Why has someone not just blown up Penn State University, in the name of what it's football team has done to the entire community, and to human decency???
ESPN just laid one of the darkest stories about Penn State ever put to print. And the only thing it has to do with Jerry Sandusky is that he might well have been the person to recruit him as the defensive coordinator.
Todd Hodne is a name you should know. He was a second sexual predator from Penn State University, this one more a rapist of the female students during the national championship run of the Nittany Lions in 1978. In fact, an ESPN story on the man calls him the "most dangerous sexual predator ever to play college football". It was so bad that one of the officers who helped prosecute him said that, in 30 years on the job, if he wasn't the most dangerous man ever to "grace" the courtroom as a defendant, he was in the top three.
There were a number of other rapists on Penn State University -- but what made Hodne was that even his family knew he was far too "dark" and out of control to be anything else.
In short, at least 12 raped, another man killed, and that's just the endgame. Basically threw a knife at a hazer at a football camp at 14. Because Football, nobody said anything.
Basically raped a girl as a freshman in high school at a dance. Because Football, nobody said anything -- the entire team was around the table. (It is unknown, in the article, as to whether the other players encouraged Hodne.)
And one reason I have to believe they did not was that Hodne was already of serious mens rea -- criminal mind -- as a freshman, loading his fist with a roll of quarters to knock out a senior who wanted to try his luck.
A string of robberies as a sophomore was reported by one of his teammates to the police -- the two became mortal enemies, but, Because Football, he was never thrown off the team.
Because Football, one of the coaches was actually fired for trying to be a Required Reporter to Hodne's parents.
Because Football, the AD deliberately does not remember any of this -- he just loved how Hodne could hit and not have the human instinct to let up a moment before contact.
Because Football, at least one teammate could not get away from him for fear of him.
Because Football, Hodne aided the school in winning a state championship in 1975.
By the time he got to Penn State, was robbing steaks from a local store, records and rolls of quarters from another...
Hodne was suspended for the 1978 football season because of the incident, and he was placed into a room with a senior who Joe Paterno thought could make a good influence out of him.
His roommate remembers one thing about Hodne: His knife.
The one he used to back up raping a woman seeking a roommate in mid-September 1978 -- Hodne somehow had gotten into her apartment and was waiting for her return.
Hodne's alcohol habit was legendary -- he down an entire Jack Daniels bottle in 30 minutes. He robbed a fraternity of one of their kegs of beer from a party early in his freshman year.
Hodne's second prosecuted rape was shortly after the first -- dark alley, nothing to draw him to her specifically, came up behind her and nailed her. And the only reason she was able to believe it was him was because the build matched up.
A third, and his greed thereto, was his undoing. Fingerprints all over the place -- and they were on physical file (it would take time, but the match would be known).
He was arrested and lied about everything -- but that was when they started believing there could be far more than that.
By the time several football players had attended Hodne's first preliminary hearing on the first rape charge, several openly took up for the victim.
The story relates to former Nittany Lion Bob Mitinger -- Penn State's fixer by 1979.
It wouldn't help, obviously -- 12 guilty convictions on March 3, 1979, but the judge decided to release him to his family before the sentencing! Convictions felt unheard of for a Nittany Lion.
But out on bail, Because Football. Even the judge himself, with 12 convictions for rape, robbery, etc. ... Had to let him out on his $25,000 bail.
And that was when the real problems began. He jumped bail, and it was figured he would never be seen again.
Four other people tried to free his high-school girlfriend by taking her on a trip to Florida. And she bumped into Hodne, who had found her and followed her two thousand miles.
April 21, rape in Long Island.
Two days later, another -- a 53 year old woman.
April 30, another in Bethpage, a woman who could've sworn she had died because of it.
May 22nd, a broke woman on the North Shore of Long Island, in a parking lot.
May 31st, he finally gets caught again, raping and tying up a 16 year old.
And why did he do all of it?
