For the most part, Bill O’Brien hasn’t shared his opinions regarding the Jerry Sandusky scandal with the general public. He doesn’t really have that luxury and probably hasn’t spent a lot of time thinking about it. But when it comes to the Penn State community’s divide on this issue, O’Brien knows exactly where he stands.
“It would be great when they show up to feel that sense of community,” O’Brien said about recruits and players this week in an interview with the Associated Press. “Because I think they feel that here in the football program. We would love for them to feel it outside the football program, too.”
What O’Brien is talking about are the unspoken but ever-present battle lines drawn between two passionate segments of the Nittany Nation. One side wants to move on. The other wants to fight for as much of the truth as can be found. Whether you’re actively participating or not, it’s obvious for those of us living in State College that all is not quite right in Happy Valley.
While Sports Illustrated writes articles about the triumphant revival of the program, billboards go up in downtown State College calling for the ousting of Board of Trustees members.
While recruiting sites give the program credit for making it through hard times, former Lettermen write a letter attacking a once well-respected and longtime State College native for making an unpopular choice.
While people who fervently want to move on are blasted for accepting the narrative given to them, people who remember the good Joe Paterno did with his life are seen as out of touch, unrepentant, and a part of Penn State’s “culture” problem.
Make no mistake, the Freeh Report is far from an airtight and unimpeachable document and Penn State’s administrative leadership has been notably absent for the majority of the scandal. The NCAA’s efforts to tie the Sandusky scandal into some sign of cultural and academic failing is a laughable proposition.
What O’Brien is interested in, and what he is quietly pleading for, is to focus on what he and others can control.
“Whatever side you’re on, we all have to remember that this is about the current student body. This is about the future student body. This is about … the current guys on the team and future guys on the team,” O’Brien said. “What I’ve found is that even though we’re in a tough time as far as numbers are concerned, we’re still able to attract a high-quality student athlete.”
“But the question always arises, because a lot of times in the media what you see is two sides, or these three or four sides, are fighting about who’s right and who’s wrong,” O’Brien said. “I think I would love everybody to understand it does affect our ability to recruit at times. It does affect our current team. They leave the football offices, they read the newspaper.”
Ironically while the NCAA looked to adjust the culture at Penn State, one of the most clear and direct leaders to emerge from the scandal is the second year head football coach.
Ultimately, people will always have opinions on the scandal. Did President Rodney Erickson make the right choice? Should he have stood up to the NCAA? What did Penn State really know about Jerry Sandusky?
A lot of these questions will likely never find decisive answers. Message board postings speak of unnamed sources with unidentified information that will exonerate unnamed people. If that day ever comes that information will be added to an ever-growing but no less confusing kettle of data. Short of some unexpected bombshell the narrative will likely not change very much.
That leaves the Penn State and the State College community with tough choices. Chiefly, the Penn State faithful have to decide when fighting for the university’s reputation does more damage than good.
“Maybe you have to fight some battles behind closed doors. I understand that,” O’Brien said. “But to me, if we could just really understand that we’re headed into a time that will be a very unique time. We know it’s going to be tough. We know the (scholarship) numbers aren’t great. We understand that. But if we’re all on board, supportive of each other, moving forward, I think we can do some really neat things here.”
There will always be opinions, strong emotions and political activism, but as the Penn State community continues to sort things out maybe it’s time for people to come together and listen to their leader.
