I grew up in Philly, and since we have no decent college f’ball team in the area, we go for Penn State, even though it’s closer to Pittsburgh, which we hate.
So I dig Joe Paterno, the graduate-my-boys legend, age 84 and the winningest coach in college f’ball history, who got fired after 68 million years before today’s game, even though he offered to step down at the end of the season and graciously head out to pasture.
Sounded fair after his righteous record, but it really wasn’t, so they unceremoniously fired him anyway.
But that was the easy part. It wasn’t just Joe Paterno’s feet of clay, it was everybody at Penn State, from president to underclassman.
The only proper penance for this abomination would have been to cancel and forfeit this big game against Nebraska and ruin the weekend plans of some 100,000 Penn St. fans. To convey the gravity of the situation, to share the shame.
Now that would truly say “we’re sorry,” rather than just booting the old man as scapegoat.
I’ve sorta rooted for Penn State over the years as a Philadelphian with not much else choice. No more, until they do a proper penance. This stinks too much, from head to tail from the top brass to the kids making a minor riot in the streets over Joe Pa’s sacking.
College, welcome to the real world. You’ve got some heavy dues to pay.
I wonder if there is any way that Temple can take advantage of this? New motto: College Football. Without the Icky Stuff.
My problem with canceling the game is that it would be unfair to Nebraska. Maybe they should have moved the game to Nebraska. Now there’s an idea. Make the rest of the games away games. Take football out of State College, or something. I’d be willing to bet that most schools would happily accommodate the unexpected home game.
Tom, I think you might have your dates mixed up. I’m pretty sure there’s just one football game today, the one at Stanford.
Pretty sure it’s going to be a much more enjoyable Game Of The Year than last week’s. Here’s hoping the grass and the lack of Autzen noise make the difference.
Quack!
Sigh.
Not that I would know without having looked it up, but the Penn St./Nebraska game was today. Nebraska took the win, 17-14.
Tom, re your point, I pretty much felt the same way, and when I tuned into the game (out of a sense of morbid curiosity, or perhaps just to avoid dealing with the leaves for a little while longer), I was initially surprised to see the big crowd and a competitive game. But on reflection it makes sense — the offender was no longer there, and it became a opportunity for solidarity and for moving on. (I guess that’s the case, anyway — I only watched a minute or two).
An interesting article here on Penn. Stuff I didn’t know, but hell I didn’t even know who Sandusky was supposed to have assaulted, was so tied down in sexual harassment discussions I assumed it was a kind of coaching harassment inveigling sexual favors, to my never ending embarrassment.