[NU Sports] PSU's remaining season

[Jim Leonard]

Let me start with a disclaimer. In the 18 years I have known SjT I have NEVER changed his mind about anything. Not once, ever - so I no longer try. If he says that Penn State needs to play in a bowl game then it must be so. 
 
That said, I think Penn State University has a lot of soul searching to do. In a nutshell what we have seen at Penn State is that several grown men let their judgment be clouded by the fact that "this could harm Penn State football". I think the school needs to take time to find its moral compass and prove to the world that football is not its first and only priority. There is more than one way to do that, but I think skipping the Big Ten championship game and a bowl game would send a powerful message. 
 
The team essentially has a contract to play its remaining regular season games. The players were not guaranteed anything beyond the 12 games. If PSU did decline both post-season appearances then it would definitely be unfair to the players on the team. I have been a victim of this sort of thing in my own life too. It sucks, but you can learn from it.
 
I think canceling the 2012 season is a bridge too far. If they did decide to opt out of a bowl game (it's an option, they don't have to) it would give them an additional two months to look for new coaching staff and to reflect on all that has gone wrong in Happy Valley. 
 
Jim