Penn State responded to a pending Sports Illustrated article last night that sent many Penn State beat writers into a frenzy.

The article written by David Epstein, who has covered Penn State before and not necessarily in a favorable light, reportedly slams Penn State’s medical program and administrative moves made over the past several months by Athletic Director David Joyner, who is an orthopedic surgeon himself. “Special Report: Do Athletics Still Have Too Much Power at Penn State?” is featured on the cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated, seemingly unrelated to the actual article but a headline that is sure to grab some attention at the news stand. It is due out Wednesday on the web.

In a move that has been uncharacteristic of Penn State in recent history, the athletic department got out in front of the story Tuesday night before it was even released to the public.

“To characterize the medical care Penn State provides our student-athletes as anything other than the highest quality is erroneous,” associate athletic director for communications Jeff Nelson said in a statement. “Access to urgent and quality care for our athletes is no less than where it was at any point in the past 20 years. We provided Sports Illustrated with facts and data that demonstrate our commitment to our student athletes and how we compare to other peer institutions. Instead, the article sensationalizes in order to insinuate lower standards and largely ignores statements from the Dean of the College of Medicine. Contrary to the reporter’s assertions, Dr. Sebastianelli remains the doctor in charge of the University’s entire medical program for intercollegiate athletics, including football. Further, there has been no change in the support provided by State College-based Penn State orthopedic surgeons, including Dr. Sebastianelli.”

Head coach Bill O’Brien also released a preemptive statement on the article. O’Brien has been largely seen as responsible for many of the shifts in the athletic department personnel, at least until now.

“When I was hired as the Head Football Coach at Penn State, I was asked to observe areas of the football program and then make recommendations,” O’Brien said. “After observing our medical organization in the football program for a full year, I recommended that it would be in the best interests of our program, and most importantly our student-athletes, to make a change in the team physicians. Dr. Lynch and Dr. Seidenberg were identified as excellent doctors who could serve in this role. Dr.Seidenberg will attend our practices and Dr. Lynch will be here on game day. From a coverage standpoint, we have exactly the same level of medical care as we had previously. The same surgeons as last year are available to players who would need that level of attention. Nothing about our level or quality of athlete care has changed. These young men mean a great deal to me and our staff. They give their all to Penn State. I will always recommend what I feel is best for our student-athletes in every area of the football program.”

Athletic Director David Joyner called the Sports Illustrated accusations “baseless.”

“Care of our student-athletes is a top priority for Penn State, as it always has been,” Joyner said. “The present medical care model is very consistent with peer institutions in the Big Ten and elsewhere. The present system offers appropriate and exceptional medical care for our student-athletes. It’s terribly unfortunate some want to make baseless accusations. We refuse to engage in a such a conversation. The vast majority of Penn Staters want the focus to be on our dedicated student-athletes, as it should be.”

A person who received an advance copy of the article called it a “hit job” to StateCollege.com’s Ben Jones.

“On Tuesday night, a source who received an advanced copy of the article told StateCollege.com that the article will call into question Joyner’s athletic administrative experience. The source said unnamed Board of Trustees members are featured as well as a few named members of the Penn State community. Those board members left unnamed will be “easy to figure out,” according to the source, who also said that the article’s “one-sided nature” may be considered a “hit job” by some.”

Penn State athletics also released an interesting statement saying that that Penn State’s director of athletic training, Tim Bream, was investigated by an outside law firm.

“Questions and rumors about the head athletic trainer were investigated by an outside law firm in January. The trainer and supervisory physicians were interviewed. The legal team’s report concluded there was no credible or substantial evidence to support the allegations or rumors, and there was no wrongdoing or violation of any professional standards. The report also concluded that none of the physicians who supervise the head trainer had made or documented any contemporaneous complaints to anyone or discussed with the trainer any concerns about overstepping bounds of care.

Mr. Bream is a respected and dedicated professional who provides care to hundreds of our student-athletes.”

It’s unusual to see Penn State so far out in front of a story like this, and it’s easy to speculate what could be included in the story today. Early reports seem to indicate the Sports Illustrated looked into the medical care athletes received in 2012-2013 compared to previous years.

