Ex-PSU Grad Assistant Matt Paknis On WFAN: Paterno Knows Everything

November 15, 2011 6:33 PM

Joe Paterno (credit: Hunter Martin/Getty Images)

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NEW YORK (WFAN) - A former child-abuse victim himself, former football grad assistant Matt Paknis believes Joe Paterno knew about Jerry Sandusky’s alleged sexual abuse against children years ago.

Paknis joined WFAN’s Mike Francesa on Tuesday to talk about his time at Penn State.

LISTEN: Matt Paknis with Mike Francesa

Paknis was a graduate assistant on the Nittany Lions football staff in 1987 and 1988. He says Sandusky exhibited questionable behavior towards the players back then.

As a childhood victim of sexual abuse, he said he remembered thinking how inappropriate it was when he saw Sandusky tickle and pinch little boys during football camps, sometimes putting them in headlocks.

“I thought it was a boundary issue, more than anything else,” Paknis said.

Paknis described Paterno’s rule over the Penn State campus as absolute. “I think he had more power in the state of Pennsylvania than anybody.”

When asked about the possibility that Paterno could not be aware of reports on Sandusky’s behavior Paknis said it was “impossible.”

“Joe knows everything,” he said.

Paknis also said that he could envision a scenario where Paterno attempted to cover up Sandusky’s actions.

How do you feel about Paknis’s comments? Leave a comment below.

Ex PSU Grad Assistant Matt Paknis On WFAN: Paterno Knows Everything

smagnet

Possible???

Probable???

Come on folks, it is IMPOSSIBLE to know what is going on inside someone else’s mind. You do not know what they know, or what they do not know. Use your education…what are the facts and how do you know that they are, in fact, facts and not just here-say…….

smagnet

Oops,,,,make that hearsay.

Travis Busbar

You gotta ask… Why did Paterno allow Sandusky’s continued abuse to go on? Was Paterno abusing kids himself? Yes, the answers may be worrisome, but justice must prevail.

adp

Ah, another genius who can’t seem to keep the players straight. Let’s try not to forget who the actual criminal is here and not bury him somewhere in the hype around Paterno. Sandusky should be at the forefront of this media lynching, but instead has become a footnote. By the way, baselessly suggesting that someone has committed such a horrifc crime is morally irresponsible, so climb down off of your soapbox and check your own moral compass before you start publicly commenting on others.

Sean

Sandusky has not become a footnote. He is still at the forefront, and McQueary is next, but that doesn’t excuse Joe Pa from ‘following a chain of command’ and never following up again. Does that make any sense? In Joe Pa’s own words he told the Grand Jury that McQuery told him that Sandusky was doing something of a sexual nature with a boy. What more details does Joe Pa need? Yet he never ever confronts Sandusky or ever tries to follow up with the AD as to what happened to Mcqueary’s allegations that Joe Pa had forwarded to the AD? So all these years after the allegations somehow Joe Pa was never curious to see if McQuery (whom he obviously trusted to promote him to Asst Coach and Offensive Coordinator) was telling the truth about something as serious as this?

As Costas said about Joe Pa, his actions of never ever confronting Sandusky or following up his initial complaint to the DA can never be explained away. You don’t need more gory details than ‘something of a sexual nature with a boy’ to make sure you keep a grown adult away from other possible young victims until the issue is completely investigated and cleared. Joe Pa made no attempt to do so.

Coordinator

McQueary and Paterno did the right thing. It was Head of Police who broke the law by not going to state police, by believing Sandusky over McQueary and Paterno, and by lying to a grand jury about being told of the moles-tation.
adp

Sean, I did not excuse Joe Paterno’s actions at all. Personally, I will reserve my judgement until the whole story comes out, but I certainly will not excuse any level if inaction by any of the players in this case. My issue is that in Travis’ original post, he suggested that Joe was also abusing children – something that has not been alleged or reported by anyone. If someone accused you of being a child molester, having never met you and having no knowledge of your life except through media reporting, I would consider that to be morally irresponsible, as well.

Incidentally, the evidence that Sandusky has become a footnote is apparent in the fact that in your argument above you mention/accuse JoePa/McQueary 11 times and reference Sandusky only 4, who seems to only be accused of “not being confronted by others”

Rick

I was curious to see several commentators say Sandusky’s admission of ‘horsing around” was significant re pedophilia, BUT these same commentators found Michael Jackson’s admission that the slept with, but only slept with, little boys (Mike was 36) was ok.
Rick wade

Looks like a great time for the NCAA DEATH PENALTY once again. All of PSU football people knew about Jerry Sandusky’s pedophilia.
JR

So a former grad asst, himself a victim of child abuse, saw the behavoir in 1988, knew it was inappropriate, did nothing, and he is innocent. Yet McQueary, who in 2002 did much more than Paknis did, is guilty? How many kids could have been saved from this monster if Paknis had “done the right thing” 25 years ago?
not a fan

I wouldn’t be surprised if Paterno ends up in the slammer too. He had to have known. This was a long time homosexual serial child molestor, how could he have not known?

