Nobody wants to be defined by their worse moment. Especially someone who has done so much good.

Last Wednesday, I was lecturing to an audience of coaches in Phoenix. One of my topics of discussion was how to build your athletic programs based on a few principles, one of them being integrity. Guess who I used as an example ...

Hint: He had 409 victories - a record for major college football - won two national titles, had five unbeaten teams and spent 61 years (46 as head coach) at the same institution. He's a coach who brought so much money and acclaim to a university he BECAME the university.

He not only elevated a football program to a national power, he did it the "Paterno Way." He developed young men in all aspects of life, and even led a massive expansion of the college library.

Yes, Joe Paterno, legendary football coach at Penn State University. His classic mug, complete with jet-black hair and black-rimmed glasses, was pasted on one of my PowerPoint pages.

With mixed emotions, I spoke of his virtues and morals, knowing an investigation would surely lead to his dismissal. Ironically, at the day's end, Paterno was done.

College football is stuck in a dark time; 2011 has been the year of shame. Cam Newton's father, Jim Tressel and the Ohio State stink, Miami booster Nevin Shapiro, Fiesta Bowl CEO John Junker, conference realignments (the Big East now accepts teams slightly east of Oregon) - but for the most part, Paterno's teams have stayed clear of NCAA discrepancies and scandals.

Until now.

You all know the recent horror inside "Happy Valley." Jerry Sandusky, long-time former assistant football coach, allegedly engaged in a pattern of sexual abuse of young boys, some attacks occurring on campus. He claims innocence, admitting he shouldn't have showered with young boys, saying he was only guilty of "fooling around." The more Sandusky talks, the deeper hole he will dig. His defense attorney, Joe Amendola, told CNN his client is just a "big, overgrown kid ... he's a jock."

The Jerry Sandusky described in these reports is anything but a "jock."

Two janitors witnessed a sexual attack on a young boy in 2000. The assailant they saw ... Sandusky. Fearing losing their jobs, the custodians kept silent.

In 2002, then-graduate assistant and current Nittany Lion assistant coach Mike McQueary reportedly spotted Sandusky sexually abusing a 10-year-old boy in a shower. Reports say instead of rushing to help the child, he left the scene and called his father, who inexplicably advised his son to vacate the premises and come home. McQueary is now claiming he did stop the assault. I sure hope so, but I have my doubts.

It's difficult to fathom how anyone with an ounce of humanity would flee an encounter such as this. A baseball bat to Sandusky's sick skull would be a viable solution - anything to protect the boy. Then the obvious, an immediate 911 call, followed by assurance to the child he is safe now ... nobody is going to hurt you and the police are on their way.

Whatever McQueary did is still a bit confusing. One thing we do know: Father and son decided to inform Paterno, but waited until the next FRICKIN' day!

What's even more mind-boggling, rather than informing the police of the alleged sexual assault, Paterno called his athletic director. Hearing such a story must have been awful, but someone, anyone, needed to act on it. Protecting children is our responsibility.

The cover-up begins ... or should I say, continues. The reports coming to light now say that this creep had been doing this for years, and people knew it. Lots of people. Higher-ups did nothing. Ultimate power turns into ultimate corruption. Penn State's impeccable football reputation cannot be damaged, at any cost. College football is way to big for its britches.

Makes me vomit.

The university's board of trustees fired Paterno last Wednesday. It was the right thing to do. He lost the right to go out on his own terms. I feel he hung on to his job too long. He was 75 when all this crap was brought to his attention. Perhaps he feared his legacy would be tarnished forever if something this horrific became public. After all, we are a society enamoured with celebrities who fall from grace.

The Big Ten has already taken Paterno's name off its championship trophy.

Many more firings will occur. Anyone who concealed knowledge of these alleged crimes against children must be removed from the program. My guess is the entire football department, from top to bottom, was aware of Sandusky and his behavior. He was working with at-risk youths after founding The Second Mile charity in 1977, finally severing ties in 2010 when the heat was on. It appears that he used the charity to prey on young, troubled boys for years. Many more incidents and victims will emerge.

The Second Mile administrators will start dropping like flies. Jack Raykovitz, leader of the group for 28 years, resigned Sunday.

All of the truth will come out. Penn State and the football program will eventually recover, unlike the victims. The psychological and emotional scars from sexual abuse are life-long and very deep.

If Penn State really wants to learn from this nightmare, the school's leaders can take a chunk of the $50 million of revenue the football program earns and donate it to the victims of these crimes. Sexual abuse is at epidemic levels, and instead of rioting in protest of Paterno's firing, the Penn State student body, community and nation should protest more against child abuse of any type. Scream, holler, yell - stand up against what happened to these children, not that a iconic football coach was canned.

We are a country obsessed with protecting "institutions" - churches, military, Boy Scouts, business, schools. Hopefully this scandal will act as a reminder that this is unacceptable.

Sadly, I believe some victims will not come forward now, fearful of being victimized all over again. They will be blamed for Paterno's firing.

A moment of silence was observed in support of the victims before Saturday's Penn State-Nebraska game. Odd ... silence is what created this horror.

JoePa is gone from Penn State, as well as my slideshow. I admired and respected what he has done - but I despise what he DIDN'T do.

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Menegas won two state championships as the football coach at Lewiston High from 1986-98. His column runs weekly in the Tribune. To send Menegas a suggestion for a future column, contact him at thecoach@lmtribune.com.