Jerry Sandusky accused of child molestation (1 Viewer)

[shadyridr]

Lhucks and Goggins gone in the same week? THANK YOU JERRY SANDUSKY AND ALABAMA KICKERS!!!!

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Lhucks and Goggins gone in the same week? THANK YOU JERRY SANDUSKY AND ALABAMA KICKERS!!!!

 

[gethugefast1]

Did I hear right on ESPN's "Outside The Lines", 2 members of PSU Board of Trustees were former football players & 1 was a former manager?

If so, IMO, JP will be able to choose when he wants to leave.

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

If Goggins is gone, surely GM is as well

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Then, you go and post a bunch of tasteless jokes in reference to Sandusky, then attempt to delete it before anyone sees it.

I don't think he deleted it, but I don't think you'll see any more posts from him on this message board either.

 

[ClownCausedChaos]

Did I hear right on ESPN's "Outside The Lines", 2 members of PSU BOT's were former football players & 1 was a former manager? If so, IMO, JP will be able to choose when he wants to leave.

And he chose the end of the season. About 5 hours ago.

 

[CrossEyed]

Hey Goggins -So, you've been one of the most outspoken critics here against Penn State and how they are morally bankrupt and how the actions of their administration are disgusting, Joe should go...so on and so forth...talking about how their actions are a discgrace to the victims.Then, you go and post a bunch of tasteless jokes in reference to Sandusky, then attempt to delete it before anyone sees it.Whatever credibility you might have had before this just went right out the window. You're weak.

Methinks Goggins isn't going to be around for awhile.

I would imagine not.

There will be an investigation. The board will meet Friday.

Quick and decisive action.

CE: who is the former player rallying around JoePa?

Rich Mauti. And to be fair, after hearing him interviewed, his focus was more about supporting the kids. I believe his son is currently on the team.

 

[General Malaise]

If Goggins is gone, surely GM is as well

Bye guys. :(

 

[ClownCausedChaos]

Then, you go and post a bunch of tasteless jokes in reference to Sandusky, then attempt to delete it before anyone sees it.

I don't think he deleted it, but I don't think you'll see any more posts from him on this message board either.

Yeah, I stated earlier that I realized that after posting.

 

[ClownCausedChaos]

If Goggins is gone, surely GM is as well

Bye guys. :(

I'll eat the poop in your absence.

 

[CrossEyed]

Did I hear right on ESPN's "Outside The Lines", 2 members of PSU Board of Trustees were former football players & 1 was a former manager?

If so, IMO, JP will be able to choose when he wants to leave.

I think there are 48 members of the BOT. Not sure that 3 guys could force their will. Then again, maybe they could.ETA: List of Trustees

 

[Reepicheep]

Obviously not. If 2002 was the first incident PSU was aware of and they immediately reported it to the proper authorities, Sandusky would be the only person implicated in wrong doing. Its not PSU's fault that they unknowingly hired a pedophile. It wouldn't have even been that big of a pr hit. But once they learned about what he was doing they had an obvious moral obligation to act. Morality aside, by not acting they created the potential for a huge PR hit. The correct course of action is so obvious, for so many reasons, that the people making the decision not to act must have had a compelling reason not to. There is simply no way they thought it didn't need to be reported. They knew it should be reported but had some compelling reason not to. Being involved in a previous cover-up involving the same guy is a pretty good explanation for their decision.

Yes, I think you're right. Let's hope the compelling reason is that they were merely covering themselves for failing to do more beforehand, rather than something else.

On second thought....This still doesn't explain why they let him stay on campus. Or have access to the program and everything that comes with it. If the only reason they didn't go to the police was because they thought they would look guilty for not going to them in '98 (although they did go to University police), why not eject him from campus?

What would stop them from saying: man, we really messed up earlier, but we have to get this monster out of here now. Why *not* do that? Tell him to go to Arizona, go to Canada, go wherever. Why would they allow him to stay on campus in a relatively prominent role?

It's going to very interesting when Sandusky talks and reveals what went down between the school and himself.

I don't know how many serial pedophile cases there are like this, does this usually mean life in prison or what? If he has something serious on PSU or Paterno is there even a hope he could leverage it for a reduced sentence? No idea how this stuff works, trying to understand if he will even have an incentive to tell all. (Assuming he doesn't go the suicide route as mentioned)

 

[culdeus]

If the dude was going to kill himself he had 3 years to do it on his own time. Why would he now?

