(LOGANTON) – The Penn State Nittany Lions are preparing to embark on a NEW era of football beginning in September 2012.
After 46 years of doing it the “JoePA” way in Happy Valley, new head football coach Bill O’Brien relishes at the opportunity of taking one of the nation’s most prestigious institutions of higher learning and achievement on and off the football field, into another direction.
O’Brien signed a five year deal earlier in the Spring. But, that was before the NCAA handed down a “near death” penalty judgment that will have rippling effects for quite sometime.
Fortunately, Penn State took care of someone that had nothing to do with the fall of Penn State football and tacked on four additional years to his contract. This was the ONLY fair thing to do to someone that is trying to restore the impeccable image and reputation that Joe Paterno had built.
But, it goes without saying that what Paterno had built; was quickly torn down by former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, and his molestation of 10 young boys from 1998 through 2011.
It was Paterno, former university President Dr. Graham Spanier, retired Vice President Gary Shultz, and former Athletic Director Tim Curley; that knowingly didn’t follow through on stipulated policy and downright moral terpitude in protecting those boys, in favor of protecting the integrity of the Penn State football program.
So, is $60 million, four years of no league championships, bowl games, and the loss of approximately 60 scholarships during that time… ENOUGH?
I don’t personally believe it is. How can $60 million restore the lives of these 10 boys and others, that were sodomized and victimized through the inactions of these men.
As much as I love sports… children come first and foremost.
Being the father of six sons and two grandsons, I would definitely hurt someone that would hurt my boys.
Whether its a round ball, oval ball, a round puck, or any other type of ball; sports helps young athletes build character, builds community pride, and helps students attain degrees of higher learning that they previously could not afford to get.
For non – sports fans, don’t allow the inactions of individuals such as Sandusky, Paterno, Spanier and Shultz bring down the efforts that have been built to help student – athletes gain that achievement through sports.
