Penn State: Rodney Erickson's Eventual Resignation Couldn't Come Soon Enough

Penn State president Rodney Erickson plans to step down from his duties at the end of his contract, but the prolonged wait does the Nittany Lions no good. 

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first broke the news, stating Erickson told them he will no longer be president of Penn State University when his contract ends in 2014. 

Erickson will be paid $515,000 annually through June 2014, and there's a possibility of receiving "performance bonuses." 

After everything that has happened over the course of the last few months, the Nittany Lions know that starting fresh is a must. Cleaning house is the best approach to moving on, but with Erickson still around, it doesn't help. 

In order to get past these troubled times, Penn State has to reshape its image. 

So, it's rather pointless for Erickson to stay on through the end of his contract. Erickson took over for Graham Spanier after the Jerry Sandusky scandal broke, which certainly wasn't an easy situation to handle. 

This isn't the way he envisioned his career coming to a close, but if he were wise, he wouldn't be staying on with the Nittany Lions for that long. 

It will, of course, take Penn State quite some time to find a new president, which is why Erickson remains at his position. However, choosing to stay for an additional two years isn't helping this whole mess. 

Erickson should leave at the end this year, allowing Penn State to begin a new regime.

This is a school that hasn't had much change over the years, so when the scandal ripped everything a part, it was tough to deal with.

Accepting change is what needs to be done to move on, but having Erickson around longer is a constant reminder of the horrible events that took place.

He took over during the bad times, and that is what he will be remembered for. Penn State doesn't need to hang onto him through 2014; it needs a new person in power now.

Further proof Erickson should be gone sooner than later is that major donors are withholding their usual gifts to the school.

In the Post-Gazette report, Erickson stated that, "there are some major donors that will be watching closely how things evolve over the next several weeks." 

Some have given donations, and others have chosen not to, which doesn't help the school at all. Alumni want to know that the school will be in good hands moving forward, attempting to get past this recent tragedy. 

However, with Erickson still in charge, people don't know what to think. The news of his eventual departure could have an affect on donors, but the Nittany Lions would be better off if Erickson left after this year. 

Sticking around through 2014 is too long for a man that will evoke bad memories for Penn State.