Former Wisconsin linebacker DeAndre Levy made some headlines last week when he claimed the “proudest moment” of his NFL carer came when he broke former Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Joe Paterno’s leg.
The comments came from Levy’s disappointment in the way the university handled the child sex abuse scandal with Jerry Sandusky, and he instantly received negative backlash.
However, Levy isn’t ready to back down.
Over the weekend. the Detroit Lions linebacker doubled down on his comments in an interview with the Detroit Free Press.
Levy was once again a harsh critic of the incoming administration and explained his beliefs.
Levy said:
I hope me speaking in jest about my “proudest moment” doesn’t distract from the serious sentiment. Any person or institution, Joe Paterno included, that turns away from or fails to act against sexual assault is a “dirtbag.”
Imagine your son, nephew, cousin or young male person in your life goes away to football camp or has a trusted relationship with a coach, but their vulnerability is taken advantage of and their trust violated in an act of sexual assault. Years later, a story breaks and sheds light on a decades-long pattern of sexual abuse. And then it becomes known that one of the most powerful figures in that football program knew of it at various points but failed to act diligently. In broad strokes, that’s how I understand the case of Penn State, Jerry Sandusky and Paterno.
It’s great to see the young man making a statement.
And if Levy has a hard time dealing with the criticism that comes with his stance, he’d recommend he do his best Joe Paterno impression and turn a blind eye.
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