Official 2014 Penn State Football Thread

[DontToewsMeBro]

Did you make it to a game this year? I would not classify the Paterno-worshipers as a 'small fragment'. After a 1-year hiatus, Paternoville was back and stores were selling tshirts with his likeness or name on them. The most common shirt I noticed at all 3 games I went to was that defiant '409' shirt.

sounds like worship to me.

[pensfan1989]

I think these were the people BOB was referring to

http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2014/1/ ... dnt-get-it" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Lt. Dish]

Did you make it to a game this year? I would not classify the Paterno-worshipers as a 'small fragment'. After a 1-year hiatus, Paternoville was back and stores were selling tshirts with his likeness or name on them. The most common shirt I noticed at all 3 games I went to was that defiant '409' shirt.

sounds like worship to me.

Yes, maybe, and no, maybe.

I'm an alum from a family full of alums, and I believe in the Grand Experiment. Is it perfect? No, I don't wear blue-tinted glasses, but there's evidence of success. Even so, I would never call myself a Paterno "worshipper."

I honestly view much of the outrage about erasing the wins to be on behalf of the kids who played in those games, not necessarily about protecting Joe's legacy. I get the sense that many believe that stripping the wins from Joe's record was a personal piling on and misdirected punishment from a seemingly vindictive Emmert. So I'm sure that some may wear the "409" shirts to remember Joe. But I'm not being a Pollyanna when I say that others wear them to remember the kids who won those games.

One guy I talked to at a tailgate told me, "I was at a ton of the games they [the NCAA] wiped out. I was there." It seemed he was saying the NCAA couldn't take away his experiences. Irrational? Perhaps. But where there's feeling, there's irrationality. I don't think he was delusional.

[DontToewsMeBro]

I think these were the people BOB was referring to

http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2014/1/ ... dnt-get-it" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Read the comments. The 'worshippers' (ban this word along with 'apologists') are a vocal minority.

[malkinshair]

Congrats and thanks to BOB. As a PSU alum and fan, he came in under incredibly difficult circumstances that only got harder after his hire (the sanctions being announced). He stabilized the football program better than anyone could've predicted, and, in some ways, helped to repair the national image of the university along the way. The PLAYERS became the story last year, not the scandal. He made Penn State a destination spot for top high school recruits again...more so than any time in the last 15 or so years...all with diminished resources. I'm upset to see him go, but can hardly blame him. He stated almost from the beginning that his ultimate goal was an NFL job, and IMO the Houston job is a once-in-a-lifetime gig. Good team with 1st overall pick. I don't think he leaves for ANY NFL job, but couldn't resist this one. Good luck to him...I'll be rooting for him to succeed at the next level much like I'd root for a PSU player.

Did you make it to a game this year? I would not classify the Paterno-worshipers as a 'small fragment'. After a 1-year hiatus, Paternoville was back and stores were selling tshirts with his likeness or name on them. The most common shirt I noticed at all 3 games I went to was that defiant '409' shirt.

sounds like worship to me.

That's weird...it sounds like respect and acknowledgment to me.

[Kovy27]

Hate to tell you this...no matter who goes to PSU, they will have to live with that "Joe Paterno" crap. That article makes my stomach turn. Oh, I agree with PSU football WAS JoePa. However, the man got too much power and look at the crap that happened under his watch by HIS coach. The sad part is...that people need to let him go. Let this whole JoePa is PSU football just go.

You know who PSU Football is? The 110k people that fill the stands, the 60-70 players on the sideline every weekend playing for the University, and the students that attend all their campuses....PSU Football is Penn State University. Not JoePa U or Penn State Nittany JoePa's. But you have dumb ass alumni, etc who want this JoePa aura to never go away and they will push all coaches to this edge.

I don't blame Bill O'Brien for leaving. He's got a good chance to go down and succeed with a decent Houston team. Hopefully, he'll draft Manziel...so, I can buy a Houston Texans' Manziel jersey.

[Pitt87]

I think these were the people BOB was referring to

http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2014/1/ ... dnt-get-it" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

How anyone can be a self-proclaimed 'Paterno Person' and throw around the word integrity like that is beyond me...

[Lt. Dish]

I think these were the people BOB was referring to

http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2014/1/ ... dnt-get-it" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

How anyone can be a self-proclaimed 'Paterno Person' and throw around the word integrity like that is beyond me...

I think the context needs to be carefully defined. Specifically, I have no problem with people talking about Paterno's integrity with regard to recruiting and his dealings with players and their parents. It's well documented.