 

[dgreen]

No idea how this stuff works, trying to understand if he will even have an incentive to tell all.

I was thinking along the lines of one of those interviews in jail similar to the ones that have been done with serial killers.Or, if this was a movie, he'd take the stand in court and tell all. Then Paterno would take the stand and Tom Cruise would trick him into admitting he ordered the Code Red.

 

[Leviathan]

If the dude was going to kill himself he had 3 years to do it on his own time. Why would he now?

Because he's been exposed, so to speak.

 

[Reepicheep]

If the dude was going to kill himself he had 3 years to do it on his own time. Why would he now?

Because he's been exposed, so to speak.

Exactly. Until now he had the charade going.

 

[Buddy Ball 2K3]

Has there been any word if he ever molested his own children?

 

[The Future Champs]

Former player is trying to get many other former players to show up Saturday "in support of Paterno".Don't they realize by now that this guy didn't walk his talk?

This is a good point. Joe hasn't tolerated any behavior by the players that could harm his program. He's had those guys in line for the past 50 years. For example, when I was there he had every player in every class every day, sitting in the front row so his assistants could easily check up on them. My junior year he decided that they should represent the team a little better on campus, and from then on every player was in a shirt and tie every day. I think he's failed his own program miserably here.

 

[The Future Champs]

Obviously not. If 2002 was the first incident PSU was aware of and they immediately reported it to the proper authorities, Sandusky would be the only person implicated in wrong doing. Its not PSU's fault that they unknowingly hired a pedophile. It wouldn't have even been that big of a pr hit. But once they learned about what he was doing they had an obvious moral obligation to act. Morality aside, by not acting they created the potential for a huge PR hit. The correct course of action is so obvious, for so many reasons, that the people making the decision not to act must have had a compelling reason not to. There is simply no way they thought it didn't need to be reported. They knew it should be reported but had some compelling reason not to. Being involved in a previous cover-up involving the same guy is a pretty good explanation for their decision.

Yes, I think you're right. Let's hope the compelling reason is that they were merely covering themselves for failing to do more beforehand, rather than something else.

On second thought....This still doesn't explain why they let him stay on campus. Or have access to the program and everything that comes with it. If the only reason they didn't go to the police was because they thought they would look guilty for not going to them in '98 (although they did go to University police), why not eject him from campus?

What would stop them from saying: man, we really messed up earlier, but we have to get this monster out of here now. Why *not* do that? Tell him to go to Arizona, go to Canada, go wherever. Why would they allow him to stay on campus in a relatively prominent role?

It's going to very interesting when Sandusky talks and reveals what went down between the school and himself.

I don't know how many serial pedophile cases there are like this, does this usually mean life in prison or what? If he has something serious on PSU or Paterno is there even a hope he could leverage it for a reduced sentence? No idea how this stuff works, trying to understand if he will even have an incentive to tell all. (Assuming he doesn't go the suicide route as mentioned)

He's facing charges that could put him in jail for the rest of his life, and he will have a lousy time there if he goes to a medium security or worse prison. Of course he'll sing like a bird, if he's got anything. This will be interesting.

 

[CrossEyed]

Has there been any word if he ever molested his own children?

I've been asking that all along. All 6 of his children were adopted. I'm most concerned about the foster children that he had in his house. No idea how many that included.

 

[Mr. Pickles]

Then, you go and post a bunch of tasteless jokes in reference to Sandusky, then attempt to delete it before anyone sees it.

I don't think he deleted it, but I don't think you'll see any more posts from him on this message board either.

End of an era.

 

[CrossEyed]

Former player is trying to get many other former players to show up Saturday "in support of Paterno".Don't they realize by now that this guy didn't walk his talk?

This is a good point. Joe hasn't tolerated any behavior by the players that could harm his program. He's had those guys in line for the past 50 years. For example, when I was there he had every player in every class every day, sitting in the front row so his assistants could easily check up on them. My junior year he decided that they should represent the team a little better on campus, and from then on every player was in a shirt and tie every day. I think he's failed his own program miserably here.

I believe Jesus explained it as straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel.

 

[JuniorNB]

Do people here honestly not realize that Goggins is just a troll? I'd be shocked if he wasn't somebody's alias.

