For 46 years, Joe Paterno led the Penn State football program with pure class and dignity. His “grand experiment,” which demanded that his players succeed not only on the field but in the classroom as well, helped make Penn State into one of the finest academic institutions in the United States. He built the Nittany Lion football program around the motto “Success with Honor,” and there’s no doubt that he was the perfect example of it. JoePa was a man that became something more — he was nothing short of an icon, and all of Happy Valley loved him.

Photo by enviziondotnet via Creative Commons

But a scandal involving his former defensive coordinator and heir apparent Jerry Sandusky, who has been accused of committing acts that are unimaginably horrific, led to Paterno’s downfall and proved that even someone as legendary as JoePa is only human.

The scandal caused an upheaval that led to turmoil all throughout State College, and this was only increased on November 9, 2011, when John Surma, the vice chairman of Penn State’s board of trustees, announced what at one time seemed unthinkable; Joe Paterno would no longer be the head football coach at Penn State University. Many across the nation felt this was a necessary move, but it sparked riots by students across the university’s campus. This was a low point in Paterno’s life, but it ended up being only the beginning of his ultimate downfall.

Just a week after his ouster, Paterno was diagnosed with what was called a “treatable form of lung cancer,” but it ended up being too much for the 85-year-old. The cancer caused JoePa to be reduced to a frail old man, and it eventually caused his death on January 22, 2012.

Now that Joe Paterno has passed, I think it’s a good time to evaluate his entire life’s body of work, not just the tumultuous final two months. Joe Paterno was quite simply the greatest coach in the history of college football, and I rank him behind only John Wooden and Vince Lombardi on a list of greatest coaches in the history of sports.

He influenced countless amounts of people throughout his spectacular life, and there’s probably not a single coach in any sport that was more beloved by his former players than Paterno. And let’s not forget how much he meant to the university where he coached for more than 60 years.

He gave back so much to Penn State, and was as loyal as a person could be to his university. He could’ve been the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he turned it down and they hired Chuck Noll instead. He was offered the head coaching job at Michigan, he turned it down and they hired Bo Schembechler instead. He could’ve been the head coach and part owner of the New England Patriots, but he chose to stay in State College. He stayed at Penn State and won 409 games, two national championships (and was screwed over by the polls a few other times), and led the Nittany Lions to 37 bowl games and he won 24 of those.

Don’t get me wrong, Paterno did fail to stop Sandusky when he had the chance, but all the positive things he did during his life far outweighed the negatives. His legacy should be that of a man who influenced legions of players and fans who loved him unconditionally to the day he died, despite everything that happened in the last couple months of his life. Joe Paterno was an icon, a legend, a great man and the greatest coach in the long and storied history of college football.

Joe Paterno, arguably the greatest coach in sports history, passed away at the age of 85 from complications related to lung cancer.

Paterno was at Penn State since 1950, and was the head coach since 1966. That type of loyalty to a program will likely never be repeated by any coach today or in the future. Paterno could have chased millions in the NFL, but he ultimately decided to remain at Penn State for his entire coaching career.

Before I get to the unfortunate happenings of the past few months, let’s look at a few of the many accomplishments of “Joe Pa” during his time at Penn State.

• 3-time Big Ten Coach of the Year
• All-time leader in Bowl Wins (24)
• 2-time National Champion (1982, 1986)
• 2007 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee
• All-time FBS leader in wins (409)

Off the field, he donated several million dollars to the university  and even has a library, Paterno Library, named after him at Penn State. He was a major influence in the lives of his players, which is evident by all of them who are speaking out in the media. All of them only have positives to say about their former coach, as he was an inspiration in their lives.

Coach Paterno’s downfall came in early November, when former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was arrested on numerous counts of sexual abuse of young boys. This came after a grand jury investigation earlier in the year, where it was found out that assistant coach Mike McQueary saw one of these incidents, and reported it to Paterno.

It was said that Paterno informed his superiors, AD Tim Curley and Gary Schultz, who was the head of the university’s police. The general public could not believe this news. First off, people were enraged at the actions of Sandusky, who is simply a sick human being. He has the right to a fair trial, but all indications suggest that he is guilty of the crimes he is charged with. Why else would it matter if Joe Paterno reported the incident if it never happened?

The focus then shifted from Sandusky to the superiors at Penn State, including Paterno. He told those above him, but he did nothing to follow up on the situation. Many cited a “moral responsibility” to report such sickening activities directly to the police. The lack of a follow up by Joe Pa is what ultimately led to the Penn State Board of Trustees relieving him of his coaching duties on November 9th.

