Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/78642
NEWS & NOTES Judge sets trial date, JURISPRUDENCE A fter being urged by prosecutors to relocate Jerry Sandusky's child sex-abuse trial, Judge John Cleland denied the motion, ruling Feb. 13 that a Centre County jury will hear the case that Cleland ten- tatively sched- uled for May 14. Prosecutors originally requested that an out-of- county jury handle the upcoming trial. Citing the intense media cover- age and Centre County residents' "psycho- logical and economic investment" in Penn State, prosecutors claimed it would be nearly impossible to find an unbiased jury in the region. But Sandusky and his attorney, SANDUSKY Joe Amendola, disputed the claim, saying they believe a Centre County jury would be just as unbiased as one from elsewhere in the common- wealth. "I don't believe it would matter, relative to any place [else] in this state," the former Penn State defen- sive coordinator testified. Amendola said that the media cov- erage has extended well beyond Centre County and added that he is not concerned with the connection between the university and the 4 M A R C H 2 , 2 0 1 2 county's residents. In other developments in the Sandusky case… • Cleland ruled that Sandusky, who is under house arrest, can see most of his grandchildren while he awaits trial. The visits must take place under parental supervision, and he is not allowed to see three grandchildren who are the subjects of custody litigation. • Cleland also heard testimony during a Feb. 10 pretrial hearing from neighbors and staff of a near- by elementary school claiming Sandusky had been seen watching young children from his porch, which is adjacent to the school. Prosecutors wanted Sandusky to be strictly confined to the inside of his house while he awaits trial, but Cleland denied that request. Cleland also ruled that Sandusky can leave the confines of his home to assist his defense team as long as he notifies Centre County Probation at least 36 hours in advance. • Amendola told The Patriot-News of Harrisburg, Pa., that Sandusky was recently informed by Children and Youth Services that two allega- tions of child abuse that had been brought against him by family members following his Nov. 5 arrest are now considered by the agency to be unfounded. Sandusky still faces more than 50 charges in cases involving 10 alleged victims. FOOTBALL Seven Nittany Lions invited to Combine Seven Nittany Lion seniors have rules for in-county jury Sandusky set to face trial beginning May 14 been invited to participate in the NFL's upcoming Scouting Combine. Penn State's contingent will be the fourth-largest at the combine, trail- ing only Alabama (nine), LSU (eight) and Wisconsin (eight). The players who are expected to participate are defensive end Jack Crawford, cornerback D'Anton Lynn, wide receiver Derek Moye, cornerback Chaz Powell, defensive tackle Devon Still, linebacker Nate Stupar and guard Johnnie Troutman. The event is set to take place Feb. 22-28 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis and will be aired by the NFL Network. FOOTBALL PSU represented in Super Bowl XLVI In addition to Bill O'Brien, who was participating in his final game as the New England Patriots' offen- sive coordinator, Penn State was represented in Super Bowl XLVI by three former Nittany Lions. Kareem McKenzie, an All-Big Ten offensive lineman in 2000, started at right tackle for the New York Giants and earned the second Super Bowl ring of his career. He was also a starter when New York defeated the Patriots four years ago. Jimmy Kennedy, the 2002 Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year and a first-round draft pick in '03, also earned a ring with the Giants in his first year on the team's roster. "It's a blessing," said Kennedy, a native of Yonkers, N.Y., who grew up following the Giants. "I've been working nine years for it, to be in this position, to win a Super Bowl ring, the Lombardi Trophy with my hometown." The Giants' victory brings the number of NFL championship rings worn by former Penn State players to 52. The rings have been won by 35 former Nittany Lion players. Former Nittany Lion Rich Ohrnberger is an offensive guard for New England but was on injured reserve and did not play. Pat Flaherty and Peter Giunta are former Penn State assistant coaches now on the Giants' staff who also participated in the Super Bowl. WRESTLING Former All-American arrested in Iowa Former Penn State All-American Andrew Long was arrested and charged with public intoxication, serious assault, simple assault and interference with official acts on Feb. 1 in Ames, Iowa, according to the Ames Police Department. Police reports state that Long was observed throwing punches inside Mickey's Irish Pub. He was escorted outside, then fled when a police offi- cer approached him outside the bar. He was later caught and arrested. Long, who transferred to Penn State last year after being dismissed from Iowa State following two sepa- rate alcohol-related arrests, still faces charges of rape, criminal attempted rape and indecent assault stemming from an alleged sexual assault in State College last August. TRACK AND FIELD Freshman breaks four-minute mile Robby Creese, a freshman from Mount Airy, Md., became the third athlete in Penn State history to break the four-minute mark in the mile run, finishing in 3 minutes, 59.52 seconds at the Flotrack Husky Classic at the University of Washington on Feb. 11. His time was good for second place behind Peter Callahan of Princeton, who finished in 3:58.76. Creese's time is the second- fastest in Penn State indoor track history. W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M