Guilt upon the conscience, like rust upon iron, both defiles and consumes it, gnawing and creeping into it, as that does which at last eats out the very heart and substance of the metal. ~ Bishop Robert South

Former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno passed away yesterday, just three months after an embarrassing sex scandal rocked Happy Valley. The official cause of death was lung cancer. Paterno was diagnosed with the disease on November 18th, and died on January 22nd — just 65 days after the diagnosis.

Just three months ago, Paterno was still head coach of Penn State. The Nittany Lions were having a great season — headed to a bowl game.

So what happened?

In the words of Joe Paterno, "It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more."

In other words: GUILT.



On the ten-hour drive from Virginia to Alabama yesterday, I was listening to all the Sports Radio talk shows. Most of the announcers and former Penn State players were saying Paterno died "from a broken heart." They were blaming the Penn State Board of Trustees for the way they handled the firing of Paterno. "They took away his reason for living," they cried. The Penn State Alumni were essentially saying the Board gave Paterno the death sentence.

But was being fired as Penn State football coach what, ultimately, led to the deterioration of Joe Paterno? I mean, he still had his wife, children, and grandchildren to "live" for. He was still a Penn State icon, and continued to be loved by most folks in Happy Valley. He had already stated his desire to retire at the end of the season; so he was already mentally preparing for his final three games as head coach.

Not coaching football wasn't what killed Joe Paterno.

Guilt and shame killed Joe Paterno.

For decades, Joe Paterno was a beloved father-figure on the Penn State campus; it's the only reality he knew. Then, in an instant, everything changed. Paterno took pride in running a program of integrity — supposedly placing morals and personal values ahead of just winning football games. However, after news of the sex scandal broke, the public was able to see the Wizard behind the curtain. Penn State fans can rationalize all they want, but the bottom line is the bottom line, even in the words of Joe Paterno:

He should have done more.

It's always the "should-haves" that we regret.

• I should have spent more time with my loved one.
• I should have just "gone for it."
• I should have told him/her how I really felt.
• I should have appreciated what I had.
• I should have told the truth.
• I should have done more.

Had Joe Paterno "done more" back in 2002, when he first heard of the sex abuse allegations, Jerry Sandusky would've taken the hit of bad publicity, and Penn State would've been seen as an institution with integrity and morals, who "did the right thing" by ensuring Sandusky was arrested and charged. Sandusky would've been held accountable for his own decisions, would've been fired and completely removed from the Penn State campus, and Joe Paterno's legacy would've remained untarnished.

Unfortunately, that's not what happened. Penn State and Joe Paterno "looked the other way," and the abuse was allowed to continue. Paterno knew they were making the wrong decision. Alas, integrity didn't really seem to be the foundation of Penn State football. Actions speak louder than words, and it seems as though the untarnished image of Penn State football took precedence over "doing the right thing."

We're all responsible for the seeds we plant. Years ago, Joe Paterno and Penn State University made a decision to "look the other way," in relation to a deplorable act. Eventually, those seeds came to harvest. And the shame it brought upon the university was unprecedented.

They should have done more.

How many "should-haves" are you dealing with today? How many of these "should-haves" are within your capacity to "fix"? What are you going to do to fix them?

Don't let the destructive power of guilt consume you.

Fix the problem if you can, or make an appointment to talk with a professional.

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