The actions after his being let go proved that the majority sided with Paterno and disagreed with the decision to let him go. Students at Penn State began to rally, and small “riots” broke out. This type of activity is unacceptable, but it showed the overwhelming support for Paterno at the university. Hundreds even gathered at his house, which is located right near campus.

Some members of the media will say that the students supported Paterno because they are young and refuse to see the bigger picture, but that is not true. They saw a legend, maybe even a reason why they chose to come to Penn State, being forced out due to the actions of another man. The fact that Sandusky committed the crimes seemed to be lost in the days following his arrest, as the bulk of media attention was devoted to the news surrounding Paterno.

Paterno may have overlooked the severity of the situation, but he did not commit a crime. It is unfair for anyone to say what they would do in such a situation, especially considering the magnitude of the situation. One could say that they would go right to the police, but we do not know what exactly went down in the conversations between the coaches and superiors at Penn State.

The pain of the entire situation at the university may have ultimately led to the passing of a man that fought for over 60 years at his beloved Penn State. He died of lung cancer, but his fighting spirit was without a doubt damaged by the events surrounding Sandusky and the resulting fallout.

If there was still any doubts about whether Paterno would be remembered for what he did do, and not for what he didn’t do, those doubts were erased after his passing. Coaches and former players from all over the country only had positive things to say about Coach Paterno. His statue right outside of Beaver Stadium was surrounded by hundreds of students who were paying their respects to the man who influenced their lives, even though they may never have met him.

Time will tell how Paterno will be remembered, but nothing can ever take away his accomplishments in the game of college football. He is Penn State. People associate the university with Paterno, and this will continue to hold true for years to come.

The truth will come out in the case of Sandusky, and Paterno will still not have committed any crime. Hopefully, everyone will remember who actually committed the crimes and who was put in a tough position by them.

Things will eventually blow over, whether that takes months or years I cannot say with certainty, and Paterno will regain his place as the greatest coach who ever lived.

Not for what he didn’t do, but for what he did do.

The scandal involving former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky is still unfolding, detail after disgusting detail.  The case has been well documented, so I won’t go into the details here outside of their relevance to Saturday’s game.

It appears Saturday’s game at Beaver Stadium will go on as scheduled, despite some very legitimate concerns about the challenges that Penn State’s administration and campus police will face.  Wednesday night, as news of Joe Paterno’s firing spread, students at Penn State gathered on Beaver Avenue.  Most students were under control, merely rubbernecking and trying to understand what was going on.  But as is often the case, some students became destructive.

Media members were pelted with rocks and a news van was tipped over by the mob.  Street signs were also broken, and approximately 100 police officers had to be called in with pepper spray to subdue some of the crowd.  No one is sure what the scene will look like Saturday afternoon as the Big Ten-leading Nittany Lions play host to the Cornhuskers.

For the record, it is my opinion that the game should be played as scheduled, so long as there are no concerns for the safety of the crowd or anyone involved in the game.

Though the scene right now is tranquil, I understand that trying to predict the crowd’s behavior Saturday is difficult.  But to move the game would be nearly impossible with this short of notice, and postponing the game would likely drag this on longer.  It would be unfair to the seniors of Penn State to not grant them their Senior Day, and it would be unfair to Nebraska who has surely worked very hard to prepare for this game as they try to climb back to the top of the Legends Division.

I understand that football is fickle compared to the charges levied at Sandusky, Paterno, and the rest of the Penn State program.  I understand that keeping the program churning ahead is what has caused most of these allegations to go unnoticed for almost a decade.  I feel, however, that the only solution is to play the game Saturday in Beaver Stadium and move on.

As for the game itself, let’s look at what each school needs to focus on to come away with the victory.

What Nebraska must do to win

For Nebraska’s offense it is very simple: run the ball with Rex Burkhead early and often.  When Burkhead gains more than 100 yards on the ground, the Huskers win (5-0 this year).  When he doesn’t, they lose (0-2).  The latter was the case last week against Northwestern, so you can be sure they will try to establish the running game against Penn State.

The fact is, as dynamic an athlete as quarterback Taylor Martinez is, he is inconsistent and mistake-prone.  I’ve written it before in this very column, but Martinez must protect the ball and give his defense a chance to sit on the sideline.  He doesn’t need to be spectacular for Nebraska to win this game.  Considering all the emotion of the past week, he merely needs to be efficient and allow Burkhead to shoulder the load.

Defensively, Nebraska should match up fairly well with the Nittany Lions.  Their first priority will be stopping Penn State running back Silas Redd, who has over 1,000 yards already this season.  Other than Wisconsin’s Montee Ball and Ohio State’s Carlos Hyde, Nebraska hasn’t been gashed badly on the ground this season.  Considering Ball has pretty much done that to everyone and 63 of Hyde’s 104 yards came on one carry (his other 12 went for just 41 yards), they have been respectable against the run.  They will need to keep that up this weekend as Penn State’s quarterback carousel hasn’t shown any chance of stopping.

