Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/83706
lems while bringing you even more of the in-depth coverage you've come to expect. The preseason publication that was printed and mailed on Aug. 21 was the biggest we've ever done, and future issues will be every bit as comprehensive. All the features that you've come to count on in BWI, like Phil's Corner, the Up Close and Per- sonal series, Varsity Views and the Last Word, as well as featured writers like Lou Prato, will continue to appear in the pages of our new and improved magazine. We're excited about the improve- ments we've made, and we hope read- ers will share our enthusiasm. As these changes continue to unfold, we'll be certain to keep you updated via email, regular mail or the pages of this magazine. LETTERS Unreasonable sanctions Dear BWI, This letter is written to vent my feelings relative to the aftermath of the Sandusky fiasco. Following in the footsteps of an older brother who was Class of 1933, I enrolled for the fall term in 1937. Completing my second year, and being able, I enlisted in the naval service in pref- erence to the draft, and was honor- ably discharged in October 1945 af- ter serving in both the European and Pacific theaters. During my sophomore year, I was a member of coach Joe Bedenk's baseball team as a walk-on. In the early '40s, at the gym, I was ac- quainted with coach Bob Higgins, Al Michaels, Charlie Speidel, Gene Wettstone and others. I accompa- nied the 1947-48 football team to Dallas for the Cotton Bowl. Several members of this team, all WWII vets, were neighbors of mine at Windcrest trailer park for vets and families. The actions of the present board of trustees leave me nauseated. The lack of guts to stand up against NCAA sanctions, like rolling over and playing dead, is unbelievable in my mind. The taking away of 111 football wins in addition to other sanctions is kicking us when we're down. The players affected during this period had nothing to do with the basic problem. By suspending four years of postseason games, it looks to me like the NCAA wanted to set an example for all college sports. A two-year suspension would have been reasonable, but they buried PSU football for years with this edict. Had our president and athlet- ic director not been so quick to roll over, some of these penalties might have been reduced. Apparently our leaders felt that rolling over as quickly as possible would make the problem go away more quickly. It is well that at least some of our alums are not happy with our lead- ers and are taking action. Banding up a group of lawyers to file suit to counter NCAA decisions is a step in the right direction. The NCAA has gone way overboard in the number of sanctions it has imposed in rela- tion to the basic problem. The threat to kill the football program for four years was a bluff. The NCAA would not dare to slaughter a pro- gram that supports the other college sports teams. With time and "good conduct" it's possible some restric- tions may be eased, but that's doubtful based on the mood of the NCAA's leadership. All of the sanctions will not clean the memories of Sandusky's victims. When all the smoke has cleared, lawsuits will result in hefty bank ac- counts for victims and for all the lawyers. Dollars cannot erase bad memories, but they might help, and there will be plenty of dollars to put lotion on the wounds. Wear white Dear BWI, After reading the article "Support Group" in the Sept. 21 issue of Blue White Illustrated, I felt compelled to write. I am not an alumnus of Penn State, just a fan who makes it to one or two games a year. I noticed that Penn State has scheduled a White Out on Oct. 27 for the Ohio State game. In my opinion, the White Out at Beaver Stadium has become one of the most spectacular sights in sports today, but even in the pre-NCAA-sanction era, I always had a problem with the fact that it needed to be scheduled at all. I don't remember what year it all started, but after seeing it once, I would have thought the Penn State students, alumni, faculty and fans would understand that it should be that way every week. Have you ever seen the sea of red in Nebraska? I do not think they have to ask their fans to show up in red. How about Bryant-Denny Stadium in Alabama? It is always full of crimson, but I Robert B. Hurm Maryville, Tenn. $3.00 " ! "$ ' n State boots away its scoring chances and drops a nail-biter to Virginia | KICKED TO THE CURB C $ $ " " " # $ " HARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Penn State had its chances this time. The fake punt worked. The deep throw into the end zone at the end of the first half was on target. The turnovers that never seemed to pop loose in last week's sea- son-opening loss to Ohio? They popped loose. The field goal opportunities that never seemed to arise? They arose. So why do the Nit- tany Lions find them- selves here, still winless two games into their season? They did a lot of the things they wanted to do against Virginia on Saturday. But they weren't able to take advantage of all the rk they did, $ $ GOOD NEWS Penn State showed re- silience. It moved the ball effectively at times and made some big plays on defense. BAD NEWS There's no delicate way of put- ting it: The Lions' kicking game was terrible, and it cos the team a victory THE TAKEAWAY The ted som GO, OHIO h has led the Bobcats to bowl games each of the past three seasons. Photo courtesy of Ohio Media Relations seeking a season-opening win CRADLE & ' % ! a- e So- n, and ! around, he's getting set to return to his home state this weekend. And this time, he's angling for a really big fish – bigger, certainly, than anything he ever pulled out of the water at Fisherman's Paradise. Saturday's game against Penn State is "a eat opportunity for us," Solich said. "And along with great opportunities usually come great challenges. But it's a challenge we look for- ward to." Solich has a lot of reaso- what might seem at l opening-day mis- ditional Big Ten