Eliminating The Sanctions, As Told By Twitter
All in all, yesterday was an eventful day for Dear Old State. And if you’re on Twitter, yesterday was even more entertaining thanks to the unbridled happiness of Penn State fans contrasted with the bitterness from Ohio State and Pitt fans. Let’s recap what happened yesterday through the lens of social media:
The Mitchell Report is released.
BREAKING: Mitchell Report recommends Penn State bowl eligibility for 2014-15, full scholarships for 2015-16: http://t.co/bbmwBpmgqg
— Onward State (@OnwardState) September 8, 2014
Here’s the most important paragraph in the Mitchell report, outlining the recommendation for sanction reductions. pic.twitter.com/m2zruZlvEN — Onward State (@OnwardState) September 8, 2014
Immediately after, the NCAA announces that the bowl ban has been lifted.
The @NCAA just announced that Penn State will IMMEDIATELY have football postseason eligibility. That’s per the official @InsidetheNCAA.
— Onward State (@OnwardState) September 8, 2014
And the scholarships back next year.
Penn State will have all 85 scholarships back next season. Here’s the official @NCAA statement: http://t.co/3W6SSJfudS — Onward State (@OnwardState) September 8, 2014
Students in the HUB tune in to ESPN’s report regarding the NCAA removing Penn State’s postseason ban. pic.twitter.com/iHvciyS60Q
— Onward State (@OnwardState) September 8, 2014
Let’s celebr-
“Hail to the Lion” and “Zombie Nation” is blasting from Beaver Canyon right now. GOOD TIMES NEVER SEEMED SO GOOD! — Onward State (@OnwardState) September 8, 2014
-oh wait, more good news:
More great news: The Big Ten just announced that Penn State can also compete for the Big Ten Championship this year!!
— Onward State (@OnwardState) September 8, 2014
Here’s part of the Big Ten’s statement. The $60 million fine and win vacations remain in effect: pic.twitter.com/SOaJYGCwJj — Onward State (@OnwardState) September 8, 2014
NOW LET’S RAGE
I’m gonna blast Seven Nation Army and chant and scream and scare my neighbors because holy god we’re going to a bowl game
— Bill (@bflip33) September 8, 2014
no longer spending money until December so I can buy front row tickets to whatever bowl game we get into. let’s freaking GOOOOO #WeAre — Maddy Pryor (@maddyyypryor) September 8, 2014
Penn Staters are getting started early this evening downtown by drinking out of bowls (get it?). pic.twitter.com/7Krv6YyPT4
— Onward State (@OnwardState) September 8, 2014
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! — Kevin Horne (@KevinHornePSU) September 8, 2014
My biggest recruit yet. RT @TLdlevarse: BREAKING: Penn State is postseason eligible for the 2014 season.
— Evil James Franklin (@JamesFrankwin) September 8, 2014
LAAAAAAAA LAAAA LA LA NOW WE GOT ALL OUR SCHOLLIES BACK. — Ryan Beckler (@RyanBeckler) September 8, 2014
Per recommendation of Sen. George Mitchell, NCAA has restored Penn State Football postseason eligibility effective immediately.
— Penn State (@penn_state) September 8, 2014
Great day for @penn_state! Happy to have post season eligibility and all 85 scholarships back! WE ARE! — Anand Ganjam (@AnandGanjam) September 8, 2014
Feeling pretty damn good for the team, but especially for the 2014 seniors who stayed and the 2013 class that stuck with PSU
— Evil James Franklin (@JamesFrankwin) September 8, 2014
I knew that 4:09 clock stoppage on Saturday was a sign of good things #pennstate #timetogobowling #bigtenchamps — Stephanie Vechy (@stephanievechy) September 8, 2014
Penn State cancelling classes tomorrow or nah? I mean honestly the bowl ban being lifted is bigger than Thanksgiving.