What Penn State must do to win

This is going to sound impossible, but in order for Penn State to win, they must unite as a team and focus on the task of beating Nebraska and not the loss of their coach and the horrific scandal plaguing their program and institution.

In what is sure to be an emotional day for fans, players, coaches, and university employees, the Nittany Lions will try to run Redd as much as they can and play stingy defense against Burkhead.  Redd comes in with a streak of 5 straight 100-yard games, all of which have come against Big Ten opponents.

Penn State has lucked out a bit from a scheduling standpoint as they haven’t had to face Wisconson, Michigan or Michigan State this year, so this matchup against Nebraska will be their toughest in-conference game to date.

Last week against Illinois, Penn State got next to nothing out of their passing attack, totaling only 98 yards through the air.  Against Nebraska that might not be good enough, especially if Martinez gets going.  For the Nittany Lions to win this game, they must be able to make a few big plays in the passing game to open up the field for their primary weapon, Redd.  Wide receiver Derek Moye should be able to get open against a relatively weak Nebraska secondary, and if Matt McGloin (or Rob Bolden, but I expect McGloin to take most of the snaps) can hit him with a big strike or two, Penn State could shake off the distractions and remain undefeated in Big Ten play.

Defensively, they must limit Burkhead and force Martinez into bad throws.  Penn State is 3rd nationally in scoring defense, so they have the ability to both of those things.  If they allow Burkhead to start fast or Martinez to make a homerun play early, the Nittany Lions don’t have the quick strike offensive weapons to make up a deficit.

Nebraska-Penn State Prediction

I think that the seniors of Penn State have a lot to play for, and I think the team will come out and play well Saturday.  They will be filled with emotion and I think that will manifest itself in the form of passionate, inspired play.  The atmosphere will be unlike any other college football game we have ever seen given the circumstances of the last week, and I expect the crowd to be supportive of the players and be respectful of the game, which is certainly how Joe Paterno wants them to be.

I see Penn State’s defense holding Rex Burkhead to under 100 yards and I see the trend of Nebraska losing when he doesn’t reach the century mark holding up this week.  Look for Silas Redd to punish the Huskers defense and for Penn State to win one of their typical low scoring slugfests.

Final Prediction: Penn State 20, Nebraska 17

What do you think will be the outcome?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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Nebraska-Penn State Game Info

• Nebraska-Penn State Date: Saturday, November 12
• Nebraska-Penn State Kickoff Time: 12:00 EST
• Nebraska-Penn State TV: ESPN
• Nebraska-Penn State Point Spread: Nebraska -3.5
• Nebraska-Penn State Over/Under: 43

Final note: make sure you take a few minutes to sign up for one of this weekend’s fantasy college football and basketball tournaments from our friends at Daily Joust. After all, it is the best alternative to fantasy sports and sports betting…ever.

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Follow me on Twitter @keithmullett

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Image credits: usatoday.com, offtackleempire.com, zimbio.com

Again, this is just a rumor, and I present it only because people will be talking about it, so I’d prefer you actually have the source; but I will say that Madden has proven with respect to this story that he has credibility and prescience.

Listen here, and skip ahead to about the 7:30 mark if you want to get right to the rumor:

If you don’t have time to listen, here is what Madden said (h/t Business Insider):

“I hear a rumor that there will be a shocking development from the Second Miles Foundation … That Jerry Sandusky and Second Mile were pimping out young boys to rich donors.”

Madden claims it’s being investigated by “two prominent columnists.”

Madden also said the following, which will surprise no one and actually makes perfect sense when you review the timeline of this sickening story:

Madden also claimed Sandusky was forced out of Penn State in 1999.

“I think you’ll find out that Jerry Sandusky was told he had to retire in exchange for a cover up.”

Again, I present the clear caveat that I have nothing else to back this up, but these words were said on-air by a person who has been covering this story, and respected journalists are already tweeting links to it.

Do with this information what you will; I just hope and pray that this isn’t true. It would be an unfathomably evil appendage to a story I keep thinking can’t get any worse but that seems to keep proving me wrong on that.

Then I saw the front page of ESPN.com, and the spectacular juxtaposition of images jarred me to the point of one more post.

I’ll just let the screenshot below speak for itself before I comment:

I’m sure you don’t need me to explicate the connection, but I’ll do it anyway: Joe Paterno, once considered the most immortal of college football immortals, waving goodbye to throngs of supporters on the night of his firing…with an ad for the movie Immortals running directly above him.

