COLUMBUS, OH -- Like a lot of people affiliated with Penn State, Franco Harris was mad. The former Nittany Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers running back couldnt understand why Jerry Sandusky had anything to do with Joe Paterno. If Sandusky is the deviant, why have his crimes been rolled up and chained to Paterno in a cruel form of mob-inflicted public punishment?
Sandusky, the former Penn State defensive coordinator, is charged with sexually assaulting at least eight children over 15 years. Since surrendering himself to the authorities, Sanduskys alleged crimes have shaken the State College community and the nation. Sanduskys sins have managed to topple Paterno, who was relieved of his head coaching duties, as well as Graham Spanier, the universitys former president, Tim Curley, the former athletic director, and Gary Schultz, who once served as a vice president of business and finance at Penn State.
None of that made much sense to Harris, particularly the part involving Paterno.
"I really want to get some answers," Harris told WTAE, a Pittsburgh TV station, earlier in the week. "How do you justify the firing of Joe Paterno? And I want to know from the president, why aren't you rehiring Joe Paterno?
Harris, who has been as outspoken as any Penn Stater, added that Paterno was really undeserving of getting attacked in a brutal way. Because of his unflinching public support for Paterno and Penn State, Harris was recently fired as a spokesman for The Meadows Race Track & Casino.
Harris gave his interview to WTAE over the phone as he drove to State College to meet with university officials. Hes one of the few rushing toward Penn State these days. So many others have chosen to put as much distance between themselves and the school as possible.
When Tom Bradley was introduced as interim head coach and Paternos replacement, he did so at Beaver Stadium in front of a banner with Nittany Lions emblems stamped on it. In the past, that backdrop also featured the Sherwin-Williams logo. The company chose to erase its corporate signature and back away from its affiliation with the university.
Sherwin-Williams isnt the only corporation to stiff arm Penn State. Citizens Bank decided not to distribute promotional Penn State buttons for Saturdays game at Ohio State and next weekends final regular season clash at Wisconsin. And Cars.com issued the following statement after pulling its television advertising from two different Penn State broadcasts:
"Due to the recent allegations surrounding the Penn State Football program, Cars.com notified ESPN on Tuesday, Nov. 8, of its plans to withdraw from the broadcast sponsorship of the Nebraska at Penn State game, as well as the game between Penn State and Ohio State.
Last season, Penn States football program reported 70 million in revenue, making it the third most profitable FBS team in the country. You have to wonder how the scandal and the attendant on-going investigation might potentially damage more than just the universitys bottom line.
Already, the Nittany Lions have had a major recruit de-commit. Paternos name was quickly scrubbed from the Big 10 championship trophy. The administration was forced to address speculation that the school planned to remove Paternos statue from Beaver Stadium. And some have asked whether Paterno will, or should, receive his pension.
Meanwhile, there has been speculation about who might replace Bradley if the school attempts to hire a new coach after the season. Bodog.com distributed odds and named former Florida head coach Urban Meyer as the front runner at 21, followed by former Temple head coach and current University of Miami front man Al Golden at 92.
Its hard to imagine Meyera man who coached would-be saint Tim Tebowreturning to the sideline and using his carefully-laundered image to mop up some of Penn States muck and help cleanse the embattled program. Golden might have been a good choice, but after leaving Temple he unwittingly inherited a Hurricanes team that was slapped with a major NCAA investigation into widespread booster impropriety. Unless Golden is a sadist or a fool, it seems unlikely that he'd be eager to swap one scandal for another.
For years, Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano was rumored to be a frontrunner to replace Paterno once he finally retired. Schiano was recently asked if hes interested in the job. He said hed rather pass.
Schiano has a reputation for graduating his players and keeping his program out of trouble. He would have been perfect for Penn State. It seems Penn State isnt perfect for him, however.
There is growing concern on that frontthat the universitys image might be so severely tarnished at the moment that it could discourage outsiders from linking themselves to Penn State in any manner. Shortly after the scandal broke, a photographer for the Daily Collegian, Penn States student newspaper, told CSNPhilly.com that some of her friends were worried about having job offers and internships withdrawn. There have been reports about exactly that sort of thing taking place.
Some have suggested that it might be best for Penn State to shut down the football program while the controversy continues to choke the university and anyone affiliated with it. The schools interim president said that isnt likely to happen, and told reporters that the expectation would be where they deserve to play, they will play."
If the Nittany Lions win their next three gamesagainst Ohio State, Wisconsin and then a to-be-determined Big Ten Championship opponent, should Penn State make it that farthe program would likely play in the Rose Bowl against the Pac-12 winner. Earlier in the week, the Rose Bowls chief administrative officer was asked whether Penn State would be permitted to participate.
"Whoever the champions are, the Rose Bowl official said, we'll welcome with open arms."
Lately, that sort of overture has becoming increasingly rare for the Penn State community.
E-mail John Gonzalez at jgonzalez@comcastsportsnet.com