Sitting on the sidelines, watching as the Penn State scandal unfolds – not just as a PR person, but also as the mother of three small children – is horrifying. No matter which hat I’m wearing.

The events of the past several days have been dizzying from a crisis management perspective. And I don’t necessarily think the correct steps have been taken as the details of the case have unfolded.

A few questions to consider:

Has Penn State acted quickly enough? Might seem like a silly question, considering the scandal has lingered deep in the university’s underbelly for more than 15 years. While the governing body may have stubbed its toe by initially taking a series of small steps – canceling the weekly news conference, for example – they were finally able to slow the momentum of the crisis through one grand gesture – last evening’s firing of Joe Paterno.

What will happen to the school’s reputation in the long-term? Universities have faced PR problems before. The sex and drug scandal involving boosters at the University of Miami in 2010 is one example (although the key players and circumstances were very different). The Penn State scandal involves university officials, secrets, lies, cover-ups – and the lives of several innocent children. History books will write this as more than just a blemish on the school’s record.

What does the scandal mean for Paterno’s legacy? Fans of Penn State and Paterno may remain loyal in spite of the controversy. Surely you can’t argue with Paterno’s win record, the amount of money he’s brought to the school, what he’s meant to college football, and the money he has donated and raised for worthwhile causes. But I would argue that his moral judgment should be called into question for failing not to do everything he could to help the victims and prevent this from continuing to happen.

In a statement released yesterday, Paterno said the following:

“This is a tragedy,” Paterno, 84, said through an independent public relations firm. “It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more.”

Does this statement go far enough? Is the termination of Paterno enough? Not in my opinion. The fall-out from the scandal, along with the interview requests and amount of press will only intensify as time goes on. It will be interesting to see where it goes from here, but I’m crushed for the innocent lives that were ruined for the sake of protecting a football brand.

How would you recommend Penn State attempt to recover from this scandal?