Fans Anticipate Fresh Start For Penn State Football
STATE COLLEGE (KDKA) --- Due to vandalism concerns, State College Officials have removed a brick engraved with Jerry Sandusky's name from an off-campus walkway.
The brick located in "Centennial Walkway" was replaced yesterday after a student-run blog posted a picture on the internet.
The brick had Sandusky's name on it as well as the name of his charity, the Second Mile, and the year it was founded.
While the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal rocked Penn State and its football program, fans say they are moving forward.
For many, that fresh move forward begins tomorrow, when the Nittany Lions open the football season with a home game against Ohio University.
This season marks the first time since 1965 that Joe Paterno will not be calling the shots.
"He's still apart of our school, Rio Toplak says. "He's still apart of the legacy that is Penn State football."
Since Wednesday night, students have been camping out in tents to gear up for the opening game.
Instead of being called 'Paterno-ville', Beaver Stadium is now called Nittany-ville.
"Even though the name may change, the spirit is still here. The reason why we are still here is to support the football team," Toplak says.
"It's the same exact atmosphere and the same energy that I've seen past three years here," Senior Troy Weller.
While the excitement remains the same, the students admit it will be strange to the new head coach Bill O'Brien leading the charge.
"My mom has never has never seen a different coach and I've obviously never seen a different coach so it's going to be weird at first," Freshman Darian Somers says. "I really like Bill O'Brien and what he's done already."
Students are looking forward to the start of a new era. They are focusing on the positive and most of all, the players who stuck beside Penn State.
Students all over campus say they are ready and excited for Saturday's game.
Although excited, a few life-long fans and alumni say they are hesitant, emotional and anxious about Saturday's game.
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