Penn State and The Bubble Theory

It's been a few weeks since the news of the scandal at Penn State University broke. Since then many school official, including legendary Coach Joe Paterno, have been forced to step down. Authorities are still sorting through the evidence, but this much we know: A lot of people were made aware that assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky, was sexually abusing young boys and chose to do nothing about it. From my perspective this is an example of the insulated bubble theory.

Within an athletic program it is so easy to get caught up with success. Over time the focus becomes wins and trophies. Those who are viewed as responsible for the success are revered. The institution begins to focus on the success as well. It becomes a source of pride, and that's when the bubble starts to form. The program becomes insulated. Administrator do all they can to cultivate the success, and in the process might even ignore some of the flaws. Inside the bubble the emphasis is on victories. As a result the vices are overlooked. Misconduct is tolerated. The core values that the program was based on become vague. Those inside the bubble might even consider themselves to be above the law because of who they are and what they supposedly mean to the institution.

I have experienced the bubble. I coached high school basketball, including two years heading up a varsity boys program. The season itself was a grind. From October to February, twelve to fourteen hour days are the rule, rather than the exception. Add to that the pressure to win and the demands to meet the expectations of parents and fans. It's easy to become insulated. The team and the responsibilities that go with it become your world. Yes, I faced situations where players broke rules. In such cases I had to decide whether to discipline or not. Sometimes, sitting a player meant the difference between a win or a loss. I was blessed with an athletic director and principal who held me accountable. It still hurt because we played against teams that did not always keep those same standards.

Families are not immune to the bubble theory. Parents can get caught up in meeting the needs of their kids. We want the best and take pride in their academic, artistic and athletic success. When our focus is on our kids and their achievments, it's easy to lose perspective. As a result, we might be reluctant to upset the status quo, or to confront an issue. In some cases, we become so enamored with our kids that we feel they can do no wrong. As a school counselor, one of the most difficult situations I faced was having to inform a parent of their child's misdeed. Often I was met with anger because I had tried to penetrate that bubble.

When it comes to our kids, we need to keep things in perspective. We all have flaws. No family is immune to problems. Don't allow there to be a bubble around your family.