Penn State Retakes The Field, Nebraska Wins The Less Important Contest
This afternoon, Penn State University came back to a familiar home field, but to an unfamiliar and heretofore unheard of set of circumstances. Just begun was a scandal for the ages. Just gone was JoePa. Ahead, a threatening and emotional time of self-examination, legal challenges, and a commitment to make amends – if it is at all possible – to Sandusky’s alleged victims.
We all wondered, I think, which Nittany Lions would show up today. We found out on their first play, one of Paterno’s old-time football favorites, a strong fullback barrelling up the middle. They were there to play. Yet, in the end, although they rallied out of a 14 point deficit, they fell short, losing to Nebraska 17-14. The loss will not linger all too long. What will always remain in sports lore occurred when the Penn State players first came onto the field, packed tightly together, four abreast. They conjured up an image of a long line of ancient soldiers coming home from a faraway war . . .
