Is it football season yet?

I want to start this post by stepping back and paying respect to the individuals that lost their lives Friday at the massacre in Colorado. Such a senseless act that should have never happened. Its a shame that someone can have that much evil and lack of care for human life as James Holmes did that night. Things like this make you realize just how precious and fragile life can be. We never know what the next day or moment holds so we must cherish each moment we are given. 

Sports are a big part of my life and many others but sometimes you have to step back and see whats important. Today I just wanna acknowledge this and give my prayers and best wishes to those who lost loves ones as well as those still fighting to recover physically and emotionally. May God bless you all. 

To wrap up today's short post, I want to touch on the Penn State situation for (hopefully) the last time. It breaks my heart to know this happened and was covered up for so long but ESPN and others have beat this story to death. Its time to put this behind us and at least try to move forward. Last week the statue of Joe Paterno was taken down from outside of the stadium--a move that angered the Paterno family, who says the decision was done without input or notification from them. I agree with the move to take it down because in my opinion he is just as guilty as Sandusky and to keep the statue up is in bad taste and Penn St can find another way to honor Joe Paterno. I disagree with the family's stance....Joe knew what was going on and didn't make sure it was handled correctly. This situation is centered around football, of course, but its now a far more important matter than just football. Its a now legal matter and needs to be handled as such....meaning the families comments and influence shouldn't hold much, if any at all, weight on decisions and penalties that are handed down. 

The penalties that Penn St will face were delivered today and include the following: 

1. $60 Million Dollar Fine

2. 1998-2011 wins vacated, totaling 112 victories (now making Bobby Bowden the all time winningest coach....Paterno now ranked 5th)

3.  Four year post-season ban

4.  Four year scholarship ban (10 initially, 20 total)

5. Players allowed to transfer as of today, without penalty 

( Waiver for teams to exceed scholarship/roster limit to allow Penn St transfers to join team in 2012 season is in the works)

6. Athletic Department on Probation for Five years 

This seems like a fair penalty in my mind. The NCAA had to send a message and make a stiff penalty and it delivered. I understand that kids are being punished for things they did not have part in, BUT they are allowed to transfer and play elsewhere immediately and compete for a championship, something Penn St, won't be able to do for the next four years. Desmond Howard said it best "These players have a choice, these innocent young men did not." He went on to say,(paraphrased) if you love PSU, you can still play here and represent PSU well and get a degree. Otherwise, you are free to transfer TODAY! 

These penalties will obviously set back the football program a great deal and hurt the future as recruits will likely not even look at Penn St in the coming few years as they are guaranteed they won't get a shot at playing for a conference championship or bowl game for the next four years. Unless guys are dedicated to Penn St and been long time fans etc, they are likely to go elsewhere. But like I said, this is far more important than football. Hopefully these young men will make the decisions that will benefit them the most and the victims will continue to heal and move forward from this horrible situation.