Penn State hopes to keep the topic of discussion this weekend away from the child sex abuse by former coach Jerry Sandusky and on the game between the 12th-ranked Nittany Lions and the 19th-ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers.
While it is impossible to completely shut down the talk, at least some of the focus will be diverted onto the field thanks to former receiver and running back Rich Mauti. He has organized what is expected to be one of the largest gatherings of former players on the sidelines for the game in an effort to show support for the football program and remember how much it gave them.
Mauti made it a point to say this was not meant to minimize the sex-abuse scandal and consequent cover-up.
"I'm not condoning any activities that have been alleged. That's not the purpose," he said. "I'm trying to get everyone that has been through that program, that has had a positive experience, to support the kids and the program and the school at this juncture."
Undoubtedly there will be people who say it won’t matter what Mauti says because any support for the program at this point would essentially be a pass-over of the victims and their families. Others will try and draw the distinction between the current football team and the acts of university employees and officials.
What may turn into the biggest story out of this is what Sam Stellatella, a player in the 1950s, did. He donated $100 to Sandusky so he could get better legal help and urged many of his former teammates to do the same. According to him, some already have.
“Here's the thing, these are horrendous charges against him. But he's still entitled to his day in court,” Stellatella said of his decision.
On the other hand, former offensive lineman and Super Bowl winner Brad Benson was not invited and would have refused to attend anyway. He had some choice words for both Paterno and the students of Penn State who rioted in protest of the coach’s firing.
"I sure wouldn't want it be a show of solidarity for Joe," he said. As for the students:
I equate [those] that are rioting to the occupiers on New York City right now. They're not mature enough to understand why they're rioting. They weren't there when this happened. What are they protesting? They're protesting that someone with a tremendous responsibility failed to fulfill his moral responsibility, and other people failed as well.
All of this should make for quite an interesting game on Saturday, regardless of the score.
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