Joe Paterno Fired: Nittany Lions Will Rally Around Embattled JoePa

It's amazing to think of anyone other than Joe Paterno coaching football at Penn State. He's been the head coach there since 1966. 

But that all came to a crashing end on Wednesday night. Sexual abuse allegations around former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky and lack of action got Paterno dismissed by the Penn State Board of Trustees.

I am not a Penn State fan, but I have always admired Joe Paterno. I would like to know why he didn't do more when he found out what was going on.

Because of that, despite my past admiration and despite the fact that everything is just alleged at this point, Paterno needed to go. This was a no-brainer decision that had to be made.

But instead of focusing too much on the past, I would prefer to look forward. The alleged victims of the sexual abuse are obviously the top victims here.

But what about the current players? They are now been thrown into the middle of a storm for things that had nothing to do with them. So, let's take a look ahead at a game on Saturday that actually has huge ramifications on the Big Ten.

No, it's not as important as the off-field stuff going on, but it can hopefully provide a welcome distraction to the players of Penn State.

Will the team rally around their departed coach?

These guys were all recruited by Paterno. They will want to win one last game for him. No, he's not going to be on the sidelines, but his fingerprints will be all over the team. Heck, he was the head coach as the team was beginning its preparation for Nebraska. 

The players at Penn State have to be looking forward to this Saturday like no other game they have ever played. 

The fact is that Beaver Stadium will be an emotional place on Saturday. Because of that, expect a spirited game from the Nittany Lions. I actually think Nebraska will win because they are the better team, but Penn State's effort will be top notch.

Now, absolutely none of this matters. This is a story that's been absolutely repulsive and has captivated the sports world for the last week. 

But the fact remains that there is a game to play on Saturday. When that happens, the effort will be spirited.