Penn State Scandal: Nittany Lions Should Cancel the Game, Honor Victims

Sports today have become much more than a pastime. Fans place their beloved sport, team, player or coach on a pedestal. The sport becomes a way of life and the sports figures become heroes, with unrealistic expectations and ideals placed upon them

A higher value is put on sport than one can realistically justify.

No where has this been more evident than in State College, PA.

The scandal that ripped through Penn State University has illuminated, on many different levels, the misplaced value put on a football program. School officials, including Joe Paterno and Mike McQueary, placed a higher value on the Penn State brand than the safety of a vulnerable child.

On Wednesday, Penn St. students placed a higher value on their beloved football coach, and his legacy, than justice and morality. The result was absurd protests and unnecessary property destruction.

As the weekend approaches, talk begins to return to football. The Nittany Lions take on Nebraska on Saturday.  It is an important game in the world of college football.

Penn St., in full spin mode, has announced that the game will be played—business as usual.

But sometimes business should not go on as usual. In the world of college football, this might be an important game. But in the real world, and in the wake of what has transpired at Penn St., this game has very little meaning.

It would have much more meaning if it did not happen at all.

The game should be forfeited. The teams should take the field and gather at the 50 yard line. Then take a knee. Say a prayer and have a five minute moment of silence for the victims. Someone should hold up a big sign that says, “We are truly sorry” or “Justice will be served”. Then give the win to Nebraska and send everyone home.

Maybe the players could devote their time to charity instead, helping people that are vulnerable and in need.

This symbolic gesture would be a show of support to the victims. Victims that were never sought out, that were never aided. It would be an act of apology on behalf of their university for failing them.

If the team had the courage, they would be doing what their university failed to do again and again. They would be standing up for the victims, sending them the message that they are certainly more important that a football game.

Some people believe the game should be played. The prevailing argument of support is, “Why should these young men be punished…..they’ve worked hard for this.”

Regardless of how hard these athletes have worked, this whole thing is bigger than them. It is bigger than college football.  If they don’t know that already, they need to realize it.

Not playing the game is not a punishment to anyone.  It is just the right thing to do.

I guarantee many of these athletes have been dealing with inner turmoil all week. There are likely many players that would rather not take the field on Saturday, although they understandably would not admit it.

By forfeiting this game, the Penn St. football team could show that sometimes there are more important issues than football. Sometimes it is OK to not put on a happy face and not do business as usual. Sometimes sport does not take precedent over real life.

The act of sacrifice is likely a message that Joe Paterno preached many times to these athletes. That message should be applied this weekend.