The conclusions reached by investigators looking into the sex scandal at Penn State University should prompt soul searching among those involved in college and university sports throughout the nation. As you have read, the 267-page report on the tragedy found that former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky's predation against boys could have been stopped years ago, had Penn State officials including the late Coach Joe Paterno acted against him instead of worrying about tarnishing the Nittany Lions' reputation.
Now it is tarnished beyond repair, in a way.
Misdeeds and outright crimes by players and coaches at some colleges and universities are certainly not as despicable as what Sandusky did, but all too often they are covered up for the same reasons as those that motivated Penn State officials.
Perpetuating a culture that tolerates any degree of misbehavior in order to avoid casting an unflattering light on a sports program is wrong. It can result in great, lasting harm.
That is something coaches and higher education administrators should remember in dealing with everything from recruiting violations to assault.