"I'm fine. Really."Another day, another Nittany Lion suspended. Yesterday it was tight end Andrew Quarless' turn.
The junior became the 6th player suspended in a little over 40 days. He was guilty of the ever specific "violation of team rules" and making matters worse, Quarless was coming off a season in which he missed the first two games after he was busted for underage drinking.
I'm not trying to pile on a kid for -- gasp -- underage drinking while at college, but if you already have one strike, you have to be one special kind of turd to follow it up with strike two a mere 7 months later.
The suspensions, dating back to the house party brawl last year, speak to the larger issue that Joe Paterno, much like Bobby Bowden, has lost control of his program.
Nothing against Paterno or Bowden -- this is just life dictating its ways. Once you reach the age of 215, it's only natural that you will lose a step (or ten) and faculties running at a slower rate and running a major college football program go together like Anton Chigurh and Piña Coladas.
But more importantly, what does this say about Jay Paterno? Proving that you want the job when it opens up does not consist of ruining highly-rated quarterbacks and turning a blind eye to a roster bent on self-destruction, while your dad walks around bumping into walls and waxing poetic about Andre Krimm.
Penn State fans can see the writing on the wall and cautiously went fappity-fap when rumors popped up recently that Bill Cowher had been in town for a few days back in February (Cowher immediately denied any interest in the job).
What would you do if you were in athletic director Tim Curley's shoes?
Comments
By the way, Ive heard some rumblings that OSU is scheduling Tennessee in 2017 and 2018. I guess Tressel mentioned it at that "illegal or unethical" fundraiser in Cincinnati. The next 10 years out of conference schedule is impressive. Lets just hope these teams are at their top level when we play them and don't pull a Washington like this year.
I'm sickened by the way things have turned out here in State College. As much as I support the Lions, I don't think Joe has lost control of the program, but I do believe the 18-21 year olds that are now entering the program no longer have the respect older players once did. Rules have become more like guidelines. But once Joe Paterno gets in the picture, he should have things straightened out.
Any coach should get 50% of the respect they deserve just because they are the Head Coach. The other 50% has to be earned. This could just be an indication that JoePa's ability to earn their respect has diminished.
Wait, let me get this straight, an OSU blogger is getting on his high horse about football ethics? Is that what's happeneing?
How many PSU players have been arested with guns? Wearing bullet proof vests? Picking up $20 hookers? Ok just checking.
and ohio state never ruins highly raked qbs:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J...
By the time the next topic is posted, Jason might want to be the one with the bullet proof vest.
And did you guys know that Brett Favre retired?
Gotta love Joe's passion, if not his sensibility. I don't see where anyone's on their high horse. I see a fact being stated (6 suspensions in roughly 40 days) and then questions being asked as to whether or not JoePa has lost control of the program.
Not sure how OSU's or any other school's issues have anything to do with the facts and questions Jason put out there...
Sounds like somebody touched a raw nerve with Joe.
Any program, regardless of the coach or team discipline, is bound to have a bad apple or a stupid mistake. When you have 110 college kids, you are bound to get a couple with questionable judgement.
That being said, what happened last year at FSU (cheating scandal) and the last two years of players getting their name in the police blotter in Happy Valley, the only logical conclusion is that they are recruiting the wrong kids who lack character (possible) or their octogenarian coaches have lost control of the program (likely).
Bowden and Paterno are legends and are an assett to the game of college football. However, they are getting to the point, some would say that have already reached it, that their stubborn resistance to retirement is hurting their programs.
Reminds me of the IU fans whining when Corey called Sampson 'dirty' a week before he was pinched. All of them kept reminding us that O'Brien was dirty which had nothing to do with the FACT that Sampson was, indeed, dirty. (plus, we've repeatedly beat on O'Brien for his shenanigans on this site)
Simmer down now Joe! Jason doesn't have the physical ability to mount a high horse.
I didn't know Maurice still played for Ohio State when he got arrested with guns?!? Wasn't he a Denver Bronco by then or playing for the Steubenville Stampede? OSU suspended him as soon as he started all of his chaos and he never played for the Bucks again.
Also, the hooker charges were dropped for Henton and if you have seen the sting video, you would understand why they were dropped.
OK just checking.
Joe, MC was not an OSU player when he was arrested with guns and a bullet proof vest on. Not every player that has played for PSU has been perfect either....but we are talking about right now....not the past.
...and as for your claim about OSU ruining Zwick as a highly ranked QB....I really wouldn't say OSU ruined him when the guy he was competing with was Troy Smith. That just makes you look ignorant.
I like JoePa and respect him as the winningest coach ever (Bowden's 1AA wins shouldn't count) and one of the best coaches ever, but his time has passed. He is not the coach he used to be...he has mentored many great assistant coaches and 1 of them deserves their time.
Corey, I have not seen the sting video. Can you elaborate more or tell me how I could get a look?
Wil, the video ran on 10tv.com the day his solicitation charges were dropped. I do not remember that date, which would make it easier to find the video.
However, he was completely bamboozled by the CPD and the showing of the sting video lead to his charges being reduced. I will search more tonight and see if I can find it.
"By the way, Ive heard some rumblings that OSU is scheduling Tennessee in 2017 and 2018."
I'm all about instant satisfaction. Can't we fit them in this year? I would be all for a crushing of an SEC team, I don't even care which one.
Joe's just bitter that Penn State has turned into the Big Ten's Tennessee - On and off the field.
Classy Penn State Fans
here's the link to the statement above
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
Joe,
If it's OK to pick on what Maurice Clarett did after he left Ohio State, then it's surely OK to pick on what Lavon Chisley did after he left Penn State. At least Clarett didn't brutally murder someone in Patton Township and write all over the walls, Charley Manson style, in the victims own blood. Seriously, shut the hell up, hypocrite.
Penn State may well have been a paragon of virtue to college football in the 1980s, but it's hardly that anymore. Remember, Illinois only barely beat Penn State out for the Fulmer Cup last year. Now Penn State is no different, and absolutely no better, than anyone else. And I don't blame Paterno. I blame the coddled athletes, just like those at OSU.
In conclusion, get off the high horse. You're just another good college football program now.
Lee, I see Joe's point here...Chisley didn't have a gun or a bullet proof vest so it was in no way as bad as Maurice Clarett (who never fired a weapon) having a gun and bullet proof vest.....Chisley only had several steak knives and a pair of scissors...which he used to stab Langston Carraway 93 freaking times!!!
However, after reading this story about Lavon Chisley....I want to go buy a gun and a bullet proof vest.
*Please make sure to use the correct amount of sarcasm while reading this post.
Wait a minute, did TLB say that Favre retired? When did this happen? Next thing you know, we'll put astronauts on the moon! Crazy.
How long til Madden kills himself?
How long till Frank Caliendo is out of a job?
I feel badly for both Paterno and Bowden. Both are under enormous pressure to rebuild their programs, and both are clearly struggling trying to accomplish it.
Gawd, if only we could play Tennessee this year. All this talk about struggling programs? Phil Fulmer's large rear end can barely cover the hot seat he's on right now. Tennessee is having *terrible* problems, and it's getting worse.