Ron Musselman's Penn State football chat: 11.17.11

Wednesday, 30 November 2011 19:31

Written by Dan Gigler

Ron Musselman: It has been one big blur, to tell you the truth. I have been bouncing back and forth between sports stories and news stories, etc., and writing very little about football. I don't expect things to quiet down here for quite some time. This is a sad time for a lot of people in State College, given the awful allegations against former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.

NittneyLionz: How do you think JoePa is doing? I can't imagine he is handling his firing very well.

Ron Musselman: I think you answered your own question. Obviously, he can't be handling this situation well. I mean, I can't even imagine what last Saturday was like for him when he woke up and didn't head to a football stadium of some kind for the first time in 70-plus years going back to his playing days. It also had to be a hard day for his son, Jay, the quarterbacks coach, to work that day.

Dan_Dent: How do you think Joe will be remembered?

Ron Musselman: Well, for all the good he did for so many years, not calling the police to report the alleged child sex abuse incidents against Jerry Sandusky is going to stain Paterno's image forever. It's just hard to understand why Sandusky was allowed to hang around the locker room despite growing evidence right up until last month.

Laura05: What are your thoughts on whether they should cancel the season?

Ron Musselman: Well, a lot of people thought they should have cancelled the Nebraska game Saturday. I wasn't one of them. But I could go either way on this debate. I understand both sides of the issue. You have to feel bad for this year's team. This scandal, which they have had nothing to do with, has basically made their season an afterthought.

PeterPasqua: Since Sandusky promised a boy who was older than 9th grade a walk on spot on the team while still an active coach, as well as concurrently providing him with benefits possibly including but not limited to material gifts, travel, etc. also while allegedly sexually assaulting him, does the NCAA get involved? This is clearly a violation, as it is giving improper benefits to a prospective student athlete. How has this not come up?

Ron Musselman: If true, it may eventually come out as the case moves forward. The 23-page grand jury presentment was pretty chilling and made Sandusky out to be a horrible guy. His interview with Bob Costas didn't go well, either.

JamesJones: What do you think -- should PSU go to a bowl game or not?

Ron Musselman: Again, as in the case of whether Penn State should cancel the season, I am in favor of Penn State playing in a bowl game. The kids playing now have nothing to do with the Sandusky stuff. But I think the university should continue to promote child abuse awareness and raise money for the boys who allegedly were abused.

Al: I read somewhere that Paterno was considered a Professor at the school. If true, is that common is college sports? Football coaches considered professors?

Ron Musselman: You have to remember Joe was first employed at the university in 1950 and he was a physical education teacher. He still is a professor, although he hasn't taught in years. It was common back in the 1960s and '70s for coaches to also hold teaching jobs. In fact, there are still a few coaches at Penn State today who teach a few classes.

Francoooooo: Let's talk football for a minute. Do you think this team can reach the Big ten championship game?

Ron Musselman: There's always a chance, but I think it is a long-shot. Penn State would have to win at Ohio State and at Wisconsin to do it and I don't see that happening. With or without Joe Paterno, the offense still doesn't have much punch, And now there are too many coaches handling other duties with Mike McQueary gone. Even interim coach Tom Bradley, the former defensive coordinator, has had to take a crash course in offense, given that he last coached the wide receivers in 1987.

Larry1955: What kind of crowd do you think will greet Penn State at Ohio State, where they rarely even win?

Ron Musselman: Well, Ohio State is urging Buckeyes fans to display appropriate behavior at Saturday's game, despite allegations of child sexual abuse against Sandusky. OSU hoops stars Jared Sullinger and Aaron Craft and football All-American Mike Brewster were part of a group of athletes who recorded a video urging fans who attend the game to be on their best behavior. The video was posted Tuesday on YouTube. Let's hope things are not hostile and out of control.

Dan_Dent: Are there any special ceremonies scheduled for the game Saturday that you know of?

Ron Musselman: Tom Bradley and Ohio State's Luke Fickell – both interim coaches – said earlier this week they had discussed the teams making a gesture to remember the child abuse victims before kickoff Saturday, similar to what Penn State and Nebraska did this past weekend. Fickell said it likely will be a little handshake or something to let people know they are other things going on outside of football.

Bill: Penn State only needs a win and a Wisconsin loss to reach the B1G Championship game. PSU can accomplish this with a win at Ohio State coupled with a Wisconsin loss to Illinois. Penn State could also accomplish this with a win at Wisconsin. Ohio State lost last week to Purdue, so it is impossible for there to be a 3-way tie for the Leaders Division. Wisconsin already has two losses in the B1G. They need to beat Illinois and Penn State to reach the B1G Championship game.

Ron Musselman: Yeah, Penn State can win the Big Ten if it beats Ohio State Saturday and Wisconsin loses to Illinois. I see one of those happening, but not both, so I think the best way for the Lions to assure they are in the Big Ten title game is to win out. Having said that, Penn State has won just once – 2008 – in Columbus in the past 33 years.

TomTerrific: How much has recruiting been hurt by this Sandusky thing? I would be a lot of people are shying away from going to Penn State now.

Ron Musselman: Well, Joey O'Connor already has decommitted and I would expect there to be more. I think this incident is really going to shrink the 2012 recruiting class. Tom Bradley and his staff recently held a conference call recruits and their families to address any concerns they naturally may have in the wake of the Sandusky scandal. Mike McQueary, the team's recruiting coordinator who is on administrative leave, has been replaced by Bill Kavanaugh, who was one of McQueary's assistants. Penn State has 15 commitments for 2012 class. All three major recruiting services—Rivals, Scout and ESPN—rank the class as one of the top 25. I would expect that to change prior to signing day.

JennieJones: How is Silas Redd doing and will Matt McGloin start at QB Saturday?

Ron Musselman: Yeah, McGloin is officially the starting quarterback and it will remain that way the rest of the year unless he struggles. And Bradley said earlier this week that he would not let Redd take any hits in practice, but that he expected him to play Saturday. He is battling injuries to his collarbone and sternum.