Earlier this week, the Penn State Board of Trustees reiterated its reasoning for firing Joe Paterno.
The board has now made several attempts to clarify its controversial decision that rocked the Penn State community and the college football world on Nov. 9.
In a statement posted on its website, the board said Paterno was dismissed because he failed his moral obligation "to do more" after learning in March of 2002 that staff member Mike McQueary had allegedly witnessed former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky "doing something of a sexual nature to a young boy."
Paterno admitted his regret before he was fired. The board's latest statement discloses absolutely nothing new.
Therefore, its press release was totally unnecessary and recklessly insensitive to the Paterno family and all those - a majority, at least locally, it seems - who believe the board mishandled the entire situation from the beginning.
Evidence of this is that four months after taking action, the board is issuing a statement that should have come immediately after the firing.
Had the board been releasing new information, that information and the board's reaction to it would be more understandable and reportable. But the board is still waiting for Louis Freeh's investigation to be completed so there was no reason to restate its position.
In case the board isn't aware, Paterno died Jan. 22. A little more respect for his grieving family shouldn't be too much to ask.
The board tried, feebly we believe, to again explain its position by saying many in the Penn State community - students, faculty, alumni and staff - have questioned the firing and demanded more reasons for it.
Memo to the board: Some if not many people will never accept the reasoning for the termination and especially the way it was done - over the phone around 10 o'clock at night.
Does that mean everytime the board gets a letter, it will feel the need to explain the firing?
The Board of Trustees has to live with its work. Maybe that's why we've heard so many attempts to justify it.
Gov. Tom Corbett also publicly weighed in last week - again - on the reason for Paterno's dismissal last week. Surely, Corbett is savvy enough with the media to say: "I've addressed that subject in the past. Next question."
Then again, he's a member of the Board of Trustees so maybe he feels he has to act like one.
