The Real Victim

In all of the bustle and commotion surrounding the Sandusky case and Penn State University, the real victim, the one most harmed by all of this, has been forgotten by the media. No, I’m not talking about Joe Paterno and the damage to his legacy, nor am I talking about ousted president Graham Spanier. This has nothing to do with the perception of Penn State University in the wake of this scandal. Though the children who were actually molested suffered greatly, I presume, even they are not the biggest victims of this whole ordeal.

The true victim of this entire fiasco is former Florida State University head football coach Bobby Bowden. Had these allegations arisen sooner and Paterno been forced to retire or otherwise been relieved of his duties years ago, Bowden could have retired as the NCAA’s winningest head football coach in Division 1 history. Instead the record is held by a now disgraced man.

Over the last several seasons that both men coached, the two were neck and neck for the all time record. Many people assumed that both men were playing the waiting game, hanging on until after the other retired in order to claim the record. A sagging Seminole football program eventually led to Bowden’s retirement from his figurehead position after the 2009 season. Paterno, however, was kept on at Penn State in his role as face of the program and recruiting tool allowing him to add to his totals.

Because if this injustice, Coach Bowden has been denied the opportunity to be immortalized in the NCAA record books; a wrong that will never be righted. I, for one, will always picture an asterisk by Joe Paterno’s name whenever I see it knowing in my heart of hearts that Bobby Bowden is the true victim here.