Easily the biggest tool on the board.

 

[wadegarrett]

Do people here honestly not realize that Goggins is just a troll? I'd be shocked if he wasn't somebody's alias.

Easily the biggest tool on the board.

HUCKleberry disagrees.

 

[JZilla]

Former player is trying to get many other former players to show up Saturday "in support of Paterno".Don't they realize by now that this guy didn't walk his talk?

This is a good point. Joe hasn't tolerated any behavior by the players that could harm his program. He's had those guys in line for the past 50 years. For example, when I was there he had every player in every class every day, sitting in the front row so his assistants could easily check up on them. My junior year he decided that they should represent the team a little better on campus, and from then on every player was in a shirt and tie every day. I think he's failed his own program miserably here.

I believe Jesus explained it as straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel.

That Jesus was so prescient.

 

[Mrs. Sacamano]

I thought Penn State had a pretty nasty reputation for football player arrests in recent years. Fights, theft, etc....am I making this up?

 

[wadegarrett]

I thought Penn State had a pretty nasty reputation for football player arrests in recent years. Fights, theft, etc....am I making this up?

Nope. PSU, along with many other schools, have had plenty o' players arrested.

 

[comfortably numb]

Has there been any word if he ever molested his own children?

I've been asking that all along. All 6 of his children were adopted. I'm most concerned about the foster children that he had in his house. No idea how many that included.

This isn't getting enough play, if he was banging a kid in a shower at PSU, god only knows what could happen in the safe haven of his home.Anyone know what ages the foster kids were when they came into his possession?All males?

 

[ctdub]

Former player is trying to get many other former players to show up Saturday "in support of Paterno".

Don't they realize by now that this guy didn't walk his talk?

This is a good point. Joe hasn't tolerated any behavior by the players that could harm his program. He's had those guys in line for the past 50 years. For example, when I was there he had every player in every class every day, sitting in the front row so his assistants could easily check up on them. My junior year he decided that they should represent the team a little better on campus, and from then on every player was in a shirt and tie every day. I think he's failed his own program miserably here.

This piece doesn't agree with that...

Players were constantly getting into violent altercations with other students when I was at Penn State. There were fights at the ice skating rink, the union building at the center of campus, frats, apartments, houses. I covered one sexual assault trial -- for former Ravens cornerback Anwar Phillips, who was acquitted but went on to stay classy (what the link fails to note is that after "accepting responsibility" for his role in the incident at Penn State, Phillips was allowed to play in a bowl game before serving his two-semester suspension) -- and looked into probably a half-dozen others that never went to trial. Women were fearful they'd never get a fair trial in State College. Victims of beatings knew the scales of justice were already tilted against them. ESPN actually compiled numbers to show just how rambunctious it got in Happy Valley, reporting that from 2002 to 2008 there were 46 players charged with 163 counts.

Yet none of it stuck. Penn State remained a place where they "did it the right way." Paterno's public relations savvy certainly helped. It was Paterno, after all, who'd wooed reporters across the state as a young man with his stories of scholar-athletes who excelled on the field and were engaged in the classroom. Later in his career, Paterno's wisdom was solidly established and he could get away with swatting real questions by reminding reporters that he'd been around a long time

Baltimore Sun

 

[HopHead]

So if an older women who likes younger men is a couger, is an older man who likes younger boys called a nittany lion?

 

[wadegarrett]

So if an older women who likes younger men is a couger, is an older man who likes younger boys called a nittany lion?

What's a couger?

 

[Buddy Ball 2K3]

So if an older women who likes younger men is a couger, is an older man who likes younger boys called a nittany lion?

You gonna be here all week?

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

It's deja vu all over again.

 

[comfortably numb]

So if an older women who likes younger men is a couger, is an older man who likes younger boys called a nittany lion?

I though rapist sounded better

 

[The_Man]

Then, you go and post a bunch of tasteless jokes in reference to Sandusky, then attempt to delete it before anyone sees it.

I don't think he deleted it, but I don't think you'll see any more posts from him on this message board either.

End of an era.

Goggins just needs to issue a statement and everything will be fine:I have decided to announce my resignation from this board effective whenever I feel like it. At this moment Joe Bryant should not spend a single minute discussing my status. He has far more important matters to address. I want to make this as easy for him as I possibly can.

