Bill O'Brien kicked off his first Penn State Football media day this morning with a press conference in front of a couple hundred reporters. The first question centered around the mood of the team after the first few days of practice following the NCAA sanctions and subsequent transfers. The response from the first year head coach? "The morale has been excellent."
"Black Shoe, Basic Blues, No Names, All Game." The third segment there is no more as it was announced this afternoon on the Penn State Athletics website that football uniforms will feature names on the back.
As an avid Penn State fan, I know that it's a tough feeling when we see one of our own leave, in any sport, whether they graduate, get injured, or end up transferring. Sometimes it's just sadness because you're going to miss them. Sometimes it's sympathy because you wish they could play, but their injury leaves them on the sidelines. Lately, though, it's been pure anger because we feel betrayed.
We've got to learn to let go.
Summer practice got underway for Penn State yesterday. With the list of transfers likely finalized, here is a look at the nine players who elected to leave the football program over the past two weeks.
Earlier this afternoon, lawyers on behalf of the Joe Paterno family sent an official appeal letter to the NCAA relating to the sanctions levied against the Penn State football team. The letter can be found below in it's entirety.