Nebraska vs. Penn State: Where Will the Lions Suffer Without Joe Paterno?

What happened to the Penn State football program this week crippled all of the momentum that this team had going for itself this year.

Before everything that came out about the Jerry Sandusky accusations, the entire story about the 2011 Penn State Nittany Lions football team was about how coach Paterno brought this team to an 8-1 season. The story was about Joe Paterno winning his 409th career game, moving himself atop of the all-time wins list. 

But now the script has changed. There is a twist in the plot to the 2011 Penn State season.  What was all about this team’s quest at making the 2012 Rose Bowl has become all about the alleged actions of a former defensive coordinator. 

Those alleged actions of Sandusky have resulted in something that hasn’t happened since 1950, as coach Joe Paterno will not be involved with the Penn State coaching staff today. 

For 50 years, these players at Penn State have known that every Saturday the sun will come up, they will get a chance to put on the white Penn State helmet and they will see Joe Pa before, during and after the game. 

So how will those 52 men today respond after all that transpired over the last seven days? How can these players get ready to play amid all of the noise and distractions that is going on around them? 

Furthermore, where will the Lions suffer the most in today’s game versus Nebraska? 

Today’s game for Penn State was already going to be an emotional game, as today is “Senior Day.” The Penn State fans will recognize those players who have been with the squad for four years of great football and memories. 

But against Nebraska, they still have to find a way to slow down a dangerous offense that is led by running back Rex Burkhead and quarterback Taylor Martinez. 

Without Paterno today, they will be without a visual leader that has been the figure head of this program for such a long time. Without Paterno today, it will leave a big void on the Nittany Lions football program. 

The damage has been done and Paterno is no longer with the program. There is nothing that the 52 players on this active Penn State roster can do about that. 

The question is, can the players block out the scandal for three-and-a-half hours to play a complete football game against a good Nebraska team? 

Follow @tjmcaloon