Oh, where to begin. No matter where you go as far as sports following, that's what everyone's talking about: the Joe Paterno and Penn State child abuse situation. It's disgusting, repulsive and catastrophic all at the same time. Just a few thoughts to ponder tonight.
1. Heath Evans, former National Football League running back, who played in the league ten years or so and has his own website designed specifically for victims of child abuse, was on the Jim Rome radio show today and offered some thoughts. A couple of the stats he threw out there are flat out scary: one in six men before the age of 18 are sexually abused every single day and one in four women prior to turning 18 are sexually abused every day in our country. The stats are magnified especially since there are rumors of about 20 people coming forward with horror stories from this Penn State scandal. I am not privy to all the details of child abuse, but in any language this is an exceptionally serious situation and I pray to God that those who were abused have the strength to come forward.
2. Then there's the question of whether it was a deliberate cover-up or not. While Joe has a great track record in the 45 or so years he coached PSU, there are too many signs to point towards this being a cover-up. This has been going on over a decade and NO ONE in leadership at Penn State had the fortitude to step up and address what was going on? What's shocking to me is that the head man at Penn State, Graham Spanier, worked at UNL before ending up in State College.
3. The Penn State students and fans taking up for Paterno. That is just as repulsive as the situation itself. The students who went on Paterno's lawn and took up for him, I can almost forgive. They are ignorant as they are students and really don't know what the whole situation is about. But the Penn State alumni I have seen take up for Paterno is pathetic. Part of me was actually hoping Penn State fans would stage a walk out Saturday at this coming game. That is obviously far from the case.
4. But that leaves a much bigger issue which I believe has not been talked about enough: if this happened at Penn State, then what in the HELL has been going on in other locker rooms across this country? That's what makes me aghast about this situation. In college athletics, PSU was supposed to be a beacon, a program which stood for things done the right way. Now, we know that is far from the case, and that as a matter of fact, they stand for everything that is wrong in college athletics, maybe even more so. So what in the WORLD has been going on in other locker rooms in college athletics? Would it surprise anyone to see this story rear its ugly head again in the near future?
I've seen a lot of friends who think this is an isolated incident in college athletics. I am skeptical of this. Again, I repeat: Heath Evans said on NATIONAL RADIO today that one in six males before the age of 18 get sexually abused in this country. Football programs like my beloved program, Nebraska, are deeply tied to the community in Lincoln. Can we really be sure this doesn't go on at programs across this country which have deep ties to the community? It scares me to know that this epidemic might go on at other major programs as well. It's a situation where university presidents (like Harvey Perlman at my alma mater, the University of Nebraska) needs to step in and make a stand.
It's truly an appalling situation, and I pray from the bottom of my heart that an epidemic like this doesn't (or hasn't) spread to other programs across the country.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Nebraska vs. Michigan State: Finally, They Gave the Ball to Burkhead
It's been quite some time since I posted a blog on this website, so first of all, I think a few housekeeping issues are in order. Remember, as a disclaimer, this is a Nebraska Cornhusker centric post. Keep that in mind.
1. The Dirk Chatelain issue after the Ohio State game a few weeks back. I admit, I was probably in the same boat as Dirk the week after the Wisconsin game. Some of the remarks I made on this blog were quite incindiary...I don't know about slanderous but they were not nice. Martinez brought the team back against an improving Ohio State team and the team has continued to get better week to week. It's a reminder that we must be careful when we write these blogs and columns...you never know who might be reading. I'm not going to go politically correct on everyone but it is something to keep in mind.
2. National Championship contenders are dropping like flies. The previous week it was Wisconsin and Oklahoma, last week it was Kansas State and Clemson (although I'm not sure anyone is surprised that Kansas State lost). This should be a fun month of November.
3. Last night's Monday Night Football game? All I can tell you is I'm hardly surprised. San Diego is still coached by Norv Turner and the day they get rid of him might be the best day in the history of the San Diego Chargers franchise. Not that I have anything against the Chargers, I don't...they are an original AFL franchise, much like my hometown Houston Oilers as well as the Chiefs, who I somewhat follow after spending my college years two hours from Kansas City.
