What if instead of Paterno and Penn State, it were Lavell and BYU?

[MikeWaters]

That would be the equivalent situation. Would we have lots of BYU fans defending Lavell? Crying out that it was an anti-BYU anti-Mormon conspiracy? Mob rule? Over-reaction?

I don't know. I'd like to think that I would be one of the BYU fans who would be sorely disappointed in my former coach and my institution and realize that punishment and reform were necessary.

But it's hard to know what the emotions would be without experiencing it yourself.

Certainly there have been many cases where LDS ecclesiastical authorities did not report or covered up sexual crimes of ward members, for various reasons. We know of these cases because of lawsuits. There apparently is a powerful human tendency to want to believe in the best of our close friends, despite the evidence. Think of the male you most respect in your ward, and then imagine someone coming to you and telling you that he has abused him/her. It would be a shock. "This can't be." "If I report this, it will destroy his life."

Shows you how important the training is. YOU REPORT NO MATTER WHAT, AND LET THE AUTHORITIES SORT IT OUT.

[realtall]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

That would be the equivalent situation. Would we have lots of BYU fans defending Lavell? Crying out that it was an anti-BYU anti-Mormon conspiracy? Mob rule? Over-reaction?

This thought has occured to me. I think that if all circumstances were the same(the coverups in addition to the abuse, etc. coupled with the extensive bad press) and you substituted in BYU for PSU, the Church's reaction would be to terminate the football program. And don't think for a moment that the church wouldn't do it.

[MikeWaters]

you're right.

it also goes to show that Penn State has no shame. None at all.