Surely this was not at all intentional and is rather just a randomly appropriate (or I suppose ironic) juxtaposition, but the reality that it hits home is truly jarring.

Has there ever been a figure in the history of sports whose job, reputation, and respect were more secure than Joe Paterno’s? Ever? I can’t think of one. We’re all humans, and none of us are immortal, but JoePa really was as close to being immortal as any of us can ever imagine.

And now?

Now he’s just another fired football coach, dealing with a feeling – the feeling of being fired – that 99.9% of his peers have to deal with at some point during their careers.

Yet, of course, the feeling for Paterno, and for the rest of us, is 99.9% different than it would be for any other coach.

Because he was a college football immortal.

Was.

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Wow. What a day.

What a gawdamn day.

Editor’s note: I did not write what you will read in this post. What you will read below was written by my business partner and one of my closest and most respected friends, Derick Schaefer.

He emailed me the text below earlier tonight with the following preface:

“You know me. . . I’m always inspired to do the right thing. We do have site that can reach thousands of people. One connection can make a difference.  Personally, I don’t care about the Penn State circus. Rightfully so, those responsible will go to jail and those who didn’t do enough will see their careers ruined. However, since the attention is high, I do feel the right message could inspire others to do the right thing.”

What follows are Derick’s words, not mine.

We’ve all played “Monday morning quarterback” when it comes to the decisions of college football coaches.

I write this post for Midwest Sports Fans as someone who has been at least partially in Joe Paterno’s shoes, though I made a far different decision than he did.

I share it with you not in the attempt to defame the Penn State icon. My goal is to encourage you to do the right thing and realize the powers that you have.

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In the late ’90s, I had achieved my career dream of being an employee at The Microsoft Corporation. Being in my late 20s at the time, I found myself working for an industry powerhouse.  I was saddled with thousands of stock options in a bull market and given a very promising career ladder.

I also found myself presented with a situation that would make me weight it all against doing the right thing.

Specifically, I was pulled into my manager’s office as he revealed that a few of my peers had been assisting the U.S. government in pursuing a case that had the potential to unravel a massive child pornography ring (see Operation Avalanche).

My manager clarified that a raid was going to take place and that my technical skills might be needed. However, it was made clear to me that with our company was being prosecuted by US government for violations of antitrust laws, company attorneys did not approve of any employees assisting the Feds in this case.

Thus, I was asked to take vacation in order to help.

A few days of vacation was nothing; the real consideration was my career and the value of the deferred stock option compensation, both of which were at very real risk if I participated.

Furthermore, the case itself was a long shot. The legal precedence for online crimes of this nature had not been established at the time, and most of the offending content was being served from foreign countries that were considered “non-cooperative”.

Still, that decision took all of 30 seconds to make.

In the end, though the risk to my career was great, my role was minor. Several of my peers ended up making contributions that netted out the largest child pornography sting in US history. It paved the way for tens of thousands of prosecutions and established the case law that would become instrumental in decades of future prosecution.

My career’s accomplishments are obviously only a fraction of what Joe Paterno has accomplished in the world of college football.  However, I can say that when it came to a “4th and long” decision in my career, I made one that he didn’t.

I won’t accept the size of Penn State or the power of the institution of college football as an excuse for inaction when circumstance demands it. The numbers we played in at my former employer were as large or larger. The personalities, egos, and other factors were equal.

The reason for posting this message is not to pile on the Penn State media circus. My message is simple: if you are in a position to make a difference when the protection of a child is at stake, accept whatever the risk as a child’s welfare is worth it.

Regardless of the potential backlash or personal setbacks you could face, blow the whistle–a child’s well being could depend on it.

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Derick’s sentiments are echoed, not specifically but in spirit, by friend of MSF Larry Brown in this post, which I encourage everyone to read: Urge to Rip Joe Paterno Leaves Society Ignoring Most Important Lesson: Stop and Report Serious Crimes When you See Them

Tonight, in light of Joe Paterno’s firing and reports of unruly mobs in State College, I want to reiterate that question but with an important distinction: Should Penn State cancel or move Saturday’s game against Nebraska?

And I think the events of the 36 hours since I posted the original question warrant adding a fresh poll:

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Now that you’ve (hopefully) voted, I’ll give my opinion.

In my original post, I said that I didn’t know the answer to the question I was posing and that my goal was simply to open up the discussion. My ambivalence is gone after tonight.

I think it’s become clear that Penn State needs to cancel Saturday’s home game against Nebraska. Or, if it is somehow possible, they should move the game either to a neutral field or even to Nebraska.

I know how “unfair” this is from a football standpoint, but frankly I think any football issues should be the last issues dictating what is done in this case. Making important decisions with football as the #1 barometer is what got Penn State in the situation it’s in; I think it should go without saying that it should now be moved to the bottom of the importance scale, even though I’d hate the negative effect on the innocent players who currently man the Nittany Lion roster.

