Bad Timing: Penn State's Issues Create Confusion And Uncertainty In Husker Nation
by Aaron Musfeldt on Nov 9, 2011 1:10 PM CST
in 2011 Nebraska Huskers Football
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PrintSo we here at Corn Nation have been struggling this week on how to best approach the Penn State game. We've had a lot of ideas for stories (hate week, McCloskey, etc), but they all seem to fall into the "It's too soon" category. So what can we talk about?
There are a lot of questions right now involving this game. Should it be played? Should Joe Paterno be there? Should any of the Penn State coaches be there? Do the fans boycott the game in protest? Do they wear black to support the kids? Do they turn their backs on the coaches if they come out of the tunnel? Should Penn State forfeit? Should Nebraska travel there and play the game?
All of these questions point to one big question for us Nebraska fans. How do we react to this situation that we are thrown into?
I've stated before that being apart of a conference means that you are there to help each other out because someday you may need help. Heck, this could cover being an American in times of war or being a human during an alien invasion (ok maybe not so much). Well, I'm not sure if there is anything we should do to help out the administrators and the people at Penn State that are involved in this coverup. From personal experiences, I've come up with a saying.
You always take care of your friends. But if someone takes advantage of you ,they aren't really your friend.
There are some rogue people at Penn State and from the news reports, they will be dealt with. But there are also a lot of good people that live in the community, or went to Penn State. There are a lot of good people that had nothing to do with this and they are going to be associated with the problems when they should be associated with the good things that the university has done over the years. We need to support those people if we encounter them and give them encouragement. This is a tough time for them. Put yourself in their shoes and try to realize how bad it would feel if it were happening in Lincoln.
Can we be excited about the game this weekend? I'm still trying to figure that out. There are people across this country that are going to be huge Nebraska fans this weekend, but for the wrong reasons. None of the players that go onto the field to represent Penn State on Saturday had anything to do with this. They should not be punished. Pollsters should not punish them simply because of the scandal, nor should the fans.
The scandal is there. I'm not here to judge and I am in no position to say whether or not certain people should be fired, or at the stadium on Saturday. I don't have all of the facts. To be fair, neither does anyone else in the media. But, as long as the people that were involved are on the sidelines, their presence will take away from the game. It is unavoidable.
So, I can't answer the question about how Husker fans should fell on Saturday when we play Penn State. I think a lot of that depends on what other information comes out this week and who is still with the Penn State program. At some point in time, things will clear up and we will enjoy the games again, but will it happen this weekend?
What do you think? How do you feel about the game this weekend?
Oh and please remember to keep this CLEAN. Posting here shouldn't be shots directed at Penn State, but about how we should handle the game this weekend.
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Those responsible will be dealt with.
Whether it’s molesting boys, not reporting it to the proper authorities, or not going above and beyond to prevent something heinous, the adults involved will be punished in due time. However, the game is played between young men in college, and I see no reason to punish the Penn St. players for something that I’m sure they weren’t aware of until a few days ago.
How we approach the game...hmmm...
I think that, instead of last week, I will opt for some steaks on the grill instead of chicken wings, and perhaps beer instead of last week’s vodka sours.
Why are we making this about us? It’s got nothing to do with us. The law is going to clean house over there at Penn State, and justice will be served.
Earlier I said “Playing this game would be like sitting down and enjoying Thanksgiving dinner shortly after uncle Bob died of a massive stroke while carving the turkey”.
I changed my mind. Nebraska didn’t do anything wrong, and neither did the majority of staff and players associated with Penn State. Play the game, but disassociate yourselves and institution from all who did wrong – AND MOVE ON!
GBR!
by SteveW0720 on Nov 9, 2011 1:54 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
The game should go on...
But if Paterno is coaching I will not be watching.
So I tried the Barbasol and Rotel dip and I was very dissapointed!
I still
hope we beat the crap out of em.
Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.
This whole situation stinks
It’s an unfortunate situation, and it’s unfortunate that we have to be the first team they play after the fact. I hope we win, but from the sounds of things Penn State is going to play inspired, motivated football on Saturday knowing it’s Joe Pa’s last home game and knowing that their program has been “disrespected” by everyone.
Look me up on youtube sometime...if you're really bored.
I agree
Imo, the good news is I’m pretty confident that we’re the better team and if we play well, it shouldn’t matter how inspired PSU plays. On top of that, Nebraska undeniably needs this game more than Penn State does.
Even still, JoePa’s last game at Beaver Stadium? It kind of has the feeling that history has already doomed us to lose this one.