Long-time Penn State team physician Wayne Sabastianelli was reassigned from the team physician role to the head of athletic medicine. Peter Seidenberg filled Sabstianelli’s old position, and Dr. Scott Lynch currently serves as an orthopedic consultant. It is unclear what exactly Sports Illustrated will say about these men but it is likely that they will be mentioned in some way.

Epstein also responded to the initial fuss on Twitter.

huh, the twitter hate starts before the story is even out. will be interesting to see once it’s read

— David Epstein (@SIDavidEpstein) May 14, 2013

…and the anti-Semitic hate tweets start. so. predictable.

— David Epstein (@SIDavidEpstein) May 15, 2013

Scranton Times-Tribune Penn State writer Donnie Collins got an advance copy of the article. Here are some highlights from his dozens of Tweets about it last night.

First quote is from a parent of a player, not identified. Said promise of a physician at every practice was instrumental in son going to PSU

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

Change in medical staff, according to SI, attributed to Dave Joyner, the “controversial” new AD.

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

SI: Ouster of Sebastianelli done “summarily,” and “without reference to performance issues” and on BOB’s reccomendation.

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

SI: Before ’92, PSU implemented medical plan that had ortho surgeon drive from Hershey 1-2 times per week.

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

Then-chair of ortho, Vincent Pelligrini, called it “B system on a good day, C on bad.”

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

Joyner and Sebastianelli didn’t comment to SI on the story.

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

SI: Pellegrini said PSU had a model program for athletic medicine, but says Joyner was unqualified for post Sebastianelli got. Upset him.

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

SI: Michael Robinson quoted in the story. Talking about concussion he suffered at Wisconsin. Sebastianelli wouldn’t let him play for weeks.

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

SI: Robinson now says he’s grateful for Sebastianelli’s decision. Wasn’t pleased at time. Passed ImPACT testing after game.

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

SI: In mid-90s, Joyner sons told teammates their father could operate on them,.

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

SI: Several sources say they recall Joyner and Sebastianelli having “heated words” over Joyner possibly trying to lure athletes away.

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

SI: By 2005, after failed business venture, Joyner more than $1 million in debt. Turned to Lubert for financial support.

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

SI: “You have to ask yourself how a member of the BOT was hired as AD without a national search.” — Brandon Short.

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

SI: Sebastianelli asked to clear out his office four days after “acting” role removed from Joyner’s title.

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

SI: PSU medical professionals stunned by Sebastianelli’s removal. Some refused requests to succeed him.

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

SI: A recently graduated player said injuries were commonplace at PSU practices. BOB says he believes in having primary care guy on hand.

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

SI: 3 sources say they saw Tim Bream — who doesn’t have med. degree — giving players anti-inflammatory Voltaren w/ out physician approval.

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

SI: Walk-on receiver Garrett Lerner said he suffered two burns on leg when Bream misused an electrical stimulation machine.

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

SI: Lerner said burns became painful later in the week. No physician on hand in training room to examine. Trainers kept them covered.

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

SI: Lerner said he wasn’t examined for days, burns became infected.

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

SI: Pelligrini says Joyner has a business conflict of interests and a personal conflict of interests.

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

SI: Adam Taliaferro was “very concerned” when learned Sebastianelli had been replaced. Credits him with walking again.

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

SI: Andre Taliaferro, Adam’s dad, called notion that changes were BOB’s decision “b.s.”

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

SI: Pelligrini says “My own opinion is that (Joyner) is not an honorable guy in this situation.”

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

Clearly, PSU eating itself alive from the inside. This story was a full-on mugging of Joyner, deserved or not.

— Donnie Collins (@psubst) May 15, 2013

And here’s the main photo for the article:

In Sports Illustrated tomorrow, a special report questions Penn State athletics medical care and Dave Joyner. twitter.com/Matt_Maisel/st…

— Matt Maisel (@Matt_Maisel) May 15, 2013

 

We’ll have more as this story develops today.