It was only a month ago that Penn State football fans were trying to understand how a quarterback-less team was having such a surprisingly successful season and few envisioned a Big Ten title and New Year's Day bowl game. Now in light of recent events, should Penn State consider declining a bowl invitation?
Saturday afternoon, Penn State Won its first game without Joe Paterno as its official head coach since 1965. Much of the world and many elements of Penn State were much different forty six years ago. Here's a look at what life was like back then.
I wish that headline above was false. It's not. Scott Paterno has spoke again, this time with the announcement that his father has treatable lung cancer. A source close to Mount Nittany Medical Center confirms that Joe Paterno watched last Saturday's game against Nebraska at the hospital. Doctors are optimistic that he will make a full recovery, but a source close to the hospital describes the tumor as "the size of a fist" and goes on to say that Coach Paterno was splitting up blood during the game with he and his wife both in tears.
David Joyner, who was named as the new acting athletic director earlier this week, was introduced to the media this morning during an on-campus press conference. Joyner has served on the Board of Trustees for more than a decade, and he was also an All-American football player and wrestler when he was a student at Penn State.
Last night, @RBecklerPSU and I received a tip that former Penn State football great Franco Harris would be meeting with University officials at The College Diner (Yes, the Diner). As he was leaving, we were able to sit down with the Penn State legend to discuss the recent events surrounding Penn State and to talk about his purpose for coming here. And boy, did he have a lot to say.
Allow me to begin by saying that I enjoy Sports Illustrated. They do not just simply report the news; they bring it to life and provide meaning behind it. When I was younger, I used to have a yearly subscription. At some point, I cancelled it, no longer having the time to sit down and read a full magazine, but I still followed much of their coverage.
With all of that said, I was disappointed when I saw their cover page for this week's issue. Do not get me wrong, I fully expected that it would involve Penn State, but something is not right about it. Some words and phrases featured on the cover are: Penn State, failure, shame, scandal, painful, and Paterno legacy. What is missing you might ask? Maybe some mention, if not a picture, of JERRY SANDUSKY?! You know, the gentleman who put us in this mess.