Jeffrey George Moline

are you certain he is homosexual? Most child molesters identify as heterosexual and are married. Many screw their own kids. There are far more Hets who are perverts than homos. You guys make up most of society.

abg

What you saying is a lie and you know it.

Jasonn

When you listen to Sandusky talk you can pretty much tell he’s batting for the other team.
maurice aker

When all is said and done the Penn State debacle will be somewhat close to the debacle in the Catholic Church with Joe being somewhat like the coverup artist Cardinal Manning of the Los Angeles Church
BearFlagFan

This would be consistent with my theory that after the 1998 investigation was closed, JoePa was tipped off about the details of the investigation. Whether it was the Chief of (Campus) Police or some higher up with access to the files and wanting to protect JoePa slipped him a copy of the report or told him the details. The Grand Jury report says JoePa informed Sandusky he would not be the next head coach in May 1999. I think the investigation played into the decision. I’d make the further leap to say that JoePa told Sandusky he should just retire so he can keep his pension, because if he went for another job Sandusky’s secret would get out.

s.dan

Absolutely spot on.

sam

this is one persons opinion. no credibility
station should put out a disclaimer
the school officials new early on according to the grand jury
where did this go then?
this is not paterno’s responsibility as football coach
this belongs to the pres. of university and the board

Chris, Rockleigh, N. J.

No credibility, Sam? How would you know that? It would appear Mr. Paterno had the president and board under his thumb for many years, as for example when asked to retire a few years ago. Joe said no. Sandusky’s abuse of boys on the scale alleged and at the locale of the Penn State facilities, using his authority as Penn State coach, present and former, could not have happened without Coach Paterno’s acquiescence. And that it happened with his knowledge has been proven in part already, hence his firing, with more to come as the criminal case proceeds.
Greg

It’s not Joe’s responsibility? Are you kidding me? You must be like one of those people who witness a crime and walk the other way because you don’t want to get involved. Hey, it’s not your responsibility, right? Come on man… think. Joe cared more about the consequences to Penn State’s reputation than the horror that those boys were exposed to.

runnrdad

You guys that continue to treat Joe like a saint are going to be humbled when the truth comes out. Paknis is on the money on this issue. Maybe the powers-that-be can cover things up for Joe, but he knew and after he passed up the first chance to broom and prosecute Sandusky, the inevitable cover-up process began. This is going to be the biggest child molestation case after the Catholic Church. And the current interim head coach was there for all of it, too.
Geof

I hear people say bathing with someone’s elses kid is bad but who takes a shower with their own kids naked. I have three and I’ve never done that…it sounds creepy. Maybe at the lake or pool with a suit on but what kind of person showers with any child, related or not?
Frank

We need to hear from Joe, the ” true story” , the whole truth and nothing but the truth, he was the one in charge. Not some prepared ststement or talking point, if not, it will only make ithings worse. It’s like… that old saying ” you make your bed you lay in it”

The truth will set yiou free and is the only way to make things right in the end. For those Children….. the college and the nation.
Barn Cat

I find it very difficult to believe that Paterno didn’t know what was going on. It sounds like Sandusky was forced to retire in exchange for a cover up.
David M

Paterno is nothing more than Satan’s little helper in this whole affair. He and all of Penn State are completely disgraceful.
Anon

“former football grad assistant Matt Paknis believes Joe Paterno knew” – End of a non-story. Who cares what this guy THINKS he believes? Ridiculous “Press” searching for empty content to put on their website. Nothing more. Joe Paterno didn’t rape anyone, but this is what to so-called American Free Press makes it out to be. America in decline under the propagandists.

Anon 2

He didn’t rape anyone, ok, but it is clear that he cared more about the reputation of the Penn State football program than the welfare of those boys. That is a crime in my book.

Susan Gray

Yes, Anon 2. That is the point! With great authority comes great responsibility, which Paterno abdicated. Weak.

Aceman

The lawyers are now in charge, McQueary changing his story and saying he had discussions with police, Sandusky interviewing with Costas. Getting very interesting. Time will tell. I still say find Gricar, he’s the DA who dissapeared without a trace after deciding not to bring criminal charges. So what happened to him: Did he crawl in a cave and have a heart attack? Did he get whacked and is hanging out with Jimmy Hoffa? or did he get paid off for making it go away?
The reporter or investigator who finds out the truth about him, breaks the case.

