Publisher’s note: The following letter was received regarding my recent post regarding the NCAA sanctions on Penn State. This letter is being reprinted in its entirety with consent from the author. For reasons that are obvious, this person has requested to remain anonymous. I can confirm that this letter was received from a “real” email address and not a fictitious screen name.

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Hello Phil,

It has been a long long time, maybe never since anything has gotten me so pissed off as the current events surrounding Penn State and particularly the football team.

The football team in particular has been unjustly penalized due to nothing more than certain people using a taboo issue of child abuse to justify unjust criticism and condemnation on other  people that are in no way responsible.

After all, who is going to have the guts to challenge them on such an emotional issue?

Who can dispute child molestation is not a terrible thing that demands the utmost action possible?

I have been pacing the floor ever since the NCAA issued sanctions about coming out  of the closet so to speak.

I was abused often as a child and sexually abused once at age eleven.  That experience robbed me of my self-respect, dignitary, and confidence until my college years.  I have never talked about it to my wife or members of my current family.  There were no counselors available back in those days.   I put the whole experience into the dark recesses of my mind.  And never thought about it again.

Until now.

I resent the inferences constantly made that I am and will be forever damaged goods because I was molested as a child.

I take great offence to so many people alluding to my life being ruined due to being molested.  My standing in society today more than proves that it was not.  I am angry that some people keep this politically correct but factually wrong story in my face.

They have no right to tell me that I am wrong for enjoying and supporting Penn State Football.

They have no right to punish the football players and other innocent parties associated with the team.

They have no right to ruin the legacy of a man like Joe Paterno without facts.  And by the way, I don’t even like Paterno, but what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong.

I would bet that if the Sandusky victims were asked about the NCAA sanctions, most if not all  would say the NCAA got it wrong.

I will agree that there is a culture problem in institutions belonging to the NCAA.  But it is not a football culture.

The real problem is that people currently in charge at those institutions generally came up through the system that does little to groom good leaders.

They are not “command and control” people.

Rather they are individuals that want to feel good about their selves, get along with everyone, make no waves, promote their buddies and not who really has merit, and sweep the dirt under the rug.  It is a culture that is prevalent at 50 percent of learning institutions minimum and probably closer to 90 percent.

That is the real problem that needs addressed, but those in charge will sweep it under the rug by blaming it on football in this case.

As to why I am writing this, I like many others feel something needs to be done.  Unfortunately the skeleton in my closet holds me back.  I guess I am testing the waters with you.

One last thing, all those kids that remain on the team at PSU are heroes and will probably be remembered much more than any past players in Penn State history.  But you already know that.

About Phil Kerner

Phil Kerner is an Erie native who enjoys writing about his hometown and Penn State football. Phil is married to Heidi Parr Kerner aka "The Queen" and is the proud father of four sons: Matthew, Robert, Nicholas and Jordan.