Monday, January 30, 2012
Why no posts?
Why no posts? I haven't been posting because I am not enthusiastic. Not about NU's bowl loss to Texas A&M nor about the basketball team's results this year. Overall there is little to get excited about, even with recruiting, so I haven't been commenting. That's it.
Friday, November 18, 2011
New facilities and such
Having read over at LTP today that prominent people read the blogs I thought I'd chip in on the stadium conversation. That is to say, I really doubt any big wigs read my blog, but they do at LTP and that is a credit to the effort they make over there. In any case if you are reading, this is what I think.
When I heard that the board of trustees had reservations about putting a new football stadium on the lake fill I suggested that this would be a big mistake. However, I have been thinking and reading various posts and I now believe that we need to keep football up on Central Avenue. However, we still need an all new, state-of-the-art stadium to replace Ryan Field. This should be similar to what we were expecting before. A new smaller stadium, that could be expanded in the future. This stadium should have luxury boxes and other seating options that would allow the leaders of our community to host functions at games. The stadium can be built next to the current stadium (just northwest). After the team moves to the new Ryan Field, the old Dyche/Ryan would be put to rest for eternity.
Now, what to do with Welsh-Ryan Arena? I suggest that this facility must be razed and along with it the deplorable tradition of our basketball teams. Destruction must also be the fate our own terrible student union on the main campus. From the ashes should rise another state-of-the-art facility at the former position of the union. This would be a union/student activity center that, in addition to restaurants, bars, a movie theater, a bowling alley and the like would have a 10,000+ arena for basketball, volleyball, concerts, conferences and other valuable university functions. Located close to south campus, and the business school this facility would serve students, faculty and business leaders. If done right, this would really be the crown jewel of the south campus and would be a facility that would firmly cement the reputation of Northwestern as one of the best schools in the country.
I really believe in this plan and think that it is the kind of idea, if feasible, could be presented to the administration and fundraisers as a priority.
When I heard that the board of trustees had reservations about putting a new football stadium on the lake fill I suggested that this would be a big mistake. However, I have been thinking and reading various posts and I now believe that we need to keep football up on Central Avenue. However, we still need an all new, state-of-the-art stadium to replace Ryan Field. This should be similar to what we were expecting before. A new smaller stadium, that could be expanded in the future. This stadium should have luxury boxes and other seating options that would allow the leaders of our community to host functions at games. The stadium can be built next to the current stadium (just northwest). After the team moves to the new Ryan Field, the old Dyche/Ryan would be put to rest for eternity.
Now, what to do with Welsh-Ryan Arena? I suggest that this facility must be razed and along with it the deplorable tradition of our basketball teams. Destruction must also be the fate our own terrible student union on the main campus. From the ashes should rise another state-of-the-art facility at the former position of the union. This would be a union/student activity center that, in addition to restaurants, bars, a movie theater, a bowling alley and the like would have a 10,000+ arena for basketball, volleyball, concerts, conferences and other valuable university functions. Located close to south campus, and the business school this facility would serve students, faculty and business leaders. If done right, this would really be the crown jewel of the south campus and would be a facility that would firmly cement the reputation of Northwestern as one of the best schools in the country.
I really believe in this plan and think that it is the kind of idea, if feasible, could be presented to the administration and fundraisers as a priority.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Optimism takes hold
In cyberspace, wildcat fans are bursting with optimism as we go into the Minnesota game this Saturday. Based on the idea that we are riding a 3 game winning streak and have had close fought games against, Iowa, Penn State, Michigan and Illinois we feel the team has shown a lot this season and is a lot better than our record shows. Can anybody say we are the best 5-5 team in the nation? Our only "bad" loss was to Army. At the same time, Minnesota has shown improvement as well and upset Iowa two weeks ago. So this game will be as tough as any. If we can win we will be just where I like the team to be at the end of the year, one game to go with a lot to play for. With Dan Persa playing as well as ever, I like our chances.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
'Cats take care of business
Behind strong games from Dan Persa and Jeremy Ebert, the 'Cats beat Rice 28-6 and moved to 5-5 on the year. Now going into the final two games of the season, the 'Cats have a chance to become bowl eligible. Wins against Minnesota and Michigan State, which are not guaranteed, would put them at 7-5 and on a 5 game winning streak. This would look good to any bowl selection committee. If Dan Persa continues to play well, anything is possible.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Joe Paterno's ordeal
I can't help it. I have been thinking and reading about this story all night. Yesterday, I thought that JoePa should not be held accountable for the actions of accused pedophile Jerry Sandusky. But the more I read and the more I found out about this I don't think I can support JoePa anymore. Not that it matters. I am just one person out in cyberspace.