"My hardest job is to convince the people of Nebraska that 10-1 is not a losing season." - Tom Osborne
Or perhaps we will embarrass them in their own stadium
And they will hate us forever because of it. We’ve been missing that this year…teams that truly hate us :)
Look me up on youtube sometime...if you're really bored.
Meh, it's just Iowa.
A Cornhusker through feast or famine. Get up, dust yourself off and run the ball. That's the Nebraska way.
by Salt Creek and Stadium on Nov 9, 2011 4:05 PM CST up reply actions
I'm trying to dislike them
But they haven’t done anything to deserve it yet…maybe if they beat us in a big game it will be easier. Hopefully they don’t though, and they take the place of Iowa State. We need a new Iowa State.
Look me up on youtube sometime...if you're really bored.
If they give us the "Boulder treatment"
In Iowa City next year, that should help the hate along.
"My hardest job is to convince the people of Nebraska that 10-1 is not a losing season." - Tom Osborne
Sorry, but the Boulder treatment can only be given in Boulder
Freaking Hippies. Every time they lose a game, an angel gets it’s wings. Lots of angels getting their wings this year, and likely for many years to come.
Look me up on youtube sometime...if you're really bored.
But Iowa State beat us.
A Cornhusker through feast or famine. Get up, dust yourself off and run the ball. That's the Nebraska way.
by Salt Creek and Stadium on Nov 9, 2011 7:43 PM CST up reply actions
like once right?
Okay maybe twice. And we turned the ball over approximately 400 times in their victories. So…yeah, excuses ftw.
Look me up on youtube sometime...if you're really bored.
I'm just saying.
We have to be careful wanting Iowa to beat us in humiliating fashion.
A Cornhusker through feast or famine. Get up, dust yourself off and run the ball. That's the Nebraska way.
by Salt Creek and Stadium on Nov 9, 2011 9:23 PM CST up reply actions
Signed,
Meh, it’s just Northwestern.
Watching the Cubs piss it away for 31 years.
by CarolinaHawk on Nov 9, 2011 8:38 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Perv State
After reading the attorney general’s presentment I would be a little creeped out as a Nebraska football player going to Happy Valley. It’s an evil environment that allowed such things to happen and I’m glad I don’t have tickets. Will Nebraska players be asked to shower in the same shower where boys were raped?
I hope that the Nebraska staff would do the right thing in a similar situation and not try to cover it up. There should be an appropriate signal or action from both Penn State and Nebraska’s fans to demonstrate dissapproval of the lack of action taken by JoePa and Pedaphile U’s administrators when confronted with what McQueary saw. Whatever that reaction is, it obviously shouldn’t be directed at the players.
Here's how Nebraska fans approach the game.
None of the Penn State players on the field on Saturday had anything do do with what’s happening at Penn State. None of the Penn State fans in attendance at Beaver Stadium had anything to do with what’s happening at Penn State.
If you were already planning on going to Happy Valley, you go to Happy Valley. You put on your red, and you tailgate like crazy before the game. You talk to Penn State fans about events that have happened on the patch of green in the middle of the stadium so far this year, you tell them what you want to see happen on that same patch of green later in the day, then you give them a beer and a pat on the shoulder on your way to the stadium.
In the stadium, you stand up and applaud as both the Nebraska and the Penn State teams are announced. You cheer for the Huskers, just like you would have done. You talk to Penn State fans in the stadium. You applaud as both teams walk off the field at the end of the game.
Penn State players are hurting. Penn State fans are hurting. The game must go on, and we are now a part of their healing process. Like it or not, this is now one of those games that will define Nebraska fans to not only Penn State fans and players, but also to our entire conference.
We’re the self-proclaimed “greatest fans in college football.” It’s time to live up to it. It’s golden rule time.
by jrf2027 on Nov 9, 2011 2:25 PM CST reply actions 9 recs
Exactly! My brother & brother-in-law are taking their sons to the game, flying in
from Nebraska & Texas. I think the whole Husker fan wave attending should do as suggested here, and support their teams like usual!
Yes, it will be hard having all of this swirling around everyone’s brains but the game has to go on!
Thank you.
I hope to run into some Nebraska fans like you on Saturday.
by dontcallmescooter on Nov 9, 2011 2:36 PM CST up reply actions
Well, I wish all the Nebraska fans in attendence success on their attempted dimplomacy
Considering some of the folks over at Black Shoe Diaries are already talking about saving the ass kicking and fighting for the “trolls at the game” – and I don’t think by “trolls” that they are referring to the peanut ushers.
I think
they may be referring to the announced protest of the Westboro Baptist Church. And of course, I don’t condone any violence.
Just ignore them.
