Jerry Sandusky Trial: Why It's No Surprise Former Penn State Coach Will Testify

The jury selection is finally complete, and both sides are launching their opening salvos in the Jerry Sandusky trial. The former Penn State defensive coordinator accused of multiple counts of child abuse is battling a mighty opening punch from the state of Pennsylvania with the trial getting under way today.

As Yahoo! Sports reports, the prosecution opened up by humanizing the victims of the alleged acts and connecting names and faces to the individuals.

In addition to the names being revealed and a more human element being delivered, we also found out that Sandusky is going to testify in his own defense.

The negative legal impact is pretty clear; Sandusky and Joe Amendola, his lawyer, are going to open themselves up to intense cross-examination. As we've seen from Sandusky's other public appearance, an interview with Bob Costas, letting the former coach speak publicly does not always help his image.

However, the fact is, for Sandusky to stand any chance in this trial, he will have to speak his side of the story. Sandusky will have to explain how so many charges and allegations are lined up against him—how all of these boys with such similar stories have all aligned against him—and explain what Mike McQueary was hearing and seeing in the shower.

The state is going to push Sandusky, and he will have to respond as it cross-examines him. At the same time, it is a necessary push for the defense, as it has to explain its side of things. The mountains of evidence against Sandusky make it impossible for him to sit silently and not rebut any of the claims made against him.

It shouldn't surprise us that Sandusky is going to testify. It also shouldn't be seen as a strong move from the defense. It is a huge risk, but a risk that they have to take in order to have any shot at succeeding in this case.