Stepping Down from Changing Nation

By Jared Trexler

The Phanatic Magazine

To touch this fragile, polarizing issue with a 10-foot pole -- especially in the face of the tight-lipped, politically-correct Penn State hierarchy -- requires the courage athletic director Tim Curley never had.

Curley should have fired Rene Portland years ago. Back when bigotry, hate and sexual inequality were accepted in Newt Gingrich's "Contract for America." Back when it was unpopular, but also the morally correct course of action.

You see, Curley has run a pristine athletic department on the fields/courts since taking over the multi-million dollar conglomeration in 1993. Squads have won 11 NCAA championships, 46 Big Ten titles, and during a semi-recent visit to the University Park campus, NCAA President Myles Brand stated, "Penn State is the poster college for doing things right in college sports."

True -- if the poster either didn't include Portland or placed her on the corner of University Drive and Atherton Street with a large sign reading, "Accepting non-lesbians only."

Looked at again through rose-colored glasses, Penn State has finished in the Top 25 of the Director's Cup since its inception 13 years ago. Excluding girls who like kissing each other minus far too many Bud Lights.

For the third time in the last five years, Penn State student athletes posted the highest graduation rate among all 119 Division 1-A public institutions. Except the woman-loving female student athletes -- they were reportedly demoralized emotionally and mentally by Portland's scare tactics and intolerable behavior.

Most of them -- including those who detailed such unspeakable actions in a chilling ESPN investigative piece last year -- left before obtaining a Penn State diploma. After all, why would any college female shunned by the coach who vowed to protect her when walking into her parents' home stay to collect a piece of paper leaking hate on a personal level?

Many past improprieties were swept under the rug found inside Curley's office, until former guard Jennifer Harris stood up not just to Portland, but a collective group of university suits.

It was the toughest defense Harris ever faced.

The allegations eventually reached the courtroom in a 2005 lawsuit, where Harris pointed the finger at Portland for "humiliating, berating and ostracizing" her. Harris, who vehemently denies she is gay, also proclaimed that the head coach told her to be "more feminine," trying to force her to quit the team.

Portland stated that Harris' dismissal was completely basketball related.

The university underwent an internal investigation, resulting in a $10,000 fine and a threat that any future violation of the school's discrimination policy would lead to her dismissal. She was also ordered to take professional development classes.

After basically, in legal speak, admitting Portland's guilt, the university gave her a slap on the wrist instead of what she justly deserved -- a kick in the ass with the door hitting her on the way out.

If Harris' claims of Portland's "no drinking, no drugs, no lesbians," policy are true, Penn State's discrimination document in turn carries no clout -- especially when dealing with a highly-successful basketball coach bringing in millions of dollars and national exposure on a yearly basis.

But, despite Portland's vehement denials to the contrary, how could Harris and several others who stepped forward be wrong? Proof is in print with Portland telling the Chicago Sun-Times in 1986 that she didn't allow lesbians to play on her team. In a 1991 Philadelphia Inquirer piece, several former players, recruits and colleagues admitted the coach didn't tolerate homosexuality among her players.

Yet, the words fell on blind eyes. And yells for help fell on deaf ears. The nation's cultural base was not ready for same-sex relationships, choosing to blame personal choices and ostracizing "fags" or "dikes."

Penn State University was part of that problem. Portland was a success, winning her 600th game earlier this season, and no one had ever truly challenged her tyranny.

Especially considering head football coach Joe Paterno hired Portland -- the only head hire he ever made as the school's athletic director.

Turned out to be a bad one.

For the most part, Penn State does things the right way. Paterno runs a relatively clean football program and the department as a whole represents the NCAA well and graduates its players.

But, when Curley can release a statement Thursday showing "appreciation for what Rene has done for the women's basketball program," and proclaiming she had a "positive impact on the lives of student-athletes and others outside the basketball program" I question the principles.

Not the principles of a nation when Curley took over in 1993, but the ever-evolving acceptance of lesbians and gays during 2007. There is still hatred, still years and years of struggle ahead for this sector of our nation, but progress to ONE basket on ONE floor is driven to a Princeton-like tempo when the leader is weak.

Portland finally stepped down Thursday -- years after she should have been given the chance to. Now, Penn State has some explaining to do.

Don't count on it. The sounds of the weak usually resemble complete silence.

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Jared Trexler can be reached at jtrexler@phanaticmag.com