I thought I was done reading about Penn State football players in trouble with the law. I've done interview after interview in the post-season with players saying the off-the-field issues plaguing this program for the past couple of years are over.
Apparently not!
The latest boggles my mind! Chris Bell threatening a TEAMMATE with a knife at Pollock Commons. What! That's where I enjoyed what I still consider the best Sunday brunch ever. Granted the football players eat in a special room, but nonetheless, the only time a knife should be used is to cut the yummy french toast! How disheartening! Chris obviously booted off the team with no possibility of a return. Sad, really. It's a teammate, for Pete's Sake. What was the point? He wanted to confront another player who believed Bell stole his cell phone case? Oh my. P.S.-- He's no longer behind bars! Not that I feel he's a threat to the team but he did say (according to the police report), he had a gun with him. I'm assuming in his dorm room? You see in a couple minutes, he ruined what could have been the opportunity of a lifetime: a free education and the chance to showcase his athletic ability to maybe one day play at the next level. Now, he'll be lucky if anyone will take another chance on him. Life is about choices and he made a really bad choice.
I'm not sure really why the problems persist. I don't think it has anything to do with the coaches, in particular Joe Paterno. You can do only so much. You can't change a person. Only he or she can change himself or herself. And don't say Paterno can't relate to the problems or issues of kids these days! Right and wrong -- have not changed. Technology, maybe, but not morals. There will always be problems when you get a hundred 20-somethings together, but come on... use that fight and fire against Michigan, not on your teammates and other students.
At any rate, it was last year around this time a bunch of players got in trouble after an off-campus fight. The Blue-White Game could get interesting! Hopefully, there will be enough players to scrimmage. The Nittany Lions may have to recruit from the crowd.
