Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/88420
"I've hit many walls in the last few years. I told Dottie that we were defi- nitely in the fourth quarter," San- dusky said, referring to his wife. "You find out who's with you in the fourth quarter. You find out who will stand by you and go through the hurt and pain to get you where you want to go. "She and others are standing strong. I'd like to believe they know me the most. I'd like to believe they know me not by how I've been por- trayed by so many. It's for those still standing, those who have been ridiculed, that we will continue to fight. There's much to fight." Moments later, Cleland meted out a sentence that stemmed from San- dusky's conviction in June on 45 of 48 counts against him. "To betray those who looked to you as a mentor is much, much worse" than commit- ing crimes against strangers, Cle- land said. "Your crime is your as- sault to their psyches and their souls, and the assault to the safety and well-being of your community." Statements from Victim No. 1 and the mother of Victim No. 9 were read by prosecutor Joe McGettigan. Statements were read directly to Sandusky by three of his other vic- tims. "He took away my childhood the day he assaulted me," one victim said. "He should be sentenced ac- cordingly." Another victim read quotes from the Bible, urging Sandusky to admit his guilt and seek atonement. In his prepared remarks, Cleland explained the deceit of a pedophile and the torment that victims experi- ence when they are assaulted by a trusted and respected member of the community. "It is hard for the average citizen to understand why pedophiles are not found and caught," Cleland said. "Their very nature is to ingratiate with parents and children. Establish trust, commit and then conceal crimes. Those who have never en- countered a pedophile can hardly begin to understand the anguish of knowing that you've been deceived." –NATE BAUER THE MONTH I N. . . BLOGS TWEETS Former Penn State quarterback Paul Jones just played in a intramural flag football game. The kid has a cannon. THEREAL _TSCHOEN TIM SCHOEN, DAILY COLLEGIAN REPORTER Voting for [the coach of the year] award halfway through the season seems a bit ridiculous to me. The best example I can use to illustrate that is to take a look at our friends from Illi- nois. Last season, the Illini were 6-0 and ranked sixteenth in the country before losing their final six games of the regular season. Ron Zook was fired, and they are now experiencing the Tim Beckman era, who unlike [Bill] O'Brien, will not be anywhere near the top of this list. DREW BALIS ONWARD STATE OPINIONS Jerry Sandusky wore bright red jail garb on Tuesday [Oct. 9], looking like a quarterback in practice, untouchable and pro- tected. Except Sandusky was about to get hit, a 30- to 60-year sentence coming from Judge John Cleland here at the Centre County Courthouse stemming from 45 guilty counts of sexual molestation. It's enough, given Pennsylvania's parole guide- lines, to keep the 68-year-old Sandusky confined to prison for life. DAN WETZEL YAHOO SPORTS Though there will be no Big Ten championship game or bowl for Penn State this season, O'Brien and this team have shown that, no, there is no giving up – even when they were given plenty of reasons to do so. Penn State's mettle will be tested over the next month as well with games against Ohio State, Purdue and Nebraska. O'Brien's team probably won't win every game during that stretch, but PSU's refusal to give up has shown that this team will have a chance. A better one than many – myself included – thought they'd have. BEN KERCHEVAL NBC SPORTS I suppose a lot of reasons about this specific season con- tribute to why Bill O'Brien is being the way he is. It's his first year of a long-term contract. Expectations are low. No post- season games are at stake. He has an undependable field goal kicker. In sum, he can afford to go for it – both literally and figuratively. Consequences are slim. Maybe a good piece down the road, when more is on the line and maybe more equity's been built, but also more gravity, his choices will change. But, man, it sure is fun right now. DAVID JONES THE (HARRISBURG) PATRIOT-NEWS