Unless you've been following the Jerry Sandusky saga closely or are a fairly recent Penn State graduate, the name Graham Spanier is probably unfamiliar to you.
Yet, Spanier was president of the Pennsylvania State University for 16 years, a long tenure for the top dog at a major American University.
Spanier was fired at the same time as PSU football coach Joe Paterno. The rioting that occured the next night was not over Spanier. In fact, except deep inside news reports, Spanier dropped what little name recognition he had before. After all, when it comes to Penn State, what transpires in Beaver Stadium is far more dear than was goes on in the Administration Building.
The silver-haired former post-secondary power is now taking to the interview circuit to proclaim his innocence in all matters dealing with Penn State's former resident pedophile and condemn the report that seems to counter his contentions.
For many months, Spanier, who hasn't been charged with any crime (though the investigation continues) has been silent, and one wonders why he has surfaced in such a blatantly public way at this point in time.
Some surmise that he may be attempting to restore his reputation in hopes of returning to some position in academia or is concerned about that continuing investigation. Two of his underlings at Penn State currently face trial for allegedly covering up Sandusky's shower antics.
After an extended period of hermit-like behavior, Spanier is blitzing the media.
Whatever the motive - even the desire to simply clear his name - Spanier faces an uphill battle. The university funded investigation he aspires to undermine was done by a team of veteran investigators headed by former FBI Director Louis Freeh, who left the service of the federal government with a reputation cleaner than many other FBI directors and is generally considered to have been a careful and thoughtful law enforcement officer.
As Hamlet's mother might have said of the man: He "doth protest too much."