That makes them really mad. Plus, they get bored and leave early then.
Nope, I saw that part, too.
Hopfully good senses prevail, no use needlessly making the situation worse.
Nice Post
I’m living in state college right now, and will be at the game saturday. As best as I can tell, the mood in town seems to be shifting from total shock/loss/anger to rallying around their football team. That’s just my impression.
Fans now know Paterno’s situation. I’ve read that Spanier will be ousted soon. These developments I think will allow fans to start focusing on their team, on healing, and on the future of the program. I imagine there might be some symbolic gesture by the fans at the start of the game or something that may cause some unease (will they boo the staff?), but I think once the game starts it will be very lethargic for penn state fans and they will rally big time around their team, which will likely play some inspired ball. Either way, Huskers better come prepared to play.
by huskerfanindc on Nov 9, 2011 2:49 PM CST up reply actions
The patch of green might be white.
A Cornhusker through feast or famine. Get up, dust yourself off and run the ball. That's the Nebraska way.
by Salt Creek and Stadium on Nov 9, 2011 4:06 PM CST up reply actions
I agree
Not a single one of the players had anything to do with this. We go, we support the “kids” and hopefully celebrate a win!
Get him out or I don't watch
The end.
It's Van Halen, not Van Hagar.
by BryanNbugaha on Nov 9, 2011 3:14 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Interesting article today
Brought up that the Big Ten Championship trophy is named the “Stagg-Paterno Trophy.” Kind of hard to see that lasting much longer, especially with the Stagg family publicly expressing their discomfort with Paterno’s name appearing alongside theirs.
I think this is a classic cautionary tale of why you don’t name something after someone until they’re dead or at least WAY out of the picture.
"My hardest job is to convince the people of Nebraska that 10-1 is not a losing season." - Tom Osborne
Both names will be quietly dropped.
You won’t see or hear any more references to Stagg-Paterno during this season. The B1G will have an internal evaluation after the season to determine whether to continue the name. (Does it say Stagg-Paterno anywhere on the trophy? I don’t know.)
It is etched into the trophy.
Found a picture of it. Yep, the name is on there.
Just stupid to have named it after a current coach in the first place.
A Cornhusker through feast or famine. Get up, dust yourself off and run the ball. That's the Nebraska way.
by Salt Creek and Stadium on Nov 9, 2011 4:09 PM CST up reply actions
Hi all
I don’t want to talk about the scandal, it makes me sick. There is still a lot to learn and this is going to get worse before it gets better.
But please come to the game as you would any game and cheer for your team.
There are young men from two teams playing on Saturday who deserve our respect, none of them have done wrong.
I am going to do what I usually do, cheer for guys on the field. I will also tell opposing fans “Good luck and have a great time”. I’m not tailgating this week because I don’t feel like a party, but if I were, I would offer you a beer.
I wish you were coming into the “normal” Happy Valley atmosphere.
"Rabble rabble rabble; fire Joe; snarky meme; rude nickname; rabble rabble rabble
by letsgopsu on Nov 9, 2011 4:19 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
PSU players had nothing to do with it
The PSU players shouldn’t be punished for the shameful coverup of Sandusky’s raping several young boys, but everyone that did know…and that had to include the President, AD, Joe Pa and everyone else that knew of the rapes, yet said nothing should be fired. Immediately.
Joe Pa shouldn’t be allowed to do some sort of “Honor Me. I’m Joe Pa!” farewell tour. He knew and said nothing. Friend or no friend of Sandusky. It was a cover up plain and simple.
I wonder if it would have been Joe Pa’s grandson or 10 year old granddaughter Sandusky had pinned to the shower wall if Joe Pa would have kept his mouth shut for the sake of Penn State’s squeeky clean image?
Nebraska needs to play this game. Nebraska needs to kick PSU’s arse.
And if Joe Pa is up there in the press box hiding his shame and wanting some sort of sympathy farewell tour, then yes, the Nebraska fans should wear black, carry signs that say, “Shame on you, Joe Pa!” and “What if it were your kids, Joe Pa?!”.
And if any Penn State fans had a problem with that, then shame on them, too!
Nebraska should forfeit if Joe Pa and McQueary are coaching
Saturday’s game will basically will be a pep rally of support for Joe Paterno. I do not want Nebraska to be part of this at all and Dr. Tom Osborne should forfeit the game. They should declare the forfeit is for the victims of this abuse because protecting young kids lives are more important than some sporting contest.
It would be a great look for Nebraska in the eyes of the public across the country but most importantly, it would be the right thing to do morally. Remember that? Penn State should not make any money right now off of football and the Nebraska football does not need to be drug into their mess.
