Blue White Illustrated

T H E M O N T H I N . . . We always knew the NCAA was skirting due process and that Emmert and his executive committee chairman Ed Ray were acting beyond the bounds of their institution's duties in punishing a criminal act. What we didn't and still don't know is whether the NCAA leaders were so drunk with power that they would have willingly waded into a years-long court battle with Penn State, one the NCAA certainly would have lost but one that could have caused all manner of collateral damage to PSU. DAVID JONES PENNLIVE.COM The NCAA didn't know what to do about the Sandusky situation and its after- math. It just knew it had to do "something," and it would conjure cause out of emanations and penumbras from its bylaws if it had to, never considering that the correct course might be to allow the situation to clarify itself over time. MIKE SIELSKI THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER Maybe in the history of football, not just Penn State football, this has happened before. But I doubt it. Maryland's captains – its designated leaders – reported to midfield for the pre-game coin flip Saturday afternoon, and when Penn State's captains extended their hands for the customary handshake, the Terrapins acted like they weren't there and refused to shake hands. It was an ugly, classless and inexcusable way to begin a game that turned out, at least for the Nittany Lions, to be just as ugly. NEIL RUDEL ALTOONA MIRROR I don't know if you guys remember the opening press conference when I got the job and I had this huge Afro. That's gone now because of how the games have gone, but it's been fun. JAMES FRANKLIN ON THE LIONS' PENCHANT FOR PLAYING CLOSE GAMES O P I N I O N S Q U O T E S linebackers will never make it. Penn State officially recognizes 14 lineback- ers as first-team All-Americans – a mandatory criteria just to be considered for the hall. Actually, three other Nit- tany Lion linebackers should be on that elite list. They were linebackers in the era of the 60-minute player, but they are honored only for their offensive prowess. That list includes center William "Mother" Dunn, Penn State's first All-American in 1906, center Leon Gajecki in 1940 and guard Sam Valen- tine in 1956. Surely, another Penn State linebacker will one day be enshrined alongside Ham, Onkotz and Conlan. To be eligible, candidates have to wait 10 years after their last college game and, if appropri- ate, not until after their retirement from pro football. Once 50 years have passed since the end of their college career, players can only be selected by a special committee, and that is the biggest long shot of all. Fans can speculate and argue all they want about which Nittany Lions should be next, but as in all such organizations, politics and personal biases enter into the selection. It would seem that two-time first- team All-Americans and winners of ma- jor awards would be at the top of the list. That means LaVar Arrigton, recipient of the Butkus and Bednarik awards, is eli- gible now. Paul Posluszny, who also won the Butkus and twice received the Bed- narik Award, could be on the ballot as soon as his pro career is over, while Dan Connor, winner of the Bednarik, will be eligible in another three years. That leaves some outstanding line- backers in the lurch: Charlie Zapiec, John Skorupan, Ed O'Neil, Greg Buttle, Kurt Allerman, Andre Collins, Brandon Short and Michael Mauti. However, nothing is certain. With the right strategy and connections to entice voters and the HOF insiders who make the final selection, one of the other out- standing Lion linebackers might make it before they're struck by lightning.

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