 

[ClownCausedChaos]

So if an older women who likes younger men is a couger, is an older man who likes younger boys called a nittany lion?

Location: Whereabouts UnknownCan you please go back?

 

[CrossEyed]

Has there been any word if he ever molested his own children?

I've been asking that all along. All 6 of his children were adopted. I'm most concerned about the foster children that he had in his house. No idea how many that included.

This isn't getting enough play, if he was banging a kid in a shower at PSU, god only knows what could happen in the safe haven of his home.Anyone know what ages the foster kids were when they came into his possession?All males?

At least 3 were boys, from what I've been able to read. Found this interesting and disturbing:

Among those who testified was the mother of Sandusky’s youngest adopted son, a boy he met through the second Mile, took in as a foster child and later legally adopted as an adult. Matt Sandusky’s mother, Debra Long, told the Patriot-News that she had raised concerns about the behavior of her son and Sandusky once her son went to live with the Sandusky family in 1995. “We tried to stop it back then,” Long said. “We were dragging it to the court system all the time and we couldn’t prevent it. it upsets me, because these kids didn’t need to go through this.”

 

[Buddy Ball 2K3]

Has there been any word if he ever molested his own children?

I've been asking that all along. All 6 of his children were adopted. I'm most concerned about the foster children that he had in his house. No idea how many that included.

This isn't getting enough play, if he was banging a kid in a shower at PSU, god only knows what could happen in the safe haven of his home.Anyone know what ages the foster kids were when they came into his possession?

All males?

At least 3 were boys, from what I've been able to read. Found this interesting and disturbing:

Among those who testified was the mother of Sandusky's youngest adopted son, a boy he met through the second Mile, took in as a foster child and later legally adopted as an adult. Matt Sandusky's mother, Debra Long, told the Patriot-News that she had raised concerns about the behavior of her son and Sandusky once her son went to live with the Sandusky family in 1995. "We tried to stop it back then," Long said. "We were dragging it to the court system all the time and we couldn't prevent it. it upsets me, because these kids didn't need to go through this."

Not to get off the topic, but you can be legally adopted by another adult?

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Has there been any word if he ever molested his own children?

I've been asking that all along. All 6 of his children were adopted. I'm most concerned about the foster children that he had in his house. No idea how many that included.

This isn't getting enough play, if he was banging a kid in a shower at PSU, god only knows what could happen in the safe haven of his home.Anyone know what ages the foster kids were when they came into his possession?All males?

Based on the grand jury report, it seemed like Sandusky had a very particular pattern. He probed his victims to see how much touching they would tolerate. Got them "comfortable" and then took more advantage as time progressed. I think he was careful and calculated, so I doubt he abused his own foster kids. He had the basement bedroom set-up for his overnight guests which kept his actions segragated from the rest of his house. There and after hours in the shower after telling kids "it's time for a shower" post exercise. The guy did things exactly the same and the abuse always started in the kid's second year of Second Mile.

 

[ClownCausedChaos]

Has there been any word if he ever molested his own children?

I've been asking that all along. All 6 of his children were adopted. I'm most concerned about the foster children that he had in his house. No idea how many that included.

This isn't getting enough play, if he was banging a kid in a shower at PSU, god only knows what could happen in the safe haven of his home.Anyone know what ages the foster kids were when they came into his possession?All males?

At least 3 were boys, from what I've been able to read. Found this interesting and disturbing:

Among those who testified was the mother of Sandusky’s youngest adopted son, a boy he met through the second Mile, took in as a foster child and later legally adopted as an adult. Matt Sandusky’s mother, Debra Long, told the Patriot-News that she had raised concerns about the behavior of her son and Sandusky once her son went to live with the Sandusky family in 1995. “We tried to stop it back then,” Long said. “We were dragging it to the court system all the time and we couldn’t prevent it. it upsets me, because these kids didn’t need to go through this.”

If I thought my child was being abused, I'd be banging a drum in the middle of the street with a bullhorn if no one would listen to me. If she thought there were issues 16 years ago and is just now coming out and saying it after all this has hit the media....I ddunno...something just doesn't sit right there.

 

[CrossEyed]

Has there been any word if he ever molested his own children?

I've been asking that all along. All 6 of his children were adopted. I'm most concerned about the foster children that he had in his house. No idea how many that included.

