Don't Be "Penn State"

It's the famous battle cry at Pennsylvania State University.

"We Are ... Penn State!"

But it no longer rings true. You aren't Penn State. You won't be for a while and if you're ultimate goal is to become the Penn State that you once were, then I only ask one question: Why?

The penalties handed out today range from "worse than the death penalty" to a "slap on the wrist," depending on who you ask. For what we don't know about Penn State's future, we can speak on Penn State's past and present.

If Joe Paterno is what built Penn State up (and by all accounts and actions he was), then he is equally part of what brought the school down. For the folks in State College, to believe that Paterno's role in this is still small is rather naive. I am willing to sacrifice that it is probably different observing Paterno and Penn State's fall in central Pennsylvania than it is where I am, roughly 1,200 miles away but it's time to wake up at Penn State. To be honest, Paterno was still a "saint" 12 months ago and this has happened awfully quick for his worshipers.

Moving on is easy in principle but it is necessary in this case.

The longer you keep hanging on to what used to be, the more out of touch you appear. 

You can keep on shouting about being Penn State but why would you want to be connected with that anymore. It was haunting and awful, led by a child predator and the people who could have stopped him, including Paterno, did not.

Is that a Penn State worth being or continuing to cheer for?

Really it comes down to two factions here. The folks that are fans of Joe Paterno and those who are fans of Penn State. Paterno fans, this has nothing to do with his win total or his statue coming down. You can create whatever number makes you feel happy for his final total. If you're willing to turn a blind eye toward what he did off-the-field, then that's actually strangely fitting to what Paterno actually did in this case.

If you're a Penn State fan, it's possible you're ready to move past this. Aside from the civil suits that will cost you somewhere short of $75 million, your run of punishment is likely over. Hopefully, you're ready to pick up the pieces and work on the academic reputation of your school that was tarnished. That probably won't happen because as everyone knows football, football and football run college sports. Penn State should work to be the first major college to operate in more sincere collegiate manner. A Division I school that puts a priority on academics might be a school to cheer for. Forget bowl games and ticket sales for once and show some remorse about the crimes committed.

To credit the students at Penn State, some understand. The student ticket group at Beaver Stadium changed their name from Paternoville to Nittanyville and while their Facebook page lit up with moronic comments, they got it right. Unfortunately, others are selfishly worried about why their school had to take on a four-year bowl ban for aiding a child molester. (The Internet proves again that it brings out all sorts of idiots from the woodwork. I won't link to it but you don't have to try hard to find the selfish out there.)

Few schools have been better at raising money for a good cause like Penn State, with its THON effort for cancer. Take a stand against the child abuse scandal that rocked the school and lead efforts for awareness against one of the most heinous crimes around.

Football ran Penn State and the school is feeling that now. Why would you want to go back to that?

Have some pride for what Penn State should become, not hanging on to what it once was. That might be a school worth representing.