All things Joe Paterno

[Rlaub44]

Well Ganter was one of the coaches who saw Sandusky in the showers with boys. He was also the person who took the note to Paterno so the BOT could fire him over the phone. Joyner, his boss, was a member of the BOT at that time and is reportedly leaving when Erickson leaves.

I could have understood him retiring effective at the end of Spring semester, or at the end of the current athletic schedule. That would be the usual, expected timetable.

That would give the University time to 1. Honor his years of service; and 2. Find a new Assistant AD to take over his duties. We don't know for certain that he didn't give the University more than one day notice, but retiring mid-semester is definitely a red flag that this might not be a typical retirement.

 

[Twindad]

It seems as it may also be part of the BOT to "control the narrative" as I think Erickson was saying. Ira Lubert is spending lots of money at PSU, first for the wrestling program, and now the football program and will probably lead to his increasing influence in all things PSU. He is a current member of the BOT and good friends with David Joyner. This might be another reason Ganter was released. Lupert was also on TSM board.*

 

[J. J. in Phila]

It seems as it may also be part of the BOT to "control the narrative" as I think Erickson was saying. Ira Lubert is spending lots of money at PSU, first for the wrestling program, and now the football program and will probably lead to his increasing influence in all things PSU. He is a current member of the BOT and good friends with David Joyner. This might be another reason Ganter was released. Lupert was also on TSM board.*

But why the very short notice, basically 24 hours? Announce it as of March 15 or March 30.

 

[Twindad]

I would say they don't want any discussion about it. So much for being totally transparent.

 

[Rlaub44]

Could be nothing, but could also indicate he isn't in a position to answer any questions:

Fran Ganter agreed to an interview Friday morning and then changed his mind, saying he'd prefer to let the flattering press release Penn State issued earlier in the week stand. - See more at: http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/c...its-quietly.html?nav=751#sthash.Y42BKw8F.dpuf

 

[JaimeSommers]

Could be nothing, but could also indicate he isn't in a position to answer any questions:

Fran Ganter agreed to an interview Friday morning and then changed his mind, saying he'd prefer to let the flattering press release Penn State issued earlier in the week stand. - See more at: http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/c...its-quietly.html?nav=751#sthash.Y42BKw8F.dpuf

Nothing's ever nothing with this crew.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Could be nothing, but could also indicate he isn't in a position to answer any questions:

Fran Ganter agreed to an interview Friday morning and then changed his mind, saying he'd prefer to let the flattering press release Penn State issued earlier in the week stand. - See more at: http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/c...its-quietly.html?nav=751#sthash.Y42BKw8F.dpuf

I think that the most interesting thing is that Ganter could very easily have said that the 1998 did not involve Sandusky.

If this was something unrelated, he could quite easily **This was an investigation of a player who was cleared,** or **There was an equipment theft.** No comment.

 

[BigCat]

Well, we have had conversations about the mysterious October 1998 meeting between the DA's office, both the University police officer and the State College police officer involved with the Sandusky investigation, and Ganter. My contention has long been that if that meeting was about Sandusky, PSU would not be likely to keep Ganter around.

Now we learn that he is retiring prior to the upcoming Schultz/Curley/Spanier trials. After 46 years, perhaps it is just his time. But to retire the next day? That seems sudden, and lends credence to the idea that his knowledge of Sandusky's crimes, and the University's role in handling it, is about to be revealed.

Ganter was still an employee when Freeh conducted his investigation, so I assume Freeh interviewed him. Larry Johnson is the only other current PSU employee who was a coach in 98. Freeh made a point in his press conference to say that Paterno never warned his coaching staff about Sandusky in 98. His only source for that information was Ganter and/or Johnson.

I wonder if Ganter told Freeh what was discussed in the Ocotober 98 meeting. Freeh must have pointedly asked Ganter if he had any knowledge of the allegations against Sandusky, even if he didn't ask him specifically about the meeting. If Freeh learned that there was a warning delivered to Paterno via Ganter and Paterno never relayed that warning to his staff, then that might explain Freeh's commendation of Paterno.

Another note about Ganter: thanks to the Freeh report, we now know that it was determined that Sandusky would not be the next head coach at PSU prior to the start of the 98 season. Ganter must have thought he was certain to succeed Paterno as the next head coach. I really don't know if that means anything. It may have been an incentive to go along with any plan that kept Sandusky's behavior out of the media. Even though Ganter was not personally involved, a pedophile scandal on the Penn State coaching staff would have diminished the possibility of JoePa's successor coming from "in house."

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Respectfully snipped.

Another note about Ganter: thanks to the Freeh report, we now know that it was determined that Sandusky would not be the next head coach at PSU prior to the start of the 98 season. Ganter must have thought he was certain to succeed Paterno as the next head coach. I really don't know if that means anything. It may have been an incentive to go along with any plan that kept Sandusky's behavior out of the media. Even though Ganter was not personally involved, a pedophile scandal on the Penn State coaching staff would have diminished the possibility of JoePa's successor coming from "in house."

I'm not too sure. Sandusky was thought of as the heir apparent, even if we know now he was out of the line of succession. We don't know if Ganter knew about that.

If Sandusky was taken out of the line, for any reason, Ganter might have been the logical choice. Paterno could have easily survived a Sandusky scandal in 1998, especially since the charges were not rape and, presumably, Paterno didn't interfere.

Ganter, ultimately, left coaching 20 months after his wife died at 53. He might have been the coach today, had he not decided (understandably) to make that change.

