Penn State vs. Nebraska: Potential Paterno Game Ball Shows Players' Real Loyalty

Penn State Nittany Lions football.

Joe Paterno.

These two things have been synonymous since 1966, when Paterno took over as head coach.

That all ended this week in the wake of an alleged sex-abuse scandal centered around former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.

Although the former head coach has not been charged with anything in the case, the university saw fit to fire Paterno with three games remaining in the regular season.

The Nittany Lions, currently leading the Big Ten with an 8-1 record (5-0 in conference), have a chance to win only the fourth Big Ten title in the last 20 years for Penn State.

Doing so without Paterno will be a difficult task. And the players know this.

Losing the legendary coach was a huge blow tactically and emotionally for this football team.

There isn't another Joe Paterno in the country, and the Penn State players know that. It's probably why a lot of them chose to go to Penn State in the first place.

And on a day where the Nittany Lions welcome new Big Ten rival Nebraska into Beaver Stadium for the first time, the players haven't lost sight of Paterno.

Big Ten Network writer Tom Dienhart tweeted:

These players know why they are where they are so far this season. They know why they decided to go to Penn State. And they know that Joe Paterno, regardless of what has been done to him, still is Penn State.

The players' loyalty to the coach shouldn't come as a surprise.

If Penn State can rally and beat Nebraska today, the ball belongs to only one man.

They have to win the game first, but the Nittany Lions can score more than just a win today against Nebraska.

Penn State can take one step closer to a Big Ten title. And they can give their former coach a proper sendoff.