As a PSU alumnus, these are dark times. While I rarely post here, I've done a lot of lurking here over a long time. I feel at least a small part of this community. And it is nice to have community to lean on a little.
Here, above the fold, is the fundamental thing:
PSU has a fleeting unique opportunity to do something really positive. They need to walk away from the rest of the football season. It's time to make a statement. Football is only a game. Broken lives are far more important. This is perhaps a teachable moment. And PSU is an educational institution.
More below the fold.
So first I had to work through some of my shock, grief, numbness. Then I posted on my Facebook page that I rarely use and very few people see. It helped, but somehow it wasn't enough.
So I went to the PSU website, looking for an appropriate e-mail address. While undoubtedly totally ineffective, I would give my feedback to my community. Sometimes not easy to find individual e-mail addresses on big institutional websites, but I found someone in the alumni association. I sent my Facebook posting. I felt a little better.
A guilty pleasure perhaps, but I like "Cranky Jack" Cafferty on CNN and have been fortunate enough to have several of my comments aired. When one of his questions concerned PSU, well, I mean it must be providential that I submit my edited down suggestion. I look forward to seeing if I make the cut this evening.
And then I thought of you guys. Lucky you, you get the entire unedited FB posting:
About Penn State. A big part of Penn State has been the "Grand Experiment". We were expected to be able to put things in the proper perspective, that education mattered, that these were indeed supposed to be student-athletes.
Within the context of this broad perspective, we were supposed to know what's right and do what's right. All of us. "We are Penn State". Those in the spotlight will, hopefully, be dealt with as they deserve. But what of the rest of us, the anonymous huge numbers of students and alumni?
For starters, what of the students in the streets of State College damaging property and endangering still more innocents? Are they not also falling far short of what it was - what it is - supposed to mean to be Penn State? These are games, people. Multi-million dollar games, yes, but ultimately just games. Being Penn State is supposed to be far more than that. Being Penn State doesn't require football to even exist. And that, gentle readers, is where I am headed.
It's time to put football aside. Yes, forfeit the rest of the season. Put the focus on what it means to strive for what is best and right and re-boot the "Grand Experiment" and put the focus on what it means to be Penn State. And that isn't football. Clear house. Examine consciences. Re-consider priorities. And only then, pick up and start again. It is, after all, also being Penn State to pick yourself up after getting knocked down.
So there you have it. At this point I'm pretty well gutted and spent. If you think there's some value in a elite football school doing the inconceivable simply because it's right, you're more than welcome to carry the ball from here. I'm fried. Don't look for me in the comments.