Penn State vs. Nebraska Football: How Will the Nittany Lions Fans React?

Just a week ago, many were expecting tomorrow's Penn State-Nebraska game to be one of the best Big Ten matchups of the season and possibly even a preview of the conference’s first-ever championship game, but now, after the Jerry Sandusky sex-abuse scandal has rocked the Happy Valley campus, the game has become a complete afterthought.

This past week has been devastating to the school and the surrounding community, and it’s one that’s left everyone surrounding Penn State searching for answers.

Wednesday night’s firing of legendary head coach Joe Paterno, the face of the school and one of the most iconic figures in college football history, has left fans and students shaken with disbelief.

It was just two weeks ago when everyone was celebrating the 84-year-old coach’s record 409th victory, and now, he’s gone.

Football is the last thing on anyone’s mind right now, which should make the atmosphere inside Beaver Stadium one of the most surreal we’ve ever seen for a college football game.

There is sadness, mixed with anger, mixed with confusion and it will be fascinating to see how the fanbase reacts for tomorrow's game with that type of volatile combination of emotions flowing throughout the stadium.  

Assistant coach Mike McQueary, who was one of the key figures at the center of the whole investigation, will not coach tomorrow after receiving multiple threats yesterday.

Students are reportedly planning a “blue-out” instead of their normal “whiteout” to show support for all of the victims involved in the Sandusky case.

After seeing thousands of students flood the streets on Wednesday night following the Paterno firing, security will now be extra tight for tomorrow’s game, and you have to hope that no fans get too out of control.

There are sure to be demonstrations and different chants throughout the game, but the last thing Penn State needs right now is any type of riotous behavior from the crowd at Saturday’s game.

The entire country will be focused on Penn State tomorrow, and hopefully the Nittany Lions fans will realize that, act accordingly and give their team a much-needed boost in what has otherwise been a dark and tragic week.