The troubling issues are that Jerry Sandusky was investigated for showering with an 11-year old boy in 1998. This was four years before he was observed raping 10-year old boy in the showers, the incident witnessed by Mike McQueary in 2002. There was another witnessed event in 2000 when Sandusky was witnessed by a janitor to having oral sex with an 11-13 year old boy in the Penn State showers. So this was a pattern of behavior, witnessed by more than one person and we are expected to believe that JoePa did not know anything about it? Furthermore, all of these incidents were in the showers and Sandusky had keys to these showers for three years after he retired! I suspect that this "retirement" was in fact a way for JoePa to quietly get rid of a huge problem.
Most accounts tell us that JoePa was CEO of Penn State football, more powerful than the president of the university. People answer to him, not the other way around. So if he told the athletic director about Sandusky in 2002, he was likely looking for a way to solve an unpleasant problem and expecting the AD to take care of it. The truth may come out in the end, but I now expect a lot of people to start pointing fingers. We may even find out that Penn State made Sandusky get treatment for his problem. The quote I posted yesterday was strange. Here it is again.
"If this is true we were all fooled, along with scores of professionals trained in such things, and we grieve for the victims and their families."
Scores of professionals trained is such things? Does this mean that Penn State sought the advice of professionals to evaluate Sandusky to see if he really was a pedophile? If this is true it will be mind-bogglingly crazy. Did they suspect him, evaluate him and then determine that he was safe to be around children? If this is true, Penn State would be even more liable for damages. Did JoePa have these evaluations done on his own, without telling Penn State? This is critical information. Even Sandusky's foundation must have known he was a potential threat to children and still no one could believe it. Matt Millen, a member of the Second Mile board said he was like "the guy next door." What if the board knew he was a possible pedophile and continued to let him take young boys over to Penn State to see the showers?
Everyone needs to come clean at this point. Millen needs to say, yes I heard something. Maybe this is why he is so emotional about this. He knew about it too! JoePa needs to tell the truth, as soon as possible.
Finally, he and any coaches that knew about Sandusky and did not act should step down, today. The Second Mile organization should be dissolved and its board investigated.
The troubling issues are that Jerry Sandusky was investigated for showering with an 11-year old boy in 1998. This was four years before he was observed raping 10-year old boy in the showers, the incident witnessed by Mike McQueary in 2002. There was another witnessed event in 2000 when Sandusky was witnessed by a janitor to having oral sex with an 11-13 year old boy in the Penn State showers. So this was a pattern of behavior, witnessed by more than one person and we are expected to believe that JoePa did not know anything about it? Furthermore, all of these incidents were in the showers and Sandusky had keys to these showers for three years after he retired! I suspect that this "retirement" was in fact a way for JoePa to quietly get rid of a huge problem.
Most accounts tell us that JoePa was CEO of Penn State football, more powerful than the president of the university. People answer to him, not the other way around. So if he told the athletic director about Sandusky in 2002, he was likely looking for a way to solve an unpleasant problem and expecting the AD to take care of it. The truth may come out in the end, but I now expect a lot of people to start pointing fingers. We may even find out that Penn State made Sandusky get treatment for his problem. The quote I posted yesterday was strange. Here it is again.
"If this is true we were all fooled, along with scores of professionals trained in such things, and we grieve for the victims and their families."
Scores of professionals trained is such things? Does this mean that Penn State sought the advice of professionals to evaluate Sandusky to see if he really was a pedophile? If this is true it will be mind-bogglingly crazy. Did they suspect him, evaluate him and then determine that he was safe to be around children? If this is true, Penn State would be even more liable for damages. Did JoePa have these evaluations done on his own, without telling Penn State? This is critical information. Even Sandusky's foundation must have known he was a potential threat to children and still no one could believe it. Matt Millen, a member of the Second Mile board said he was like "the guy next door." What if the board knew he was a possible pedophile and continued to let him take young boys over to Penn State to see the showers?
Everyone needs to come clean at this point. Millen needs to say, yes I heard something. Maybe this is why he is so emotional about this. He knew about it too! JoePa needs to tell the truth, as soon as possible.
Finally, he and any coaches that knew about Sandusky and did not act should step down, today. The Second Mile organization should be dissolved and its board investigated.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
The Paterno situation
"If this is true we were all fooled, along with scores of professionals trained in such things, and we grieve for the victims and their families."
Joe Paterno
Some are calling for Joe Paterno to step down or be punished for not acting more forcefully when he was told by a graduate assistant that his assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, had sexually abused a boy in the Penn State team shower. In an NPR poll this morning more than 80% of the respondents said that he should step down or take a leave of absence. I am not sure what should be done except that they should ask JoPa about his actions. Remember, hindsight is 20-20.