This isn't getting enough play, if he was banging a kid in a shower at PSU, god only knows what could happen in the safe haven of his home.Anyone know what ages the foster kids were when they came into his possession?

All males?

Based on the grand jury report, it seemed like Sandusky had a very particular pattern. He probed his victims to see how much touching they would tolerate. Got them "comfortable" and then took more advantage as time progressed. I think he was careful and calculated, so I doubt he abused his own foster kids. He had the basement bedroom set-up for his overnight guests which kept his actions segragated from the rest of his house. There and after hours in the shower after telling kids "it's time for a shower" post exercise. The guy did things exactly the same and the abuse always started in the kid's second year of Second Mile.

I think you're giving him too much credit.

 

[Buddy Ball 2K3]

Has there been any word if he ever molested his own children?

I've been asking that all along. All 6 of his children were adopted. I'm most concerned about the foster children that he had in his house. No idea how many that included.

This isn't getting enough play, if he was banging a kid in a shower at PSU, god only knows what could happen in the safe haven of his home.Anyone know what ages the foster kids were when they came into his possession?

All males?

Based on the grand jury report, it seemed like Sandusky had a very particular pattern. He probed his victims to see how much touching they would tolerate. Got them "comfortable" and then took more advantage as time progressed. I think he was careful and calculated, so I doubt he abused his own foster kids. He had the basement bedroom set-up for his overnight guests which kept his actions segragated from the rest of his house. There and after hours in the shower after telling kids "it's time for a shower" post exercise. The guy did things exactly the same and the abuse always started in the kid's second year of Second Mile.

So he brings a young boy into a PSU shower and gets naked with him?

 

[culdeus]

The only question is whether this thread gets locked before Paterno is fired.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Has there been any word if he ever molested his own children?

I've been asking that all along. All 6 of his children were adopted. I'm most concerned about the foster children that he had in his house. No idea how many that included.

This isn't getting enough play, if he was banging a kid in a shower at PSU, god only knows what could happen in the safe haven of his home.Anyone know what ages the foster kids were when they came into his possession?

All males?

Based on the grand jury report, it seemed like Sandusky had a very particular pattern. He probed his victims to see how much touching they would tolerate. Got them "comfortable" and then took more advantage as time progressed. I think he was careful and calculated, so I doubt he abused his own foster kids. He had the basement bedroom set-up for his overnight guests which kept his actions segragated from the rest of his house. There and after hours in the shower after telling kids "it's time for a shower" post exercise. The guy did things exactly the same and the abuse always started in the kid's second year of Second Mile.

So he brings a young boy into a PSU shower and gets naked with him?

It seems to me it was always after hours when he thought he was alone. I'm not saying he was smart, I'm saying he had a pattern and calculated what he was doing like a sick twisted monster.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Has there been any word if he ever molested his own children?

I've been asking that all along. All 6 of his children were adopted. I'm most concerned about the foster children that he had in his house. No idea how many that included.

This isn't getting enough play, if he was banging a kid in a shower at PSU, god only knows what could happen in the safe haven of his home.Anyone know what ages the foster kids were when they came into his possession?

All males?

Based on the grand jury report, it seemed like Sandusky had a very particular pattern. He probed his victims to see how much touching they would tolerate. Got them "comfortable" and then took more advantage as time progressed. I think he was careful and calculated, so I doubt he abused his own foster kids. He had the basement bedroom set-up for his overnight guests which kept his actions segragated from the rest of his house. There and after hours in the shower after telling kids "it's time for a shower" post exercise. The guy did things exactly the same and the abuse always started in the kid's second year of Second Mile.

I think you're giving him too much credit.

Perhaps. It just doesn't seem to fit the pattern. With his wife having access to those kids his likelihood of being caught with them was higher than the kids who were disadvantaged. Although I don't really put anything past him at this point either.

 

[Angry Beavers]

Has there been any word if he ever molested his own children?

I've been asking that all along. All 6 of his children were adopted. I'm most concerned about the foster children that he had in his house. No idea how many that included.

This isn't getting enough play, if he was banging a kid in a shower at PSU, god only knows what could happen in the safe haven of his home.Anyone know what ages the foster kids were when they came into his possession?

All males?