Because he wanted to feel the way he felt when he played football.
Yes, Hodne is responsible for his acts.
It is inescapable, from the man himself -- not only in what he was allowed as Football Man but what being Football Man.
Especially because, in an inexplicable decision, ESPECIALLY under the guise of what he did after jumping bail in Pennsylvania, Hodne was released after the minimum 7 years of a 21 year sentence.
Even though all sane parties wanted parole denied, the board gave it to him.
Two months later, questioned for a rape in his area.
Two more later, admitted to his parole officer he was smoking crack cocaine.
A month after that, his first murder -- a cab driver he tried to rob.
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By 1979, Joe Paterno had lost control of the team, and there were numerous rapists on the squad.
I did this for two reasons...
Someone needs to end this entire football culture. They got Hodne for one murder. I'm almost certain he's committed more.
The fact is, this is an object lesson as to Football Man and what Football Man is allowed in this culture. ANYONE who wants to pooh-pooh Football Man needs to read this story.
The other reason? Far more personal.
This (type of person) was the man two colleges-full of women thought I was to become.
And if not for a very special woman (one you all know of), they would've been correct.
If you or anyone around you needs help regarding the aftermath of Rape, Incest, or other sexual abuse, contact RAINN at www.rainn.org or 1-800-656-HOPE.
WOW! That was crazy. Not surprising, however, and just another reason why, as Dan Bernstein said, Penn State's fans and program should be napalmed.
ReplyDeleteI'll give you a comment both ways in response:
DeleteIn support: I've been reading people in other fora talking about the near-complete isolation of Happy Valley and the Penn State campus. One person, I read, had a son who was thinking of colleges, literally spent 15 minutes on the PSU campus, and promptly fled the place.
The fact is, what this should show you is that at least Paterno appeared to make a feint at trying to get some order, but that the protection around him failed these women (the judge who released the jackass after his conviction, only for him to jump bail and really start the shit...).
In opposition: As I said in my comments, part of this is because I wanted to basically show how deep Football Man is protected. This guy raped a girl at age 14-15, and no one batted an eyelash! Because Football Man.
I wonder if ESPN has another investigative report on how out of control the entire group of men was by 1979!
Yes, this is a personal thing.
Yes, this is a case where Penn State needs to be done away with.
But do not excuse Football, as an INSTITUTION, as part of this. This started through Rodne's entire high-school career, and was partially manipulated to get the long-time coach a state title before he retired (which succeeded!).
Yes, blame Penn State to the moon and back. But understand, in the same motion, it was not just the University, but the entire envelope around it. And then, on top of that, Rodne doesn't get to where he was without the protection of Football Man going all the way back to high school.
This country is going to learn, and probably the Hard Way, how much protection those deemed with "legitimate purpose" get.
Oh, yeah. I am not excusing football. I know that it's not just Penn State. These players are excused for their behavior because they can play. Look at Greg Hardy in 2015 when Dallas signed him. He should have been in prison, but the NFL fixers probably protected him.
DeleteAnd, it's not just football. I don't know if you know this, but Bobby Hull was a big-time POS who beat his wife viciously. However, the hockey media covered it up, and made him and his family look like the ideal family. It is sickening.
One more comment: I was on another forum, and they said that Todd blamed steroids for his behavior near the end of his life. Maybe it had something to do with it, but he should blame himself. Also, the coaches and other players around him did nothing, either. This is a guy who should have been in a mental institution, not on a college campus.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, Football Man gave this insane man Legitimate Purpose under the law.
DeleteThat's the main point I want to make in that regard. That's why he was never put into an insane asylum. Not only did football give him Legitimate Purpose, but his complete insanity, as noted in the article, meant he had no regard for his opponents and no natural human instinct to let up on hits.
So much so that a friend of mine with indirect ties to Penn State and much previous knowledge of this guy basically knew that much of the local community felt this animal was headed straight to the NFL!