For example, if someone that worked for you accused another more senior person of such an act what would you do? Not only this, but the accused person is a friend, a guy you have known and watched for many years. Someone you trusted with your own kids.
First, you would probably think about it, because it is a serious accusation. Then you might decide to ask the accused person about it directly. That person would undoubtedly deny it backwards and forwards. Then you would think about it again. Then you might approach the accuser and say that the other guy said nothing happened. He would say that yes this definitely happened. So you might ask around and see if anyone else saw something. If no one did and you were worried about bringing such a huge accusation against your own hand-picked employee. So you would seek advice from others in the organization and they would say to let your supervisor know about it.
You then approach your supervisor and tell him or her of the accusation. Then you decide that if there is something there, something will happen. If not, then the accusations were groundless. The years go by and nothing happens, so you decide that you are glad you haven't heard anything more because the thought of it is just so painful.
Can you imagine what JoPa himself is thinking right now? He is probably so horrified that after all this time the dirtbag he stood by and believed WAS a sex offender. He also knows that since he didn't pursue it more forcefully, many other boys were sexually abused. I feel bad for the guy because that is a huge weight on his shoulders. Isn't that punishment enough?
I hope that JoPa comes clean and tells the whole story. But you know what? Since this is a ongoing investigation and since Penn State itself is liable for damages I am sure his lawyers will tell him not to talk. So, with his mouth gagged, JoPa will have to absorb the punishment he is about to get. That also, is a big punishment.
JoPa is likely to be linked with this scandal forever. But what about the graduate assistant? If I saw someone sexually abusing a kid in the showers #1 I would walk right over and stop it then and there, no questions and if I had to fight the guy I would, to protect the kid. Second, if my boss did not do anything after I told him, I would go to the police. Third, I would go to the police first and tell my boss later.
The actual witness did not do any of these things as far as we know. People are saying that JoPa could have stopped this monster sooner. True, but the graduate assistant (allegedly current assistant coach Mike McQueary) could have acted as well. Did he try?
For good articles about this click here and here.
Joe Paterno
Some are calling for Joe Paterno to step down or be punished for not acting more forcefully when he was told by a graduate assistant that his assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, had sexually abused a boy in the Penn State team shower. In an NPR poll this morning more than 80% of the respondents said that he should step down or take a leave of absence. I am not sure what should be done except that they should ask JoPa about his actions. Remember, hindsight is 20-20.
For example, if someone that worked for you accused another more senior person of such an act what would you do? Not only this, but the accused person is a friend, a guy you have known and watched for many years. Someone you trusted with your own kids.
First, you would probably think about it, because it is a serious accusation. Then you might decide to ask the accused person about it directly. That person would undoubtedly deny it backwards and forwards. Then you would think about it again. Then you might approach the accuser and say that the other guy said nothing happened. He would say that yes this definitely happened. So you might ask around and see if anyone else saw something. If no one did and you were worried about bringing such a huge accusation against your own hand-picked employee. So you would seek advice from others in the organization and they would say to let your supervisor know about it.
You then approach your supervisor and tell him or her of the accusation. Then you decide that if there is something there, something will happen. If not, then the accusations were groundless. The years go by and nothing happens, so you decide that you are glad you haven't heard anything more because the thought of it is just so painful.
Can you imagine what JoPa himself is thinking right now? He is probably so horrified that after all this time the dirtbag he stood by and believed WAS a sex offender. He also knows that since he didn't pursue it more forcefully, many other boys were sexually abused. I feel bad for the guy because that is a huge weight on his shoulders. Isn't that punishment enough?
I hope that JoPa comes clean and tells the whole story. But you know what? Since this is a ongoing investigation and since Penn State itself is liable for damages I am sure his lawyers will tell him not to talk. So, with his mouth gagged, JoPa will have to absorb the punishment he is about to get. That also, is a big punishment.
JoPa is likely to be linked with this scandal forever. But what about the graduate assistant? If I saw someone sexually abusing a kid in the showers #1 I would walk right over and stop it then and there, no questions and if I had to fight the guy I would, to protect the kid. Second, if my boss did not do anything after I told him, I would go to the police. Third, I would go to the police first and tell my boss later.
The actual witness did not do any of these things as far as we know. People are saying that JoPa could have stopped this monster sooner. True, but the graduate assistant (allegedly current assistant coach Mike McQueary) could have acted as well. Did he try?
For good articles about this click here and here.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Anything can happen!
I just had a feeling this might happen. The 'cats have faced a lot of adversity this year. Congratulations guys, this was a great win.
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