Penn State Scandal: Why Controversy Must Not Cost Nittany Lions Bowl Appearance

By now, we're all familiar with the scandal at Penn State. While nobody has been found guilty of anything, the Grand Jury Testimony is there for anyone to see. It's ugly.

William Petroski of the Des Moines Register is reporting that former Pennsylvania Senator and current Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum doesn't believe that Penn State should go to a Bowl game. 

Petroski quoted Santorum as saying the following: 

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I am not too sure if I was on a bowl committee I would be too anxious about inviting Penn State to a bowl game given the situation up there...I think it would probably be best to take a pass on a bowl game this year. It is a tough thing for the kids, but this is way beyond the football team right now. I would make the suggestion that it would be in the best interests of everybody to finish the schedule and put this season behind us and move on.

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I get that argument, I really do. This is certainly not a situation that needs to drag on any more than it already has, and will continue to. 

Having said that, I don't agree with Santorum. If Penn State loses out, which is somewhat likely, they go 8-4. That's easily good enough for bowl qualification. 

As we've seen over these trying times, they have a very loyal fanbase that supports their team. They will travel. That applies even now. So, it would be foolish for a bowl to pass on them because of this scandal. 

While there are certainly more important things than football at play here, the kids on the current team had nothing to with any of this controversy. With Joe Paterno fired and Mike McQueary on administrative leave, the coaches on the current team have nothing to do with any of this.

If Penn State is kept from a bowl game because of this scandal, it would just be piling on punishment to a group of kids that weren't responsible for anything bad that allegedly happened. That's not fair.

According to the Grand Jury Report, the people who allegedly did wrong have been gotten rid of. I know it might have taken longer than anyone would have ideally wanted, but the necessary moves have been made. 

A bowl game is a great opportunity for kids to be rewarded at the end of a tough, long season. It's hard to imagine any teams having experienced a tougher season than what Penn State has gone through.

Denying them that chance would just be wrong.