sport.
And why am I not worried that, "there but for the grace of God go I (as a Duke fan)? Because while bad behavior can happen anywhere, there is no way that Coach K would sweep this under the rug for a decade.
And how is this different from politicians having sex with young men? In almost every way.