[mac5155]

It sucks that there is this massive debate that BOB "didn't get PSU".. everyone just needs to move on and let the new coach be his own person. I remember having arguments when he was hired that he's a "Belicheat disciple" and not right for the job. He made the story about the team and players and not about the scandal. Does it suck that he left? Yes. Is that the modern NCAA? Yes. Coaches use jobs as springboards to other jobs. PSU has never seen that happen before. It sucks, but life goes on.

[ExPatriatePen]

I'm actually pleased and surprised at how well the PSU fan base is taking this.

I can honestly say that they're being better about it than both WVU and Pitt were over their recent coaching changes.

[mac5155]

You must not know any of the irrational PSU fans. My FB feed is a disaster right now

[count2infinity]

I'm actually pleased and surprised at how well the PSU fan base is taking this.

I can honestly say that they're being better about it than both WVU and Pitt were over their recent coaching changes.

I think the circumstances of the departure are a little different in each situation. That definitely has something to do with it.

[count2infinity]

You must not know any of the irrational PSU fans. My FB feed is a disaster right now

I must not know any either... all is quiet on my FB feed.

[KennyTheKangaroo]

I'm actually pleased and surprised at how well the PSU fan base is taking this.

I can honestly say that they're being better about it than both WVU and Pitt were over their recent coaching changes.

take a look at bwi.rivals.com

there were people (apparently with a straight face) suggesting jay paterno should be the next coach.

[count2infinity]

there were people (apparently with a straight face) suggesting jay paterno should be the next coach.

[ExPatriatePen]

I'm actually pleased and surprised at how well the PSU fan base is taking this.

I can honestly say that they're being better about it than both WVU and Pitt were over their recent coaching changes.

take a look at bwi.rivals.com

there were people (apparently with a straight face) suggesting jay paterno should be the next coach.

Every group has their "lunatic fringe".
I'm talking about the other 105,900 fans.

(Or at least from my perception)

[pittsoccer33]

is tom bradley an acceptable coach?

[Lt. Dish]

I'm actually pleased and surprised at how well the PSU fan base is taking this.

I can honestly say that they're being better about it than both WVU and Pitt were over their recent coaching changes.

take a look at bwi.rivals.com

there were people (apparently with a straight face) suggesting jay paterno should be the next coach.

Not many who are really serious. You'll find similar comments on hiring Jay on Black Shoe Diaries that are completely sarcastic. I think people are just spouting right now.

[mac5155]

Nah. Maybe somewhere else, yes. But not at Penn State.

[Lt. Dish]

is tom bradley an acceptable coach?

From a recruiting standpoint, he'd be tremendous. I doubt that he would ever be hired, though, as he was a long-time member of the old regime.

I hope that whoever comes in gives Ron Vanderlinden back his job. I don't know enough about Charlie Fisher to opine as to whether he should be given his job back. But pushing Vanderlinden out was bewildering to many (David Jones' question about it to BOB prompted his "Paterno People" rant).

[newarenanow]

Al Golden will be your next coach.

[Pitt87]

I think these were the people BOB was referring to

http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2014/1/ ... dnt-get-it" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

How anyone can be a self-proclaimed 'Paterno Person' and throw around the word integrity like that is beyond me...

I think the context needs to be carefully defined. Specifically, I have no problem with people talking about Paterno's integrity with regard to recruiting and his dealings with players and their parents. It's well documented.

Correct. The things Joe Paterno did with integrity he did a great job of entering into a record of some sort. Unfortunately, integrity is a holistic state, and as it turns out there was much that went unreported.

[Lt. Dish]

You must not know any of the irrational PSU fans. My FB feed is a disaster right now

I must not know any either... all is quiet on my FB feed.

I get that people would be upset, although I think many need to think before they rant on Twitter. I'm ticked BOB's leaving now before the sanctions are over; I do think he owes another year or 2 to the players he brought in. There's a sense of abandonment there.

But the program is better off now than it was two years ago, and I liked his consistent messaging about education, so I thank him for what he's done. I'm also desensitized to coaches jumping all over the place to the next thing.

My biggest concern about all this right now, aside from the players and recruits staying with PSU, is that Joyner and the administration don't F up this hire. They are certainly are capable of doing so and in a big way.

[Lt. Dish]

Al Golden will be your next coach.

I could be with that.

"Outsider" names PSU fans are pumping include Vanderbilt's HC (and PA native) James Franklin and Michigan State's DC Pat Narduzzi.

[mac5155]

Meh, they didn't screw up BOB's hire. Until they do something wrong I guess they get the benefit of the doubt from me.