Where Does Penn State Go From Here?
By Joseph Santoliquito
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Amid the ongoing scandalous drama that's brought the nation's attention on Penn State, its football program and legendary coach Joe Paterno, something has gotten lost this last week: The current Penn State players and future recruits.
Penn State's players met privately in a player's only meeting on Monday afternoon, away from the coaching staff and away from the scrutiny of the army of national media that's gathered in idyllic, bucolic State College.
The alleged sexual abuse charges against former Nittany Lions' defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky have cost the jobs of Penn State athletic director Tim Curley, who requested to be placed on administrative leave, and vice president for finance and business Gary Schultz, who opted to step down.
The No. 12 nationally ranked Nittany Lions will play in their last home game this season, hosting No. 19 Nebraska at 12-noon at Beaver Stadium.
The players met to talk among each other about what they need to do the remainder of the season, what they need to do to remain strong together, and where the future could lie with themselves, the program and Paterno himself.
"A lot of players don't know what's going to happen and where the future of the program is heading," said one source close to the Penn State program. "I can tell you this, a lot of the players, past and present, knew about the allegations [against Sandusky]. It was like the dirty little secret that got passed around, but no one was absolutely certain what specifically was going on and what's happening now. Everyone knew. It does bother a lot of people more wasn't done sooner to stop it."
Right now, the program is in limbo.
"A lot of players feel that Coach Paterno won't be back, that's the feeling here," another source close to the program said. "You have guys who need to concentrate on at least another five games, and guys have dreamed all of their lives of playing Penn State football. Now it leaves us all with this mark against us, and the school [administration] could have done a better job of handling than they did.
"If I sound angry, I am. You work your life to reach this point, and then this happens, and every step you make on this campus, someone is trying to shove a microphone, or a camera, or a notepad in your face."
It should be difficult to maintain any sense of normalcy around the isolated campus this week as the Nittany Lions prepare to face their toughest test this season—and in a game honoring the team's seniors.
The New York Times is reporting that Penn State's Board of Trustees are working on an exit plan for the 84-year-old Paterno, who's won more games than any Division I college football coach. There was no timetable in the report, speculating that it could be days or weeks before Paterno coaches his last game. Paterno is in the last year of his contract. Paterno's son, Scott Paterno, replied on Twitter that the New York Times report was "premature" and there have been no talks between the school and his father about "retirement."
Scott spoke to the media outside the family home Tuesday and reiterated that by saying, "There's been no contact about anything to do with anybody stepping down."
Penn State's Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet on Friday.
Two Penn State recruits, who asked that their names not be used, both said that they're in a wait-and-see mode. One of the recruits said he may "seriously think about" changing his mind about going to Penn State, while the other was noncommittal. Another prominent high school player from the area who was considering Penn State said, "No way, not now, you don't know [the coaches] that are going to be there and who isn't going to be there," the player said. "What does PSU mean now, Pedophile State University? That's the joke going around."
As for the current players, they "can't wait for this to go away, but it only seems to be growing," said someone close to the program. "All the players have is each other right now. It would be nice to just think and prepare for football. I don't know if that's going to happen any time soon around here. Some guys are thinking about their futures. No one knows what's going to happen and it's what's bothering everyone."
