Eagles head coach Andy Reid said that he appeared at a couple of events for The Second Mile, but did not know he was listed as a member of the Honorary Board of Directors.

NOVACARE COMPLEX, PHILADELPHIA, Pa – Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid was not aware he was listed as a member of the Honorary Board of Directors for the Second Mile, and the Eagles confirmed that they contacted the charity to ensure that his name was removed from the website.  Jerry Sandusky, the accused child rapist and former Penn State defensive coordinator, allegedly used the charity as a primary source of finding his victims.

Sandusky was present at Eagles practices from time to time during the span in which the Eagles employed his son, Jon Sandusky, in their scouting department.  Sandusky was brought on as an intern in 2001, served as a pro scout from 2002 through 2008 and was the director of pro personnel in 2009.  Reid confirmed that his father, Jerry, had been at Eagles practices.

“Yeah, he came by,” Reid said.  The head coach said he did not recall whether or not Sandusky brought any children with him.

“I don’t remember all that,” Reid said. “I remember it was Jon’s dad, and that’s what I remember him as.  He had been a coach and that’s how I remember him.”

According to the grand jury presentment, Sandusky often took his victims to sporting events, including Eagles games. At least one victim and one child were taken to an Eagles game by Sandusky and then spent the night at his home afterwards.  Based on the grand jury timeline, the incident would have occurred sometime between 2005 and 2009.

A 21-year-old man also came forward to WFMZ, a television station in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and claimed he was also taken to Eagles games by Sandusky.  The man told reporter John Rawlins that he was never molested by Sandusky, but he was made to feel uncomfortable by hugs that lasted too long and other extra physical contact. The man said in the report that Sandusky used gifts and access to sporting events to stay involved in his life.

“Somebody buys you $200 dollar outfits, you are not going to say no. Somebody takes you to Eagles games, let’s you sit in the box seats, meet cheerleaders, you are on the field meeting Donovan McNabb… What 14-year-old is going to say no?” the man said.

There is no record of Reid’s involvement with the charity beyond a speaking engagement in 2001, which apparently led to his name being placed on the honorary board of directors.  The Philadelphia Eagles also made a donation to the organization between September 1, 2004 and August 31, 2005 according to the charity’s 2005 Annual Report.  The amount of the donation was listed as between $2,000 and $4,999.

“I didn’t realize that there was that board, but that’s besides the point,” Reid said.  “I did do a couple events for them, it was a positive experience with the people I was with and so I don’t know how all that really worked.”

“Well I didn’t until I was informed by [Eagles Director of Football Media Services] Derek [Boyko],” Reid said. “I think that’s how those things work though when you do charity things sometimes they’ll use your name, but I think that’s a common thing.”

The honorary board of directors is a veritable who’s who of sports in Pennsylvania, where the charity was founded. Also listed on the honorary board are former Eagles coach Dick Vermeil, former Pittsburgh Steelers and Penn State greats Franco Harris and Jack Ham and golfing legend Arnold Palmer, who was born in Latrobe and owns a golf course there.

When the Eagles contacted The Second Mile, they were told that the entire list of honorary board members had been removed.  It is no longer available on the organization’s website.

There is no evidence and have been no allegations made public that anyone on the honorary board had any knowledge of accusations against Sandusky prior to the story breaking this week, although the charity itself was notified of accusations in 2002 and its lawyer was aware as early as 1998.

The statewide organization had seven chapters and one affiliate across Pennsylvania.

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