There were reports tonight of media vans being tipped over and rocks being thrown at reporters. When I shut down Twitter to start writing this, police dogs were on the verge of being unleashed according to multiple reports.

Does this sound like a campus that is ready to host a football game on Saturday?

I don’t think so.

And to those who will say that things will die down by Saturday, I respond thusly: yes, maybe they will…but what if they don’t? And it leads me back to where the benefit of the doubt now needs to go in Penn State’s decision making: away from football and as close to an 100% assurance of safety as possible. I don’t think a football game just days after all of this, with emotions still likely to be raw and even unbridled, guarantees 100% safety.

If Penn State is committed to making changes that will ensure innocent people aren’t horribly violated on their watch in the future, this is a no-brainer first step.

Cancel Saturday’s game against Nebraska, or move it out of State College if you can (my preferred resolution, for the record). Any other decision is putting football over safety, and in case you need to know why that’s wrong, just remember that it’s the most likely reason for why we are here in the first place.

(And as usual, I find a way to bring up the Evansville Purple Aces.)

Click play on the players below to listen:

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Music notes:

• The opening song is “Smooth Disturbance” by my old band, the National Biscuit Company.
• The closing song is “Numbers” by another of my old bands, Three Hit Combo.
• (I use my own music so that I don’t have to worry about rights and such.)

Via @Ben_Jones88 and Michelle Steele, Joe Paterno has released the following statement:

Paterno full statement: STATE COLLEGE, Pa., Nov. 9, 2011 — I am absolutely devastated by the developments in this case. I grieve for the children and their families, and I pray for their comfort and relief.

I have come to work every day for the last 61 years with one clear goal in mind: To serve the best interests of this university and the young men who have been entrusted to my care. I have the same goal today.

That’s why I have decided to announce my retirement effective at the end of this season. At this moment the Board of Trustees should not spend a single minute discussing my status. They have far more important matters to address. I want to make this as easy for them as I possibly can. This is a tragedy. It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more.

My goals now are to keep my commitments to my players and staff and finish the season with dignity and determination. And then I will spend the rest of my life doing everything I can to help this University.

In everything I personally have seen or read about this situation, and specifically regarding how Penn State students are handling it – an angle I am very interested in having once been a part of an emotional on-campus coach controversy roller coaster – nothing has been more compelling than this video of a Penn State student addressing his peers:

I really feel that this student is absolutely spot-on regarding the reasoning for what some call a “Paterno witch hunt” but what I and others simply view as a quest for answers and accountability, especially as it relates to Paterno and the culpability I feel he and others have for enabling child abuse through inaction.

He says:

“This is not about Joe Paterno. This is not about Graham Spanier. This about our leaders and holding them accountable.”

…

“I love Joe Paterno just as much as you do, but we can’t give him a free ticket out of this. He’s a part of it.”

Naturally, right after the student said this, another student yelled out “Tony Dorsett went to Pitt!” This just shows the varying degrees of seriousness with which Penn State students are viewing this, and an immature college student simplifying a very complex and important human story into crass sporting terms should really not be all that unexpected. Fortunately maturity prevailed at least a little while longer and the speech continued.

The young man’s points are well taken, certainly by me and hopefully by his peers who listened to him. Joe Paterno is a football coaching legend, and he always will be. And he is far from the only person who was, at best, morally negligent in how he handled information that was given to him. He is far from the only person with culpability.

But the facts are the facts, and the facts – which we can all probably recite as they relate to what Paterno and other Penn State leaders knew, and when, and what they did and did not do with that information – strongly suggest that Joe Paterno could have and should have done more to protect society from a sexually deviant monster.

If JoePa deserves plaudits for all of his wins and for “putting State College on the map”, and he does, then he also deserves to be held accountable when unspeakable horrors he was told about are perpetrated on the campus he put on the map.

I think this is what the Penn State student in the video above is bravely trying to say to a number of emotional fellow students who want to celebrate JoePa rather than examine the ramifications of Joe Paterno’s inaction. I think he’s 100% right, and I applaud him for saying it.

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For the man who was once college football’s most revered of legends, it has come to this.

Image source: Ben Jones

Because of the lighting and instability of the camera, Paterno almost looks more like ghost than man through the window. It is both eerie and appropriate all at the same time.

According to multiple reports, Paterno spoke, at times weeping, through the window to the throngs of students, reporters, and others gathered on his lawn.

And this image, capturing during a situation developing as I type this, is in stark contrast to another image of Paterno snapped earlier in the day:

Image source: OnwardSlate via The Sports Hernia

It’s a look that says, “what, me worry?”