Now that this is out of the way, let's get to business.
Where has THAT effort been from the Huskers all season? And more importantly, where were Burkhead's 30 to 35 touches? This is what we've been clamoring for all season long.
See the thing about Burkhead is, he's a football player. He finds holes in defenses, he can line up at quarterback, catch passes and more importantly there's a presence about that guy that rubs off on the rest of the team.
And the other thing is, that guy is a warrior. He suffered an injury in the third quarter of the game, then comes back in when asked to and scores a touchdown soon after. I'm not saying everyone should play like that. However, I'm saying that Burkhead has the desire and want to as far as winning games goes.
Props also to that defense for stepping up and earning their Blackshirts, although I seriously wonder if Michigan State did any game preparation at all. Nebraska's defense was in the same two safety defense from beginning to end.
Another thing about the game Saturday: Urban Meyer is my new favorite college football color commentator. It was interesting to watch him break down both teams Saturday...and it was great to hear him describe some of the tendencies of a Tom Osborne led offense and how some of those tendencies are still used today.
So what's next for the Huskers? Yeah, it's a tough November stretch. Northwestern game one should think would be fairly straight forward but those trips to State College and Ann Arbor...tough games. But right now, with Nebraska's win over Michigan State, it's still anyone's race in the Big Ten Legends Division, which is all Husker fans could have asked for after the Wisconsin game.
1. The Dirk Chatelain issue after the Ohio State game a few weeks back. I admit, I was probably in the same boat as Dirk the week after the Wisconsin game. Some of the remarks I made on this blog were quite incindiary...I don't know about slanderous but they were not nice. Martinez brought the team back against an improving Ohio State team and the team has continued to get better week to week. It's a reminder that we must be careful when we write these blogs and columns...you never know who might be reading. I'm not going to go politically correct on everyone but it is something to keep in mind.
2. National Championship contenders are dropping like flies. The previous week it was Wisconsin and Oklahoma, last week it was Kansas State and Clemson (although I'm not sure anyone is surprised that Kansas State lost). This should be a fun month of November.
3. Last night's Monday Night Football game? All I can tell you is I'm hardly surprised. San Diego is still coached by Norv Turner and the day they get rid of him might be the best day in the history of the San Diego Chargers franchise. Not that I have anything against the Chargers, I don't...they are an original AFL franchise, much like my hometown Houston Oilers as well as the Chiefs, who I somewhat follow after spending my college years two hours from Kansas City.
Now that this is out of the way, let's get to business.
Where has THAT effort been from the Huskers all season? And more importantly, where were Burkhead's 30 to 35 touches? This is what we've been clamoring for all season long.
See the thing about Burkhead is, he's a football player. He finds holes in defenses, he can line up at quarterback, catch passes and more importantly there's a presence about that guy that rubs off on the rest of the team.
And the other thing is, that guy is a warrior. He suffered an injury in the third quarter of the game, then comes back in when asked to and scores a touchdown soon after. I'm not saying everyone should play like that. However, I'm saying that Burkhead has the desire and want to as far as winning games goes.
Props also to that defense for stepping up and earning their Blackshirts, although I seriously wonder if Michigan State did any game preparation at all. Nebraska's defense was in the same two safety defense from beginning to end.
Another thing about the game Saturday: Urban Meyer is my new favorite college football color commentator. It was interesting to watch him break down both teams Saturday...and it was great to hear him describe some of the tendencies of a Tom Osborne led offense and how some of those tendencies are still used today.
So what's next for the Huskers? Yeah, it's a tough November stretch. Northwestern game one should think would be fairly straight forward but those trips to State College and Ann Arbor...tough games. But right now, with Nebraska's win over Michigan State, it's still anyone's race in the Big Ten Legends Division, which is all Husker fans could have asked for after the Wisconsin game.
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