What They'll Say at 'Anderson' Today

Anderson Cooper show on PSU scandal airs at noon; read excerpts

By CDT staff reports — State College - Centre Daily Times

Posted: 8:55am on Nov 15, 2011; Modified: 9:59am on Nov 15, 2011

The Penn State sex abuse scandal will be the subject of a special episode of Anderson Cooper’s syndicated talk show at noon today.

“State of Shame: The Penn State Scandal” will feature interviews with former players, parents, alumni and others in the Penn State community who considered Sandusky and Joe Paterno family. The “Anderson” show airs on WATM ABC 23.

Here are a few excerpts provided by the show:

Cooper speaks about why he is dedicating an hour to the topic:

"It’s going to be a difficult show today but I think it’s a really important one as we are focusing on the child sex abuse scandal that shocked the nation and the campus of Penn State University bringing a harsh spotlight to the school's legendary football program.

"We are joined by more than 100 members of the Penn State community, students, teachers, alumni, former football players, many of whom are confused, some are raw with a sense of betrayal, others are outraged at the unfolding news.”

Sandusky camp attendee Troy Craig speaks about how Sandusky made him uncomfortable.

Cooper: Troy you attended Sandusky's Second Mile camp from age 11 to 14. When you were alone with him riding in cars, was there ever any incident where he did something?

Troy Craig: Anytime riding ina vehicle with him. I can remember clearly the first time that I got into the car, in the passenger seat, we were alone in the car, I mean I'm there with him for two seconds before the doors closed and his hand is on my left thigh and it stays there, and stays there the entire car ride, and from my place to campus is about 25 to 30 minutes.

Anderson: Did he say anything about the hand?

Troy Craig: No, he wouldn't draw attention to the hand, he would treat it as if it wasn't there.We would have a conversation about how I was doing in school, what could I expect to see later that afternoon, wherever we were going.

Anderson: What did you think at the time?

Troy Craig: I certainly didn’t make any connection between his hand on my leg and any kind of sexual perversion. That didn’t strike me as something possible between a grown man and a child. I just knew it was uncomfortable, and for me mainly because it made my leg hot. It would be 20y minutes into the car ride and I almost wanted to give him my other leg because it would just stay there and every once in a while it would squeeze, but it didn’t move. It made me uncomfortable.

Cooper interviews a couple who visited Joe Paterno’s house after Saturday’s game.

Cooper: You played for Penn State and you actually went to Joe Paterno’s house this past weekend.

Ross Muir: Yes, First of all Joe wasn’t there. We prayed on it as a couple. We decided we wanted to go and to just check in on them. You know Sue and the people there but like everyone here talked about it’s not about the Paternos, or Board of Trustees and their decision. It’s about the children and if I learned one thing from Penn State, I know that we have the opportunity to make this a teachable moment, to focus and to bring child abuse to the forefront of people’s minds and philanthropically we can get involved in the right way, because we are 95,000 people strong and we can make this right.

Cooper: How were they holding up? You saw Sue, how is she doing?

Mrs. Muir: I think like any of us going through change, it's a hard time, you know 50, 60 plus years, it’s been his life and you could tell they were sad but you know they are hanging in.

Anderson: Do you think differently about the school?

Ross Muir: I met my wife at Penn State. I’ve got lifelong friends at Penn State. This scandal in no way affects my feelings for Penn State and my four years there.

Penn State Senior Jessica Sever, who helped organize the Friday night candlelight vigil, and Tammy Lerner, whose son is a sophomore at Penn State, speak to Cooper about how the Penn State community feels.

Jessica Sever: Just speaking on behalf of students we are completely outraged at this and the main reason is that this occurred in our university and it was just a few individuals that this happened to. Penn State has such always had such a strong tradition of helping and caring for others so what's going to happen. This is going to ignite a catalyst for change and we are going to put a fight to child abuse, it’s already happening now.

Tammy Lerner: Penn State really has an opportunity here to be catalyst. To shine a light on this epidemic. It’s a public health epidemic and we need to start recognizing that and looking at it that way. I don’t know if people are aware but prevention is less costly than treatment. Can we please start putting some focus on preventing this and moving forward. Penn State has a chance to redeem itself here by helping us move forward and a good way to do that is through legislation.

Cooper discusses The Second Mile kids, and how they looked up to Sandusky with longtime Second Mile volunteer Patty Coble.

Anderson: You would see little boys with him all the time and you talk about the look in their eyes. The look of them looking up to this guy.

Patty Coble: They would. They were just so excited to be with Jerry Sandusky. They were excited with the fact that they were there with Penn State Players, Ex Penn State Players, NFL Players. They would do anything to make these people happen.

Anderson: They were under a spell being in this amazing place, having access.

Patty Coble: They were thrilled. Absolutely thrilled.