— Levi Albright (@levi_albright) September 8, 2014
Penn state getting back to bowl games lesgo #weare — tyler rosenblatt (@NoneOfThatBlatt) September 8, 2014
BAI SANCTIONS
— Matt d (@PSUMatt2005) September 8, 2014
Some players, both past and present, seemed to be taking the news well:
“Penn State had sanctions bout a week agoooooo” – — DaeSean Hamilton (@SkeeterMills__) September 8, 2014
Thank you to everyone who supported us when few did… we came here for you guys! It’s a great day to be a Penn Stater. #WEARE
— Adam Breneman (@AdamBreneman81) September 8, 2014
BOWL GAME TIME TO EAT — DaeSean Hamilton (@SkeeterMills__) September 8, 2014
Thank you to all the former and current players who stood by us. Also want to thank our incredible fans! Now lets go and beat Rutgers #weare
— Miles Dieffenbach (@Curiousjorge65) September 8, 2014
The bowl ban was lifted ! Extremely appreciative and excited for the opportunity but we still have a mission: win this game against Rutgers. — Nyeem (@Numero_Five) September 8, 2014
Only right we eat some 409 WINgs pic.twitter.com/z5Kfevc5HT
— JaMarr (@Thee1NonlyBBELL) September 8, 2014
Proud day for Penn State Football. All I can say is… Its about time. #WeAreBack — Michael Mauti (@Michael_Mauti) September 8, 2014
Finally a correction. NCAA was wrong about the Penn State football culture and had no business handing down sanctions. Was not their case.
— Todd Blackledge (@Todd_Blackledge) September 8, 2014
What Bowl are we going to??!! — Graham Zug (@G_Zug_5) September 8, 2014
— JaMarr (@Thee1NonlyBBELL) September 8, 2014
A few Penn State coaches responded, and even Bill O’Brien seemed happy for Penn State:
Bill O’Brien: “Penn State is a wonderful place. [I’m] very happy for Penn State, mostly for the players and the coaching staff.” — Onward State (@OnwardState) September 8, 2014
Excited to get back to work on the practice field preparing for a very good Rutgers team this weekend. #WeAre pic.twitter.com/lQThDjV2IX
— Herb Hand (@CoachHand) September 8, 2014
Franklin: “This team plays for each other…for Penn State, our families, the former players, our students, alumni, fans and the community.” — Onward State (@OnwardState) September 8, 2014
Today is a memorable day for these young men! The men who stayed together for each other! Today Penn State is back! pic.twitter.com/GoZXRLwL1X
— Josh Gattis (@Coach_Gattis) September 8, 2014
The Paterno brothers and Penn State also commented on the sanctions:
Penn State has released a statement on the sanction reductions with quotes from Eric Barron and Keith Masser: http://t.co/AYaRGTjHJy — Onward State (@OnwardState) September 8, 2014
The Paterno brothers weighed in on the NCAA news, and say that they will still pursue their lawsuit. http://t.co/QNQnZxWJH5
— Onward State (@OnwardState) September 8, 2014
And don’t forget about the awesome rally last night:
Cell phones illuminate Old Main lawn as students celebrate the end of Penn State’s bowl ban (photo: @rysChen) pic.twitter.com/ONQNi0bkdb — Onward State (@OnwardState) September 9, 2014
Gate A at Beaver Stadium is packed with students chanting Penn State fight songs. (photo: @rysChen) pic.twitter.com/PBnAoliVir
— Onward State (@OnwardState) September 9, 2014
Crowd still growing in Beaver Canyon. Loud cheers and singing erupts as Sweet Caroline plays from an apartment. pic.twitter.com/Fn8pgiXOBZ — Onward State (@OnwardState) September 9, 2014
. @StateCollegePD id like to file a noise complaint….
— Brad Vasko (@BradVasko) September 9, 2014
SC police chief Thomas King: “We consider this a peaceful crowd…as long as no extensive damage is being done we have no problem with it.” — Onward State (@OnwardState) September 9, 2014
Celebrate good times. pic.twitter.com/D9hlwiWu2K — Onward State (@OnwardState) September 9, 2014
But most importantly, remember this:
We never left. pic.twitter.com/5ntrD2r2Gh — Onward State (@OnwardState) September 8, 2014
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