Yes Joe, indeed you should. You and scores of other folks in the Penn State athletic department and administration should have been worried today and long before, about things much, much, much (x 1,000) more exigent than football or convenience or friendships or anything else.

You should have been worried about, and acted upon, the monster in your midst.

But I think you know that know. To bad it’s too little, too late.

Update: Here is video of Joe Paterno addressing the students and reports outside his window. (Hat tip: Larry Brown Sports)

I really don’t know what to say, especially now that the number of kids molested by Jerry Sandusky is apparently up to 20. And Paterno and so many others were in a position to help prevent it from continuing. It’s unconscionable.

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But I think it’s one job of the blogger to provide a forum for relevant discussions not being had elsewhere, and whether the answer is “yes” or “no” I certainly think this question is relevant.

As you probably know by now, Penn State canceled its scheduled press conference with Joe Paterno earlier today, less than an hour before it was to begin. Over 150 media members were already there, waiting for their chance to question the coach about the Jerry Sandusky scandal, when the announcement was made that the press conference would not go on. (Reportedly, the cancellation of the press conference was not Joe Paterno’s decision. Relatedly, news broke right after the cancellation that Penn State is planning an exit strategy for the coach.)

My very first thought was this: if Penn State cannot even plan for and hold a press conference, when they have had plenty of time to prepare since this became a national story, how on earth can they put on a major college football game less than a week from now?

I wondered this from both a logistical standpoint and a moral/emotional standpoint.

So let me ask you, and then break down my own thoughts on it a bit further:

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Beaver Stadium image source: PSU.edu

There are many, many layers to this, so I do not think by any means that the answer is simple.

On the one hand, this is Penn State’s senior day, it is a game with huge ramifications in the Big Ten and national bowl picture, and canceling would negatively impact scores and scores of people who were in no way responsible for the heinous acts of Jerry Sandusky or the despicable enabling of Sandusky by Penn State’s athletic department leadership.

On the other hand, at least eight children are confirmed to be on the record with details of sick, evil abuse by Jerry Sandusky, and while the Penn State athletic department and university may not be wholly complicit in any of these acts (though at least one current member of the Penn State coaching staff saw one these acts actually being performed), a number of other people at Penn State, including even Joe Paterno, are at the very least implicit in the continued occurrence of Sandusky’s deplorable deviance after first learning of the accusations against him.

So I think you balance out any “unfairness” with the awful nature of what happened.

The question would be this: is canceling the game anything more than punitive? If not, what’s the point in canceling it? But perhaps it would be more than that.

Hosting a major college football game is no easy, thoughtless task. An athletic department and a coaching staff must be fully engaged in the logistics of the event. It seems to me that every ounce of spare energy and resource that the Penn State athletic department has should be focused on getting to the bottom of exactly what went wrong that allowed innocent children to be horribly abused in its buildings. If the game would take away from that effort, then perhaps it is worth canceling.

Again, I don’t know, although I’m leaning towards a postponement, at a minimum. I’m hashing these issues out in my own head as I type them. What I am more interested in are your thoughts, and certainly I’ll continue the dialogue with you in the comment section.

• What angles am I missing?
• What is the most prudent decision?
• What is the most moral decision?
• Should this even be an issue?

There are relevant answers on all sides of these questions, and I’d love to hear what you think.

I know this: I think Penn State has done right by its football program over the last decade and a half at the expense of a number of victims who are now scarred for life. If the university and its athletic department have to take some drastic measures as they try to get to the bottom of what happened and show some level of remorse, compassion, and decency, I’m okay with whatever collateral “damage” must be felt by people like Penn State’s seniors, who would miss out on a special day and rite of passage if this game were to be canceled. That would be unfortunate, but in relation to the rest of this story, it would be relatively insignificant.

The comment section is yours. I look forward to your responses.

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Update: Thanks to everyone for the responses below and the many responses on Twitter.

The final thought I’ve come to is that if there is some plan to where the time and resources freed up canceling the game could be put to good use in working through this issue, the game should be canceled; but I have no idea what that plan would be. Absent that, let the game go on, and certainly Penn State fans should support the players like they always would.

To the point, I present the screenshot below, which was sent to me by MSF writer Amanda Lawson with the following note: “From my friend who played for Penn State not too long ago. These past couple of days have been so rough on him. I think a lot of the players are in shock. He posted this on Facebook. It’s from a message board.”

(Click to enlarge in a new window)

This time around Ohio State officials are hoping the faithful will wear all red for the themed “Scarlett Fever.” God knows the Penn State Nittany Lions have thrown the “White Out” at us enough times.