Based on the grand jury report, it seemed like Sandusky had a very particular pattern. He probed his victims to see how much touching they would tolerate. Got them "comfortable" and then took more advantage as time progressed. I think he was careful and calculated, so I doubt he abused his own foster kids. He had the basement bedroom set-up for his overnight guests which kept his actions segragated from the rest of his house. There and after hours in the shower after telling kids "it's time for a shower" post exercise. The guy did things exactly the same and the abuse always started in the kid's second year of Second Mile.

So he brings a young boy into a PSU shower and gets naked with him?

Only when he thinks people are not around

 

[Angry Beavers]

The only question is whether this thread gets locked before Paterno is fired.

No +200Yes -160

 

[CrossEyed]

Has there been any word if he ever molested his own children?

I've been asking that all along. All 6 of his children were adopted. I'm most concerned about the foster children that he had in his house. No idea how many that included.

This isn't getting enough play, if he was banging a kid in a shower at PSU, god only knows what could happen in the safe haven of his home.Anyone know what ages the foster kids were when they came into his possession?All males?

At least 3 were boys, from what I've been able to read. Found this interesting and disturbing:

Among those who testified was the mother of Sandusky’s youngest adopted son, a boy he met through the second Mile, took in as a foster child and later legally adopted as an adult. Matt Sandusky’s mother, Debra Long, told the Patriot-News that she had raised concerns about the behavior of her son and Sandusky once her son went to live with the Sandusky family in 1995. “We tried to stop it back then,” Long said. “We were dragging it to the court system all the time and we couldn’t prevent it. it upsets me, because these kids didn’t need to go through this.”

If I thought my child was being abused, I'd be banging a drum in the middle of the street with a bullhorn if no one would listen to me. If she thought there were issues 16 years ago and is just now coming out and saying it after all this has hit the media....I ddunno...something just doesn't sit right there.

She said she tried to stop it back then and tried going through the court system. But you have to remember that there was a reason her son was in the foster system, so people may not have wanted to believe her word against a "saint" like Sandusky.

 

[CrossEyed]

Has there been any word if he ever molested his own children?

I've been asking that all along. All 6 of his children were adopted. I'm most concerned about the foster children that he had in his house. No idea how many that included.

This isn't getting enough play, if he was banging a kid in a shower at PSU, god only knows what could happen in the safe haven of his home.Anyone know what ages the foster kids were when they came into his possession?

All males?

Based on the grand jury report, it seemed like Sandusky had a very particular pattern. He probed his victims to see how much touching they would tolerate. Got them "comfortable" and then took more advantage as time progressed. I think he was careful and calculated, so I doubt he abused his own foster kids. He had the basement bedroom set-up for his overnight guests which kept his actions segragated from the rest of his house. There and after hours in the shower after telling kids "it's time for a shower" post exercise. The guy did things exactly the same and the abuse always started in the kid's second year of Second Mile.

I think you're giving him too much credit.

Perhaps. It just doesn't seem to fit the pattern. With his wife having access to those kids his likelihood of being caught with them was higher than the kids who were disadvantaged. Although I don't really put anything past him at this point either.

I'm thinking his wife needs to take a good long look in the mirror also. She had to have ignored some signs.

 

[johnnycakes]

Has there been any word if he ever molested his own children?

I've been asking that all along. All 6 of his children were adopted. I'm most concerned about the foster children that he had in his house. No idea how many that included.

This isn't getting enough play, if he was banging a kid in a shower at PSU, god only knows what could happen in the safe haven of his home.Anyone know what ages the foster kids were when they came into his possession?

All males?

At least 3 were boys, from what I've been able to read. Found this interesting and disturbing:

Among those who testified was the mother of Sandusky's youngest adopted son, a boy he met through the second Mile, took in as a foster child and later legally adopted as an adult. Matt Sandusky's mother, Debra Long, told the Patriot-News that she had raised concerns about the behavior of her son and Sandusky once her son went to live with the Sandusky family in 1995. "We tried to stop it back then," Long said. "We were dragging it to the court system all the time and we couldn't prevent it. it upsets me, because these kids didn't need to go through this."

Not to get off the topic, but you can be legally adopted by another adult?

Yes, according to LegalZoom. This is good to know... I have toyed with the idea of legally adopting my step-daughter, whose biological father died in a car wreck in 2004. I held off because she turns 18 on November 15. Maybe I'll rethink this, now that I see the process may be more simple than I had anticipated.