Penn State Football: A Busy Month Without Joe Paterno

It has been quite a month for Penn State's students, alumni, football program and community. A little more than a month ago the entire Penn State family was mourning the passing of longtime head coach Joe Paterno, a man who saw his career ended amid controversy off the field.

Since then Penn State has tried to get back to business as a football program and the students have gone back to focusing their efforts on raising money for charity to child cancer patients. Between the passing of Paterno and the record-breaking dance marathon last weekend Penn State has signed their first recruiting class in the post-Paterno era, opened up practice to the media and had their new head coach is a part of a Super Bowl contending team. Yes, this past month has been much more hectic than Penn State is used to.

It all started with the somber news that Paterno had lost his bout with lung cancer. Though realistically inevitable, it was a sad day that few people knew how to handle. After all, the entire region was still trying to come to grips with what was unveiled in November with Jerry Sandusky and a scathing sexual abuse scandal linked to the university. Paterno's role in the matter, though relatively minor, was not forgotten, but added a dark cloud over the final memories and legacy of the nation's leader in coaching victories. Some people, though few and far between, had no compassion for the passing of Paterno but for the most part Paterno's life was celebrated the way many felt it would be for years.

A powerful and somber procession gave Paterno and his family one last trip through State College together, and students banded together to provide warm sights for the family and Joe on his last drive through town on his way to his final resting place. The next day former football players, fellow coaches, family, friends and fans gathered for a touching ceremony inside the Bryce Jordan Center as former players such as Michael Robinson and Todd Blackledge, students that benefited from Paterno's influence off the field and faculty spoke highly of their memories of Paterno. Nike founder Phil Knight created a buzz by speaking his mind in support of Paterno and blasting the administration at Penn State, received well by Penn Staters and raising eyebrows by outsiders (Knight didn't care how he was received).

While all of the speeches were powerful in a number of ways, Jay Paterno had the final word and displayed brilliance behind the microphone, thanking those who attended and sharing some more stories of his father. All things considered, it was the best possible way to say good bye to a legend, disgraced or not.

Meanwhile the Class of 2012 was being put together and signed, with new head coach Bill O'Brien splitting time between State College and with the New England Patriots, and some top players were making decisions to go elsewhere. O'Brien's staff did put together a decent class and signed some players who may fly under the radar, but time will tell what kind of impact they will have moving forward.

Days after signing the new recruiting class O'Brien and the Patriots took on the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. A Super Bowl ring for O'Brien would have served as a nice recruiting chip when making trips to homes and high schools or when prospective recruits paid a visit to State College, but it was not to be as the Patriots came up short against the Giants. In the next 48 hours O'Brien made his move 100 percent by setting up shop in Paterno's old office and getting started on recruiting for the Class of 2013 and preparing for spring football practices.

Last week Penn State opened a workout session to the media, a long-awaited decision for those covering the team. The move was a sign of changes to come under O'Brien.

After a hard month the entire campus had a chance to come together and do something positive, with THON. Over $10 million was raised by the end of the weekend-long dance marathon in the Bryce Jordan Center. Perhaps this was the turning of the page that will continue the healing process for a university that continues to clean the mud thrown by multiple media outlets and pundits since November.

Remember, the actions of a handful of people, even in high-ranking positions, will never represent the actions of the entire community. The last month has shown many positives going on in State College. It is not going unnoticed.

Kevin McGuire is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report and the managing editor of Nittany Lions Den. Follow him on Twitter, like him on Facebook and add him to your Google+ circle.