"You taught me a lesson, I was going to give someone the benefit of doubt, and I almost did, then something said, no don't, don't, its not for you, its not my thing" Larry David,
A very good idea.
A forfeit would be unprecedented but the scope of the atrocities at Penn State is also. The game becoming a pep rally for JoePa is a good reason to not play it. Based on the student’s show of support thus far, it probably would become that. I wonder if these students will feel the same once they become parents. I had a lot of respect for Joe Paterno and thought he was one of the truly great things about college football. His response to McQueary’s allegations was almost criminal and was largely in his own self interest. He continues to act out of his own self interest. He has no integrity. I did not want to see Nebraska go to Nittany Valley knowing what was allowed to happen there. The game becoming a pep rally is a good enough reason not to. Hopefully a forfeit would prompt Penn State trustees to do the right thing and clean house.
The only other idea I had was that fans not go to the game. As fans we tend to deify players and coaches. You have to wonder if this didn’t have some impact on JoePa making such a poor decision. As fans, we contribute funds to create powerful football programs. It seems logical that the coverup was attempted in order to not jeopardize the huge revenue generating machine. By not showing up, the message would be that the game, your position as a coach and the possible negative impact to your program is not as important as doing the right thing. Lost revenue is probably the only message school administrators will get. Mail your ticket to Penn State’s Board of Trustees and ask for a refund.
The Pennsylvania State University
Board of Trustees
205 Old Main
University Park, PA 16802-1571
I am a huge Husker fan but I do not care about the outcome of this game. I don’t think it is the realization of the insignificance of a game compared to the horrible things Sandusky did. Unfortunately child molestations occur. It is the coverup and inaction of PSU coaches and staff when confronted with this. I do not want to contribute to something that I see as corrupt. I am not willing to make an emotional investment in this game until some sort of justice is done. I know Sandusky will get his in time but something is just not sitting well with me. Only the firing of JoePa could possibly make me somewhat enthusiastic about this game.
I am sorry you only watch ESPN
target="new">http://no-boxes-allowed.blogspot.com/2011/11/in-defense-of-joe-paterno.html
Please read. A different perspective.
This isnt ESPN's fault
This has nothing to do with ESPN but I will see your apologist post with this one from a Penn Stater.
No one can possibly believe that Paterno, when informed by a panicked graduate assistant that something untoward had happened in the shower involving a man and a boy, could have synthesized that information into anything requiring that he merely advise his supervisor and then forget about it. This notion, on its face, is patently absurd. But when you add other elements – like the fact that the graduate assistant was Mike McQueary, who Paterno once trusted to play quarterback for him and later gave a full time job to – you have no choice but to realize that Paterno whisked the information aside to protect his program and his friend, in that order. Now he has to obscure the issue by trying to turn it into an issue of semantics, saying that he didn’t know the “very specific actions” that allegedly happened in the shower — as if he needed that level of detail to know whether it was right or wrong.
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/thetoydepartment/2011/11/on_paterno.html
"You taught me a lesson, I was going to give someone the benefit of doubt, and I almost did, then something said, no don't, don't, its not for you, its not my thing" Larry David,
The irony of your link
Is that the article behind it itself links to a number of non-ESPN stories going to town on Paterno for not doing enough to protect Sandusky’s victims, which he clearly didn’t. I’m not exactly sure what you hope to gain from coming over here. We haven’t been trolling BSD, we haven’t been taunting PSU in its difficult time, we haven’t been repeating some of the very raunchy anti-PSU jokes that have arisen from this mess.
So again, I’m not sure what you want, apart from us to accept a total whitewashing of Paterno’s complicity in this nightmare, which nobody outside of State College is going to accept.
"My hardest job is to convince the people of Nebraska that 10-1 is not a losing season." - Tom Osborne
by jdhusker on Nov 9, 2011 6:58 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
The only reason we are going to Penn State this weekend is to play a football game.
Let’s just do that, then come back home.
My apology
The media has been making Joe Paterno the only story was my point. I personally think all involved should be gone including JP. We at PSU are sick of what has transpired. I ask only that we keep it about the guys on the field and not who is coaching this weekend.We are embarrassed and angry. We have started fund raising for the victims. We welcome all of Husker nation and hope that you enjoy the game.
I was wrong to post
Knee jerk response to remarks that the game should not be played or that individuals would not come if JP or MM were coaching. Forgive me.
I think we all can appreciate that there is no "how-to" for dealing with this.
Let’s hope the play on the field is exciting enough they don’t have time to dwell on other things.
