Penn State Needs to Move On, Starting with the Uniforms

Let me begin by saying I am in the minority. This is my fourth article in regard to the Penn State/Jerry Sandusky scandal. Throughout the previous three, I have been firm in my stance that the players, coaches, fans, boosters and administration who had nothing to do with Sandusky's acts or the cover-up that took place along side them should not be punished. 

I still believe that.

What I also believe, however, is that what is done is done and it is time for Penn State to move on. It is time to embrace and begin the next chapter of Penn State's story.

Perhaps the most iconic thing about Penn State football, outside of Joe Paterno, are the uniforms.

They are simple, yet bold. Dull, yet bright. Empty, yet full of history. History created by one man who projected the purest of images, only to find out he was hiding something behind it all.

Paterno was the Penn State uniform and the uniform was Paterno.

That, in my opinion, needs to change.

The change does not have to be difficult. It can be easy and with purpose and meaning.

We can start at the bottom and work our way back to the top.

Black cleats. Solid. No bright white swoosh. No Under Armour logo. Solid black, in memory of the victims of Jerry Sandusky.

We move on to the pants. Currently, as white as a bride's dress. Pure. We now know the irony of that. 

We place one solid navy blue line on the legs, reminding us to never again run from the truth.

Now the jersey. Currently, it only has numbers. It needs more. Not the name of the school on the front, but each player's name on the back. 

This to symbolize that no man can hide himself by simply turning his back. 

Finally, the helmet. The most famous part of all uniforms. So iconic is Penn State's solid stripe and no-logo look.

The non-sports fan can turn on a TV and not know who is playing.

No more.

Peel back the stripe, and on each side of the helmet, you put the symbol of Penn State: the Nittany Lion logo. This to show the world that Penn State will not hide in obscurity. 

This to represent that despite all that has happened, despite the horrific actions that took place and the disgusting attempts to cover them up, there still are good and innocent people in Happy Valley who are proud of who they are and where they are from.

This show show the nation that We...still, are Penn State.