The media attention the past week or so has been focused on the demise of football coaching legend, Joe Paterno. Oh, the 84 year old Paterno is still kicken, just not very high or very hard. A child molestation charge against a long time assistant has exploded like a hand grenade on the Penn State campus.

The number of people who knew abut the charges for years and turned a blind eye grows larger by the day. Is the whole thing shocking? Yes. And, it isnt. The Catholic Church covered up countless instances for centuries. We read something every day about an instance of abuse occurring somewhere to someone.

Back to Western Pennsylvania and the crater created by the hand grenade. So what has educated well-intended men cover up a crime that can cause such lasting damage to the victim? I dont think it is just one thing and, I dont think it is that complicated either.

Try this on. We have a tremendous desire to look good. Then you have a crime that is so foul that clearly no one with any association with it can come out œalive. There goes that hand grenade again. Since the beginning of the human race abuses have been ignored, covered up and, yes, blamed on the victim. In this case it is pretty hard to blame a child.

However, what happened, happened. The media will make sure that every detail is revealed plus we will get detail that never happened. Such is the nature of gossip. Since the horse is out of the barn, a more pertinent question might be œwhat is it we can do to prevent any future occurrences?

What happens with the perpetrators? I am sure there will be prosecutions of certain people. In our current society I am sure law suits will rear their ugly heads. Coach Paternos contributions to the Penn State community will be minimized. The whole thing happened on his watch. He knew and he didnt act. Even if he didnt know he is still accountable. End of the story.

Many are crying for sanctions to the football program. First, I dont know what the NCAA has the power to do. Second, the athletes in the football program are not the perpetrators. Any sanctions on the program affects their lives greatly. But that is the nature of hand grenades.

This I do know. If there is a problem of any kind and any situation, the speed with which you identify it, and act on it. Next, get on with your life. This is critical. The longer the problem is covered up, the bigger it gets. It becomes the huge pink elephant in the corner. An untended elephant can cause a lifetimes worth of damage and the elephant doesnt care who might be guilty or innocent.

Get your copy of Coach Todds latest book œThe Art of Losing, Coaching Athletics and Thriving in a Made-for-TV World. On-line at lulu.com or Vervante.com