Retey

It’s just that he was fired …period.
UlyssesSG

Or whacked after making it go away because ‘Dead men tell no tales’.

rich

What a moron — if he knew that Joe “knew everything” then it follows that he also “knew everything” and didn’t report it. Let’s lynch him.

I’ve heard so many idiots blame Paterno for this, always with “he should have stopped it” or “he should have done more”. Exactly what? Don the bat suit and gone vigilante? Dragged the victims through the public spotlight in against their wishes? What if the cops and university were covering it up? What’s Joe supposed to do? And as far as we know he never even witnessed anything first hand. Everyone needs to take a deep breath, remember that in this country we have the rule of law not lynching and we are innocent until proven guilty.

And NO, I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF PROTECTING PEDOPHILES!!!!! Just enforcing the rule of law.

John

You’re joking right? Even if the board of trustees and governor of PA was involved in a cover-up Paterno could’ve told any media outlet “I know of PSU covering up child rape” and they would be begging him to tell the story.

People’s faith in him was absolute, which is why so many people have a hard time believing he was so sloppy in ‘reporting’ this. Penn state is a joke of a party school, they couldn’t cover a bed with a blanket.

BV

John, your “blanket” statement on PSU is a clear indication of your ignorance. Google “PSU THON” and read about the good things coming out of this university. But that would require some independent thought and critical thinking on your part.

The real question we need to ask while those responsible are being brought to justice, is what can we do to prevent this from happening in the future? This exact situation exists somewhere else; in a different place with different names. Thinking this issue is isolated to PSU or a football program is absurd.

Oh-my Lumbago

It must be terribly frustrating for you, to be so much smarter than everyone else. You should consider the possibility that you are in disagreement with the overwhelming majority of your fellow humans not because you’re such a deep thinker, but because you’re wrong rich.
DonVA

Good to see some good sense being applied to this debate. Everyone seems to be pointing the finger ONLY at Paterno. Sandusky is the SOB here and that seems to be overlooked by many. Go posting,

bob sunday

Seems again like a great rush to judgment-and a ton of heresay comments The press has made this story not about chold abuse but about discrediting Joe Paterno.

Retey

Paterno knew, did nothing to keep a child rapist off campus and away from kids.
It was right for him to have been fired…period.

What a legacy!

Randy

If by nothing you mean reporting it to his superiors per procedure then yes he did nothing.

Retey

By nothing I mean he knowingly let this animal, child rapist, pedophile, on campus
even after he did the bare minimum to protect his own so called “reputation”.

If he is such a stand up guy, why didn’t he do more?
Because he knew it would hurt his pathetic football program and his own reputation.
Good riddance Joe the pedophile protector.
Greg

Randy, think for a second. How do you think that reporting conversation went?

Scenario 1: “OMG, I was just told by someone that they witnessed Jerry Sandusky raping a boy in the showers. What are we going to do to stop this?

Scenario 2: “Oh crap… I was just told by someone that they witnessed Jerry Sandusky raping a boy in the showers. If this gets out, the reputation of our school and our football program is going to take a hit. What are we going to do prevent that from happening?”

Not only should he have been fired, he is probably culpable in the sense that he did not make sure that the man did not get away with his hienous actions.

Harley Rummel

McQueary must be greatly relieved about this, for Paknis now emerges as the hands-down most disgusting individual in this whole affair. On the basis of his being a telepath who could read Paterno’s thoughts, he now spews his odious vomit for no apparent end, seemingly, unless it be to have five seconds of notoriety? What a pathetic toad!
tgc

This whole thing is about to collapse on Penn State…they are all going to be in court very soon. If they prove that all this happened with the knowledge and support of Paterno and the athletic department, the NCAA will have to shut down that entire football program…and rightfully so.

Greg

Yes. I smell one hell of a class-action lawsuit. I’m sure there are some lawyers that are salivating at this very moment. Penn State is going to take one heck of a financial hit for this.

jemimah

none as brutal as what the boys took!

GarySellersville

If he Paknis (sp?) was a victim at one time also, why didn;t he (Paknis) report his misgivings about Sandusky?
Pat Johnson

Perhaps we might find out they were all approving this molestation and
perversion?
I hope this man comes to trial soon ,he sounds disgusting
already…. hey Man, IT IS NOT NORMAL for men to shower with kids that are not
your own ,who would but a pervert, ever think of doing this?
His lawyer is bit weird as well ,I hope this costs this school a billion dollars
in victim settlements down the road.

kbernatovich

I do not think it is normal for you to shower with your kids. What are you thinking? You sounds like you may be a ‘Sandusky’ to me.

Walter Greenspan

It seems probable that the interim coach Tom Bradley, who replaced Jerry Sandusky as the Defensive coach, also knew.

adp

Really? Probable? Did you conduct an extensive poll of your living room to come up with that? If you have some information that the rest of us are not privy to, please enlighten us…….