 

[Rlaub44]

Ganter, ultimately, left coaching 20 months after his wife died at 53. He might have been the coach today, had he not decided (understandably) to make that change.

I'm not too sure about that. Based on the need to rid the football program of all ties to Paterno, I have a feeling Ganter would have suffered the same fate as Tom Bradley did - he would likely have been named the interim coach, but passed over for an outsider and not retained.

 

[Rlaub44]

Ganter was still an employee when Freeh conducted his investigation, so I assume Freeh interviewed him. Larry Johnson is the only other current PSU employee who was a coach in 98. Freeh made a point in his press conference to say that Paterno never warned his coaching staff about Sandusky in 98. His only source for that information was Ganter and/or Johnson.

This is possible, although Freeh wasn't limited to interviewing only current PSU employees. Without subpoena power, nobody from the outside would have had to talk with him, but he certainly could have interviewed others inside Paterno's inner circle at the time. Also, Jay Paterno was on staff at the time, and he has said that he was interviewed by the Freeh Committee.

I wonder if Ganter told Freeh what was discussed in the Ocotober 98 meeting. Freeh must have pointedly asked Ganter if he had any knowledge of the allegations against Sandusky, even if he didn't ask him specifically about the meeting. If Freeh learned that there was a warning delivered to Paterno via Ganter and Paterno never relayed that warning to his staff, then that might explain Freeh's commendation of Paterno.

I still can't understand why the group would meet with Ganter, if the objective was to pass a message to Paterno? If for some reason they couldn't meet with Paterno himself, alerting Curley would seem the logical next step, as Paterno's direct supervisor.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Ganter might have been a witness,

 

[Twindad]

http://articles.mcall.com/2004-02-19/sports/3522968_1_fran-ganter-penn-state-joe-paterno
"Ganter's new job (essentially football athletic director) is part of an administration restructuring. Paterno and athletic director Tim Curley had spoken for several years about creating a position specifically to oversee football matters such as camps and clinics, sports medicine, promotions and marketing, and, in particular, fundraising.

Two weeks ago, Paterno and Curley informed Ganter that they were creating the new position -- and that he had first dibs. After several days of meetings and thought, Ganter accepted the job."
"Ganter dismissed that kind of talk -- "I really don't think I'm leaving," he said -- choosing instead to promote his new duties. In addition to a 3-9 record, the 2003 team was notable for the significant number of reported off-field incidents and legal troubles.

Ganter's new job will include screening, and perhaps preventing, those problems."


Several years back from 2/2004 would seem to indicate they were looking to move Ganter just after Sandusky retired. The article also mentions McQueary's promotion.

Maybe Ganter was the go to guy for covering up problems.

 

[BigCat]

The scuttlebutt on the Penn State football boards is that it was Bill O'Brien who wanted Ganter out. It's also believed that O'Brien may have been behind the decision to reassign the team's longtime physician.

http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/index.ssf/2013/03/penn_states_bill_obrien_elabor.html

It would certainly make sense that O'Brien would leverage his successful first season to rid the program of anyone associated with Paterno. Wise move, I think.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

The scuttlebutt on the Penn State football boards is that it was Bill O'Brien who wanted Ganter out. It's also believed that O'Brien may have been behind the decision to reassigned the team's longtime physician.

http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/index.ssf/2013/03/penn_states_bill_obrien_elabor.html

It would certainly make sense that O'Brien would leverage his successful first season to rid the program of anyone associated with Paterno. Wise move, I think.

Did you ever watch Babylon 5? Removing everyone touched by the Shadows. A bit arcane, but here: [ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Into_the_Fire_%28Babylon_5%29[/ame]

 

[Rlaub44]

The scuttlebutt on the Penn State football boards is that it was Bill O'Brien who wanted Ganter out. It's also believed that O'Brien may have been behind the decision to reassign the team's longtime physician.

http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/index.ssf/2013/03/penn_states_bill_obrien_elabor.html

It would certainly make sense that O'Brien would leverage his successful first season to rid the program of anyone associated with Paterno. Wise move, I think.

So much for changing the culture at Penn State where the head football coach basically had too much power and told administrators what to do.

 

[JaimeSommers]

So much for changing the culture at Penn State where the head football coach basically had too much power and told administrators what to do.

My understanding is there's more to it than that. I'm with O'Brien on this one.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

I could see it, if Ganter had given a few weeks notice. This was too abrupt. 24 hours notice?

 

[JaimeSommers]

I could see it, if Ganter had given a few weeks notice. This was too abrupt. 24 hours notice?

Oh no, no, no. The release went out the day before; that doesn't mean Ganter gave twenty-four-hours notice. That's not how it works here.

Whether Ganter voluntarily or involuntarily retired, the wheels were likely in motion a while ago -- if I had to guess, I'd say January after the holiday break. Would have given enough time to plan the exit, craft the message, etc. IMO, it was absolutely intentional to release the announcement the day before he left.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Oh no, no, no. The release went out the day before; that doesn't mean Ganter gave twenty-four-hours notice. That's not how it works here.

Whether Ganter voluntarily or involuntarily retired, the wheels were likely in motion a while ago -- if I had to guess, I'd say January after the holiday break. Would have given enough time to plan the exit, craft the message, etc. IMO, it was absolutely intentional to release the announcement the day before he left.

What message. He didn't retire to spend more time with the family, health reasons, let the new coach bring in his own people, or any other message. This was "I'm outta here." Even the papal resignation was less abrupt, unless Ganter is planning a bid for the Seat of Peter!