bigrocks

If I were a PSU fan, how could I in good conscience stand in that stadium and applaud Joe Paterno in his last home game knowing what we now know, or worse, not knowing what we don’t know?? Talk about conflict… that would tear me up. What should be the final celebration of arguably the greatest coach in college football history takes on a completely different perspective. Scandal… criminal inaction… a far-reaching deficiency in leadership. If he does take the field Saturday, you can count on the media circus being absurd. Part of the issue here; Pennsylvania State University is a very powerful entity and exists in its own little bubble in the middle of nowhere… and it controls everything within those confines. JoePa became the figure head of all things related to Penn State, and is surrounded by people whose sole purpose is to make things simple and comfortable for him. Think drones and queen bee. Let’s face it, his decades long success on the football field became an industry and PSU profited from that stability in dollars and prestige. Outside of Happy Valley, PA the world spins a bit differently, so it’s not surprising the speed and gravity of this situation eclipsed what the powers at PSU were able or willing to cope with. So, now they are faced with the very situation they tried so hard to avoid: Do we pull everyone into the castle walls and try to wait out a siege, or do we submit to outside pressure, sacrifice our monarch and risk alienating the local masses who have come to adore him and depend on his presence?

As fans, I think we all agree that college football has taken another huge hit this week… one that makes all other bad behavior over the past couple of years pale in comparison. What is happening at PSU is hard to fathom. We are witnessing the real time implosion of the one program everyone agreed was the model to live by. At least that’s what we all thought. I have never been a fan of State, though I did respect the program and the team. My ex-wife was an alum and absolutely LOVED the school, the town, the football team, and most of all JoePa. I visited Happy Valley a couple of times with her and it struck me as the ideal college town and a great place to be a student. I can’t image what she and all fans, students, alum are going through as all this comes crashing down. That said, everyone involved in this saga should be fired immediately.... McQueary, the AD, the school President, and yes Paterno. We are not talking about a couple of baseless accusations or some nameless assistant coach fooling around with one of the secretaries behind his wife's back, or a booster paying for a recruit’s lap dance. As someone mentioned, these are felony charges dating back a number of years involving a Grand Jury. Heinous crimes against multiple children. There is no defense. No place to hide. Sandusky was Paterno's right hand guy for years and was tapped to be JoePa's heir... wonder why that went south? I think we know now. Instead of immediately calling the police or any state law enforcement, they “handled” it internally… tried to keep a lid on it so as to not tarnish the Penn State image. Well its been tainted irrevocably now. I read in one column that the remainder of PSU’s season should be cancelled and initially thought that was excessive, but after thinking it through perhaps that isn’t such a bad way for the university to bring some rationality to this situation..

Not surprised by any of them going pro.... actually would have been shocked if they had stayed another season. They played three seasons at a high level, and now its time to move on for them as players. The good programs reload and move on.

"I am committed to earning my degree in architectural design from Stanford University and am on track to accomplish this at the completion of the spring quarter of 2012." Any bets on whether Newton comes back for another year at Auburn? Does anyone even know if he has a major there?

Hopefully, Oregon wins it... otherwise in a few years when the NCAA finally drops it's sac and vacates Auburn's 2010 season, we will be looking at another season with no "champion".

2010 has been a terrible year for the NCAA and it's rep.... first the elgibility issues with UNC players, then Dareus, then Newton, now this OSU fiasco. And how is it these players are suspended for games in the 2011 season for infractions committed this year? Should they not be ineligible immediately? Oh, I forgot.... don't want to piss off ESPN/ABC and the various BCS bowl sponsors. Ridiculous.

And yet we have a case where a player's father admits to soliciting money from a athletic department for his son's playing services.... and said player remains eligible. Move along, nothing to see here....

Even before I saw the reply of the tripping incident, I saw the Fins player down and thought it bush that not a single Jets player or coach even attempted to help the guy... finally after writhing around on the turf for a few seconds one of the Jets trainers made a half-hearted attempt to bend over and say something to him. I knew the Jets were classless... and they proved it today. Always makes my weekend when I can see clips of Fireman looking all sad and gloomy in the stands though. Jerk.

Or it could read.... I just can't. I'm supposed to be pulling for the SEC, and any other team I would be a huge supporter, but I just can't bring myself to root for anything associated with that university or the people that support it. I can't imagine anything worse than having to speak to Tiger fans after they actually win something. And I thought Gator fans were bad! Tigers need to lose by 50.

For the first time ever, I find myself pulling for the non-SEC team in the national title game.

Yes, I'm a Bama fan - but that doesn't mean I am against other SEC teams... even Auburn. I thought they got jobbed in '04 and were the best team in the country in '93. I routed for Florida in '06 and LSU in '03 and '07. But this situation is different. Auburn snubbed their noses at the NCAA and it looks like it will pay off.

I feel like taking a shower after reading the official NCAA "ruling" on Cam Newton's status. Does anyone really believe this was done for "the good of the athlete"? Hogwash. This decision was made primarily to remove the dark clouds hovering over the impending SEC conference championship game and subsequent BCS bowl games. I believe if Newton was just another player on a different team, he would be ruled ineligible "for the good of the NCAA". But what is really good for the NCAA is the almighty dollar... and they pretty much guaranteed their payday for another season - and assured continued impropriety between boosters, athletes, and athletic departments with this decision. And if I read another Auburn fan defending the honor of Cam Newton and expressing admiration for his pimp family... and how this was all a big setup, I think I will puke. The Newton's played Florida, MSU, and probably Auburn, and in a few months they will all be smiling for the cameras with Cam's fat new NFL contract. At least Reggie Bush stuck around for a few years. This cat will be one and done...

Sorry... .5 PPR; 1 pt per 10 yds receiving, 6 pts per TD

Thanks....

Ben/AJ and enjoy.