While skimming the sports news this morning I came across this Sports Illustrated blog article on the caliber of Penn State recruiting in the face of the Sandusky scandal (in the middle of the linked page). It details why recruits don’t seem to be bothered by it at all. This sheds some light on why some of us fans didn’t think PSU wouldn’t miss a beat with their football program.
“Christian and I have taken the role of being the leaders of this class,” said Breneman. “It takes a different kind of player to be part of this and we want to be difference makers.
“If you look on Twitter under the hashtag “Restore the Roar” – that’s us and that’s what we want to do. We’re not done yet, our goal is to have a top five class.”
“There’s a new energy with the program,” said Hackenberg, who was born in Tamaqua, Pa. and grew up in northeastern Pennsylvania before moving to Virginia. “Coach O’Brien has brought that and he’s the biggest reason I’m going to Penn State.”
Neither Hackenberg nor Breneman are concerned what others think or say about the program. They have formed their own ideas. “Outsiders don’t understand what it means to be a Penn Stater,” Breneman said. “I grew up as a Penn State fan and had to separate that when making my decision. I’ve gotten some hate mail and heard all the nasty comments and jokes. But those people just don’t get it. One guy will not tear the university down.”
This is fascinating to me in that we have a whole subset of players, parents and HS coaches who have blatantly and purposely turned a blind eye to what has transpired at Penn State over the last year. Of course it helps to be able to put all the blame on Jerry Sandusky and thus overlook the role at least four other PSU administrators had in this, including the previous head coach. Apparently PSU recruits can only have one thought in their minds at any given time. Facts, who needs stinking facts?
It’s pretty sad actually.
Last Saturday the Harrisburg Patriot-News ran a similar article regarding how well PSU has done so far. PSU football truly is an “Us vs Them” issue as is the viewpoint the rest of the university has taken forever.
“I think ignoring the outside, the negative press, and just focusing on what we can control. I think it’s focusing on the positive steps that the program and our class are making,” Cedar Cliff five-star tight end Adam Breneman said. “In a way, it kind of encouraged me to go to Penn State, and our class is kind of taking that us-against-the-world mentality. We know the whole story is not all about football. We’re well aware of what’s happening. We’re doing everything we can to push forward.”
