Does anyone know this guy? When I read the Freeh Report, I smelled a rat (turned out there were several) and started doing some homework myself, hoping to do something like what Ray Blehar is doing. I'm still keeping up. Ray has investigated this way better than I could, and while I might disagree with one or two of his conclusions, I'm confident he is absolutely on the right track, so I'll even defer to him on any point on which we might disagree. Anyway...around the fall of 2012, I was referred to a "Ron Smith" who was described to me as a former PSU professor. I called the number I was given (814 area code; and I still have the number) and had a very cordial, fairly lengthy (maybe 30-45 minutes?) conversation with him. I can't swear this is the same guy, but I'd bet it is. He seemed knowledgeable of the workings of the Penn State Athletic Department, as well as how they compared with other schools. He seemed to me to have a balanced view, but was primarily complimentary about the "Grand Experiment." I haven't looked for my handwritten notes, but will paste a portion of a document I wrote about the Penn State "culture" that was based on this conversation:
"President Erickson spoke to the Faculty Senate in January of 2012, noting that “Joe (Paterno) will always be remembered for the ‘Grand Experiment,’ the idea that high quality academics would go hand-in-hand with the highest caliber of championship athletic performance.” (wearecentralpa.com, 1/24/12) One retired Penn State professor told us that the “Grand Experiment” was a real and successful concept at Penn State that actually pre-dated Paterno’s tenure there (head coach from 1966-2011). This source credited former Penn State Director of Athletics Ernie McCoy (AD from 1952-1970) and former Penn State football coach Rip Engle (head coach from 1950 to 1965) with originating the “Grand Experiment.”
The source also reported that, while the University had admitted a limited number of football players as “president’s exceptions” academically and committed a few minor recruiting violations over the years, “Penn State ran the cleanest program in the country.” The source, who offered a balanced view of Paterno (“He did more for this University than anyone else, with the possible exception of (former Penn State president) George Atherton, but I wouldn’t want to live next door to him.”), also reported never having been asked to change an athlete’s grade."
I haven't read excerpts from this book, but it sounds like the angle is far different from the one I was presented. I did follow a thread on here about this a few weeks ago, not sure if this was the same guy I talked to or not. I contacted the person who referred me, and that person wasn't sure either. If it is the same guy, I wonder why the stories might be so different? If it's not the same guy, I should probably apologize if I've betrayed a confidence.
Anyone have a feel for whether this might be the same person? And if so, whether there might be a continuum?:
1. One story
2. Paul Silvis
3. New story
SR/BHF