From the most rabid Penn State sports fan to the student who just may have just learned the names Jerry Sandusky, Tim Curley, and Mike McQueary, this past week has been tough on all of us. This scandal will linger for quite some time, and although in no way should the victims be overlooked, the show must go on in the world of high profile Penn State athletics.

There will be football at Beaver Stadium at noon on Saturday, but just after that and just next door, the men’s basketball team will begin its season. The first game of the Pat Chambers era is a tilt against the Hartford Hawks, starting 4:30 p.m. at the Bryce Jordan Center, with free admission offered for all fans. Continuing with the free theme, there will be no-cost shuttle buses running before and after the game, and 116 prizes will be distributed to honor the 116th season of Penn State basketball.

Hartford, coached by John Gallagher, is a member of the American East conference and is coming off an 11-20 season. No one on their current roster scored in double figures last season, but one player to look out for will be senior Genesis Maciel.

A common theme from the Nittany Lions’ scrimmage against Slippery Rock last week was frequent substituions. It will be interesting to see what lineup Pat Chambers starts the game with and how long he sticks with it. A matchup against second ranked Kentucky is only one week away, and the young team will need to gel fast before a matchup against the highly touted Wildcats next Saturday.

A football and basketball doubleheader has been anticipated for a long time, and while Saturday will be incredibly emotional, the doubleheader should not be taken for granted. In times of stress and sadness, we often turn to sports as an outlet to escape whatever may be keeping us down. This scandal has pushed us to the brink, and one way to show pride and solidarity is to rally around all Penn State student athletes who have done nothing wrong.

So support the beginning of the Pat Chambers era on Saturday. Hey, it’ll beat sitting in traffic!