Assuming no huge PSU players currently on the roster don't transfer, they're going to have THIS season to play their hearts out just to get a measure of respect. That's basically it. Then, the likes of the Iowa St. Cyclones will be able to beat the hell out of them in the coming years. By the way, what is this going to do to Seniors, Juniors, Sophmores, and Freshmen on the Nittany Lions who dream of a shot at the NFL?
I was shocked to hear of everything the NCAA handed down on them yesterday. I watched the kids when every penalty was announced. It was like a knife to a lot of their hearts.
Those that hope or think they have a shot at the NFL will go to any of a number of other football programs that will be recruiting them. Per NCAA, they will be allowed to play as soon as this fall if they wish to, and they will still have full scholarships, as any school that takes a PennState player, the player takes along their existing scholarship, the "new" program does not have to have a scholarship "slot" for them.
Those who are realistic about their football abilities, will stay at PennState, probably get to have more "playing time" than they would have, and will be able to get a college education courtesy of PennState football. The ones who are in this category, if smart, will recognize they will benefit from staying right where they are.
PennState is an excellent academic university and that reputation is NOT tarnished....which many are failing to recognize. The whole world does not revolve around PennState's football program!!
Alumni will rally to support PennState and College Station. They will make an effort to attend the football games, and will adjust to not having the winningest coach ever in football. It is an adjustment they would have had to make regardless, given Paterno's health issues. Who knows, that without Paterno that PennState wouldn't have had a few rebuilding years, regardless of the sanctions? It was Paterno and his reputation that got the players to come to PennState, not the other coaches.
Will the program have a couple of lean years? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe the football alums will help with huge donations to help offset some of the loss of Bowl income. What's to say that some of the big time football players won't come up with some self-named scholarships to help out until the scholarships come back?
There was a time when Nebraska was one of the winningest programs in the country with a whole lot of walkon wanna-be players. Kids who grew up on Nebraska football, who just wanted to play football.
Football is an American tradition. It's a Saturday afternoon in the fall, getting together with friends to eat, drink and cheer on the home team. True fans stick whether the team wins or loses. PennState is about to find out just how "true" their fans are, and whether or not it's PennState and tradition keeping their fans, or if it was nothing but one man who brought them to the stadium on a Saturday afternoon.
