After reading the Grand Jury indictment of Jerry Sandusky I believe that at some point in the 1990's Joe Paterno knew that Sandusky was a pervert. The Grand Jury leaves little to dispute the cover up of children being raped was perpetrated by the powers to be at Penn State.  Though Paterno may never be prosecuted there are plenty who believe he knew the key players active in the cover up. So when Paterno reported "inappropriate behavior" by Sandusky and a minor boy to an alleged cover up conspirator he may likely have felt he distanced himself and the football program by the charade.