Mr. Ameachi has had 9 years to educate himself on Paterno, Spanier, Curley and Shultz.
A few sound bits from Ameachi over the years:
"I believe Joe Paterno should be remembered for his pithy post-game comments and running onto the field on game day, however, I think the only true legacy from this blight on Joe's watch would be to remember in every future decision that faces Penn State, its students and indeed all of us: not what Joe did when faced with these terrible circumstances, but rather what should have been done"
"Education is not something that should be done by black people for white people" Mr Amaechi said, but people can begin by embracing "those moments where they know they've screwed up" pointing out that the pain of knowing what you've done is a start to educating yourself and bettering yourself."
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Weeks after the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal began in November 2011, Amaechi appeared on the Dan Le Batard radio show and said he was “ashamed,” “embarrassed” and “humiliated.” With regard to legendary head football coach Joe Paterno, Amaechi said during the interview, “You can’t be a part-time man of principle.”
On campus, students mobilized support for Amaechi. The student government unanimously voted to formally support him. Four groups of staff created ads and issued a statement to express their support of Amaechi, saying they were “deeply saddened to hear of the malicious threats and hurtful comments.”
On a different note, my favorite aspect of the interview is his opinion on Joe Paterno. While a lot of people have tried to distance themselves from the legend and even focused their attention on JoePa instead of on Sandusky, Amaechi delivers what I think is the most accurate assessment of Paterno’s involvement. After he talks about being aware of all the good Joe Paterno has done in his extensive career, he delivers the following.
"You cant be a part time man of principle. You cant be principled 99% of the time, and then the one time when it really counts, you’re not.”
Amaechi feels that Sandusky used the student-athletes at Penn State to draw in his victims.
“In a sense, there is some part of me that thinks that myself and some of the other athletes, elite athletes who I spoke to, continue to speak to… We were involved in this program that was the front to a business, but it’s not real. It’s just like a shell. We were the attractive lure of this entity, unknowingly part of the abuse of young people.”
Amaechi also had stern words for the students’ recklessness on the night of November 9, 2011.
“This whole chapter is pockmarked with bits of embarrassment. The day that the students rioted on behalf of Joe Paterno. It’s disgusting."
“But that man knew when a student on his football team of a hundred-or-so people skipped a morning class. He knew everything that was going on with his team, but not this apparently.
“I’ve had some problems with that.”
. He’ll tell us all about it.