First place in the Big Ten is on the line as they are the only undefeated teams left. If Ohio State (7-1, 4-0) wins they could position themselves as the Big Ten champion which could mean a rematch against USC in the Rose Bowl. A Penn State (8-0, 4-0) win would put them on the inside track to their first BCS championship appearance.

Not that Joe Pa would even think about retiring after a BCS win since going off in style is, well, not his style.

To set this game up, both Ohio State and Penn State are coming off smack downs of the Michigan teams and I wouldn’t be surprised if ESPN’s College Gameday set up shop in Columbus for this one. Historically speaking, this game has a rich history especially since they play each other every year in the last week of October.

Ohio State leads the all-time series 12-11 and they have a 10-5 advantage since Penn State joined the Big Ten in 1993. Joe Paterno bucked the losing trend against Michigan last weekend but he has another this weekend against Ohio State. Joe Paterno has NEVER won in Ohio Stadium in Big Ten play. Joe Pa won in Columbus in October of 1929 but he insists a historic stock market crash is not the reason for victory then or now.

In all seriousness (despite the photo of James Laurinaitis), I believe the most important match ups are the run defenses and ball control. Last week Penn State had a tough time stopping the Michigan spread run offense giving up 202 yards on the ground, a 4.4 average per carry. Most of that was given up in the first half. Last week Ohio State took on the supposedly best running attack in the Big Ten and held the Fighting Izzo’s to 52 yards rushing, a 2.5 yard average. So whichever defense can keep the other team’s dual running threats off the field longer should win this game because I don’t see a lot of turnovers occurring.

Prediction: Ohio State 27 Penn State 21

(Photo Art by Midwest Sports Fans)

Coming into the 2008 college football season, Joe Paterno was one win behind Bobby Bowden (as of March 1, 2008 at the date of linking) on the all-time NCAA Division 1 college football coaching wins list. He was also at the center of a firestorm surrounding off-field issues with members of his Penn State Nittany Lions football team, as chronicled ESPN’s Outside the Lines. The controversy, combined with the Nittany Lions pedestrian 9-7 Big Ten record over the 2006 and 2007 seasons, led to whispers coming into the 2008 season that it might be time for Joe Paterno to step down.

You remember these whispers. They were the same ones that cropped up after the 2004 season when Paterno and the Nittany Lions were reeling after posting losing records in 4 out of 5 seasons, culminating with back-to-back 9th place finishes in a Big Ten conference not known for its depth of competition. But in 2005, the winning tradition was resurrected in Happy Valley as the Nittany Lions went 11-1 and finished 3rd in the nation after an Orange Bowl victory.

Once again, Joe Paterno has proven to be an immortal coaching phoenix. Joe Paterno, the Nittany Phoenix, has risen from the ashes once again to lead a Penn State team that currently sits at 7-0 (3-0) and ranked 3rd in the nation as they prepare to take on the hapless Michigan Wolverines in Happy Valley this weekend.

Oh, and as for being behind Bobby Bowden? Joe Paterno, as of this posting, now sits atop the list of NCAA D1 college football coaches with 379 wins. Bobby Bowden has 377.

Can Joe Paterno get win number 380 this weekend? All signs point to yes except one: Michigan has beaten Penn State nine straight games, by an average victory margin of two touchdowns. But if there was ever season for the streak to be broken, this is it. The Penn State Nittany Lions are clicking on all cylinders, outscoring their seven opponents this season 317-77. Michigan, on the other hand, led by Midwest Sports Fans whipping boy and certified egomaniac Rich Rodriguez, has been outscored by its six opponents 113-149.

So Penn State is averaging 45.3 points per game (good for 7th in the nation) while the Wolverines and their offensive genius of a coach are racking up a whopping 18.8 points per game against the likes of Toledo and Miami (Ohio). (Actually, Michigan underperformed their average against these historic football powerhouses, scoring a combined 26 points while going 1-1.)

All you whiny Michigan fans can come in here making excuses about they lost all those seniors, and they are playing a bunch of freshman, and they are adjusting to a new coach, and blah blah frieking blah. This preview is not a 5-year projection for Penn State and Michigan. It is a preview and prediction for this weekend, in Happy Valley, against a Penn State team that is actually playing competent football. Do you really think that Steven Threet and Sam McGuffie can go into a Happy Valley blackout and compete with Penn State?

Nine straight victories might suggest using caution. However, eyes that watched the games and seen these two teams play wonder if the Big Ten conference should just invoke a mercy rule and not subject the proud Michigan program to the beatdown that awaits them in Happy Valley on Saturday. Penn State’s top two running backs, Even Royster and Stephfon Green (the name is spelled correctly, don’t worry), come into the game averaging better than six yards per carry each. And how about their offensive balance? Penn State averages 488 yards per game, 235 on the ground and 253 through the air. What do you take away? Umm…you take away any chance that Michigan might have of getting their third win of the season.