A Cornhusker through feast or famine. Get up, dust yourself off and run the ball. That's the Nebraska way.
by Salt Creek and Stadium on Nov 9, 2011 7:53 PM CST up reply actions
You couldn't have at least hit on her?
Come on, we all know this place is seriously lacking females, and the only female here is is secretly perched outside Rex Burkheads bathroom window.
Steve owes you an apology.
I would have come to your defense earlier, but Rex and I just stepped out of the shower. ;-)
My God it feels good to have a little laugh again. I made the mistake of reading the entire grand jury report Monday, and I have been in a tear-filled fog ever since.
God bless the PSU Board of Trustees for having the guts to throw Paterno out tonight.
They're 18 to 22...how perfect were you at that age?
The Power of Red begins with the Passion of Walk-Ons.
JoePa is reportedly out for Saturday's game
Via Twitter (and probably very soon to become official):
Action News source says #JoePaterno will not coach another game. #Spanier has resigned. #PSUcharges
I could see it
There’s clearly been some disconnect between Paterno and the PSU admin. Admin goes over Paterno’s head to cancel press conference, Paterno is publicly not happy about it, holds his own presser off campus.
So it flows logically that Paterno would anticipate that the Board of Regents was planning on dropping the axe on him, so he tries to preempt that by announcing his retirement. The Board decides to meet him halfwayish and put him on some equivalent of administrative leave until the end of the year. All speculation on my part, but it makes sense.
"My hardest job is to convince the people of Nebraska that 10-1 is not a losing season." - Tom Osborne
Joe's Out
Just broke on ESPN.
It’s good to see the board of trustees showing decisive and swift action in the interest of rehabilitating the image of the institution. But it’s also sad to see a legendary career end this way.
I stopped by practice today on my way home from work, hoping to get a view of JoePa, but I apparently just missed him. Guess I won’t get another chance to do that. I was pretty creeped out when I realized that I was standing in front of the Lasch Football building where some of the evil went down.
People are talking about rioting
And they are serious. A very serious situation has just gone up to a whole new level of craziness in State College- http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2011/11/9/2551001/penn-state-scandal-board-of-trustees-press-conference-open-thread?login=1320894600
Look me up on youtube sometime...if you're really bored.
I Live
about 1/2 a mile from campus and I just saw six police cruisers screaming toward campus (not a common occurrence here). Something must be going down.
by huskerfanindc on Nov 9, 2011 9:40 PM CST up reply actions
Keep reporting to us what you see
From reading the comments on blackshoediaries it looks like crap is going down in a very bad way. Someone just said players are headed downtown…this can’t end well.
Look me up on youtube sometime...if you're really bored.
I'd say
Husker fans should stay home Saturday. And those commenters at BSD will come to their senses once the emotions die down a bit. It’s gonna be ugly for a while.
Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.
I can't believe this has completely unravled before our eyes in just a few days
Think about it, when we lost to Northwestern last Saturday no one could have imagined anything like this happening at all. Joe Pa is gone! Unbelievable! I feel so bad for Penn State!
Look me up on youtube sometime...if you're really bored.
WOW,,,,
Things could really get ugly at PSU!!! Sad to see a legendary Coach go out like this but,,,More should have been done,period!!
Rock out with your Stalk out!!!
Smoke em' if you got em'!!!
Low and Slow!!!
please
post here no this issue…
http://www.cornnation.com/2011/11/9/2551065/joe-paterno-fired-tom-bradley-interim-coach
Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!
Follow @cornnation Twitter
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on this issue
good lord my hands are shaking
Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!
Follow @cornnation Twitter
cornnation@gmail.com
Penn Stater's response
My brother-in-law directed me to this site. He is a Husker, born and bred. I am a Penn State alumni as of 1997. He was the first to contact me about this scandal this past Saturday and to say that it came as a shock is an understatement. I am not going to get into any of the details, as there more I dig, the more I question why no one acted?
I look forward to watching the game this weekend, as a temporary reprieve of this scandal and to return to some sense or normalcy, even if for only a couple hours.
For those of you going to the game this weekend, I would advise to talking to Penn Staters about FOOTBALL. We (Penn Staters) need a break from the media hype and the damaging blow our “Success with Honor” has taken. There is still a game that is going to take place and the young men on both sides need to know that they are playing with our support.
The heinous acts by that animal, Sandusky, will be dealt with, along with all of those who should have acted but did not. There is likely to be a lot more reports coming from State College, PA in the coming days, weeks, months and years, as with the inevitable lawsuits, both criminal and civil, we (Penn State) are a LONG WAY from hearing the end of this.
We are STILL Penn State!
by PSU- '97 on Nov 10, 2011 9:49 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
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