There is no denying that Happy Valley, Penn. lives, breathes and eats Nittany Lions football.

Last week, when allegations emerged that former longtime Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky had sexually abused at least one boy, and that the administration had done nothing, the community was turned upside down.

Following the announcement of Sandusky’s indictment, Penn State athletic director Tim Curley and Senior Vice President Gary Schultz stepped down, and yesterday, both men were arraigned on charges of failing to report suspected child abuse and perjury before a grand jury.

Sandusky faces 40 charges of abuse, including felony sex abuse charges against minors, and authorities claim that the number of boys he has abused is close to eight.

The Penn State community will be left reeling for a long time to come.

But as a big part of the Penn State structure crumbles, the fate of one man remains uncertain.

The centerpiece of Nittany Lions football, longtime head coach Joe Paterno, stands amidst the wreckage of what likely is the worst scandal he’s witnessed in his more than half a century of coaching. His place in the whole matter is undeniable, but more than that, it’s unnerving.

In 2002, a graduate student who witnessed Sandusky sexually abusing a minor visited Paterno. Paterno immediately informed Curly, and took no further action.

He did not report the incident to the police. He did not confront Sandusky, his longtime friend. He apparently did not follow up on the incident at all.

In many ways, it looks like Paterno simply forgot. He performed the bare minimum of what the situation warranted from him, moved on and did not look back.

The grand jury has accused Paterno of no wrongdoing.

But will the nation?

If the atrocities committed by Sandusky spurred an earthquake that had Happy Valley at its epicenter, the failure of college football icon Joe Paterno to act ignited the aftershock that made the recovery feel impossible.

The consequences caused by Paterno’s inaction could never match the pain Sandusky himself caused. But it still cuts deep. It begs the question of what might have been different, how many victims may have been spared, if Paterno had only done what so many would have expected of him.

Having played hero on the sidelines so many times, Paterno proved to be anything but in this situation.

What he did prove is that he is human. He failed to act. He made a mistake.

And now the questions linger, regarding not just the fate of his reputation, but of his future standing as well.

Regardless of his future, Paterno’s legend has undoubtedly been tarnished, and tragically so. Just how much it is tarnished will depend partially upon his future reactions and decisions. And he is likely to face a big one in the near future.

Outraged people across the nation are demanding that Penn State fire Paterno, but there’s a good chance that won’t happen. What’s more likely is that the leader of the Nittany Lions for over 50 years will be left to decide his own fate. He will be given the opportunity to take responsibility for his inaction. He will be given the opportunity to leave the game by his own accord.

Paterno should at least consider taking advantage of this opportunity. His resignation may help to speed up the recovery process. Undoubtedly, it would signify the end of an incredible era just recently marred by a terrible blow. But it would also signify the official start of moving on and recovering.

The aftershocks of the scandal will continue to shake Happy Valley for months to come, but Paterno has the opportunity now to stop the bleeding and let the Penn State program recover and move on without him.