Joe Paterno has proven throughout his coaching career that when fans and the media doubt him, he has an uncanny ability to rise to the occasion. He stands behind his players, perhaps to a fault sometimes; but I have to think that the trust he builds with each individual player also compels them to take it up a notch when their coach is taking a beating in terms of the opinions outside the Penn State locker room.

This offseason was filled with turmoil for Joe Paterno and the Penn State Nittany Lions. So far, the season on the field has been filled with nothing but good old fashioned butt whoopings administered by a Nittany Lions team that appears poised to knock Ohio State from their perch as owners of the Big Ten penthouse.

While I am officially guaranteeing a Penn State victory over Michigan this weekend (suck it Rodriguez), I’m not ready to anoint Penn State the 2008 Big Ten champs just yet. They still have to travel to Columbus next weekend to take on an Ohio State team that is still very good but flying under the radar after the ass kicking by USC. Obviously, the winner of that game controls their own destiny for the remainder of the season.

I have to say, as a college football fan who grew up in Big Ten country, I am happy to see Joe Paterno finding success in the twilight of his career. I don’t know enough about the off-field issues to pass judgment on them, but I do know that Joe Paterno has given his life to college athletics and to grooming young men at Penn State University. I firmly believe that no one explicitly “deserves” anything on an athletic field — you go out and earn it. However, Joe Paterno certainly deserves the success that his Nittany Lions are earning on the field this Fall.

And on Saturday against Michigan, that success will all be contained in one very concise statement leading to the showdown at the Horseshoe: 8-0

Yes indeed, the Nittany Phoenix has risen again.

[tags]joe paterno, penn state nittany lions, college football, michigan wolverines[/tags]

by KVB

Often I read my college friend’s Off The Tracks Purdue blog and he has gotten the attention of the Big Ten Bloggers Roundtable for his site on the Boilermakers. If I’m not mistaken he got slammed last year by readers for crossing the line in a rant about Notre Dame Football, but otherwise he’s a great writer and Notre Dame still sucks.

Soon maybe Midwest Sports Fans could have some writers in the Big Ten Bloggers Roundtable (even though I got rejected by the MAC Conference Bloggers) but until then below I answered their preseason questions. Keep in mind I’m wearing a sweatervest with no pants right now….

1. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg recently ranked the top 5 rivalries in the Big Ten and there were some controversial results (Illinois v Ohio State as #3?). Clearly Ohio State vs. Michigan is the #1 rivalry in the Big Ten, but give me your next three. It is obvious the Illinois upset over the undefeated Buckeyes last year made that a sexy pick at #3; as well as the game being in Illinois this year and probably on ESPN/ABC. But the ugly wooden “Illibuck” turtle trophy and Ohio State’s 60-30-4 all-time advantage make this not so sweet. The Wisconsin-Minnesota Paul Bunyan Axe gets the award for best trophy. Also, if you are a Big Ten fan you love every stadium in conference except the house that Kent Hrbek built, so be glad for the new outdoor Gopher football church set to be used on Saturday’s in 2009. Anyway…

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Michigan-Michigan State – Some players say these inter-state rivals mean a lot more to them than any others (i.e. Florida-Florida State, Alabama-Auburn, Texas-Texas A&M, USC-UCLA). This is definitely attributed to those same in-state players feeling they got shafted in the recruiting process by “the bigger school” or players at said bigger school feeling embarrassed if they lose to the “weaker program.” Especially at the states big on high school football like Texas, Florida, and California.

Penn State-Ohio State – The Buckeyes took the all-time advantage (12-11) in this one after last year’s beat down in Crappy Valley, 37-17. Before joining the Big Ten, Penn State beat Earle Bruce’s squad 31-19, in the 1980 Fiesta Bowl. Compared to Joe Pa’s 7-12 career record, The Nittney Lions got 4 wins against Ohio State before Joe was the man, obviously pre-leather helmets era. I myself have a “Michigan Sucks, Penn State Swallows” t-shirt. Going through my head: I hope I don’t get reamed by the editor for mentioning a state outside of the cornfields.

5. Brian at MGO was kind enough to post a diary entry which gives us and new coach Rich Rodriguez a list of Michigan traditions that maybe we were not all aware of. This has inspired two final questions…

Similar to the succulent Buckeye candies (a peanut butter ball dipped in hot fudge to look like the buckeye tree nut); there is the lesser known, Michigan Cookies! Easy to make too! Put them in a big Bowl and beat them for three hours. Note: Despite the first game on January 1^st, the Outback Bowl in not a big bowl.

KVB