Asmussen | Troubling 'trend' continues to emerge

You can write off one scandal as an aberration. Two scandals signal a pattern. Three scandals mean you've got yourself a trend. Not the happy, pleasant or positive kind.

The Big Ten is dealing with its third sex scandal in a decade.

The first, of course, was the notorious Jerry Sandusky case at Penn State. School officials ignored the obvious signs of trouble involving their longtime defensive coordinator.

Ultimately, Sandusky went to prison, the late Joe Paterno lost his job and the program suffered a two-year setback that pales in comparison to the long-term harm done to the victims.

I used to relish my trips to Penn State. The chance to get ice cream on campus, take a picture with the…