Well, the reaction to the gradual scholarship sanction reduction is interesting. BOB and his players are pleased but would rather focus on their next game. The Paternophiles, led by Franco Harris, think it's good but believe the NCAA should never have levied sanctions on Joe or the program to begin with. Somewhere in the middle is a meeting ground for Penn State alums. Most think like our own SoxJox, that this program needs to keep BOB around for a long time, so easing the scholarship sanctions is a step in that direction.
Nobody wants to begin a conversation about the other sanctions, the $60M fine and bowl ban, that are directly connected to the scandal that never ends. Those seem indisputable.
It's still a really good time for the program and its backers to lay low and focus on what they really love, which is Saturday afternoons in the fall with a Big Ten opponent in town. As George Mitchell pointed out, the university is moving in the right direction and becoming a leader in some of the issues that the scandal cast a spotlight on. The head football coach answers to the athletic director. The chain of command is followed right up the ladder.
Penn State will be choosing a new President within the next year. And the current AD is going to be gone not long afterwards. So we're still in a period of transition and recovery at Penn State. There is a major problem with added costs to season ticketholders in recent years that is contributing to the loss of about 5,000 fans per game. I sat downtown in a bar for the first half of the Central Florida game and was surprised to learn that students now pay $40 per ticket to home games, which is why the place was filled with students who would rather spend their money on beer while watching the game on big screen TVs. Crowds have averaged 92,000 for the non-conference home games. The Big Ten home opener against Indiana in nine days won't draw much more.
And here's a link to Elizabeth Smart's speaking appearance at Penn State last year at the first annual PSU forum on child abuse:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/31/elizabeth-smart-praises-p_0_n_2050136.html
Nobody wants to begin a conversation about the other sanctions, the $60M fine and bowl ban, that are directly connected to the scandal that never ends. Those seem indisputable.
It's still a really good time for the program and its backers to lay low and focus on what they really love, which is Saturday afternoons in the fall with a Big Ten opponent in town. As George Mitchell pointed out, the university is moving in the right direction and becoming a leader in some of the issues that the scandal cast a spotlight on. The head football coach answers to the athletic director. The chain of command is followed right up the ladder.
Penn State will be choosing a new President within the next year. And the current AD is going to be gone not long afterwards. So we're still in a period of transition and recovery at Penn State. There is a major problem with added costs to season ticketholders in recent years that is contributing to the loss of about 5,000 fans per game. I sat downtown in a bar for the first half of the Central Florida game and was surprised to learn that students now pay $40 per ticket to home games, which is why the place was filled with students who would rather spend their money on beer while watching the game on big screen TVs. Crowds have averaged 92,000 for the non-conference home games. The Big Ten home opener against Indiana in nine days won't draw much more.
And here's a link to Elizabeth Smart's speaking appearance at Penn State last year at the first annual PSU forum on child abuse:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/31/elizabeth-smart-praises-p_0_n_2050136.html