The concrete wall that once stood behind Joe Paterno’s statue is no more (via @OnwardState)
Here’s a look at what the Internets are saying about Penn State a day after the bomb dropped on Happy Valley …
Bruce Feldman reports there is a “feeding frenzy” for Penn State players:
Coaches at two programs that I spoke with Monday morning said they had been contacted by Penn State players or people on their behalf previously about possibly transferring before the sanctions were announced.
Several programs CBSSports.com contacted Monday said they will be faxing over lists of names of Nittany Lions they are interested in recruiting. After that, they will try and connect with the player, either directly if they had a previous relationship via the recruiting process, or through the player’s high school coach. Incoming freshmen will be released from their letters of intent, so even if they used up all five of their official visits, they will be able to take five more official visits, according to the email.
An example:
MT @desmondconner:About 35 schools have already contacted JR #PennState LB Khairi Fortt about transferring. #feedingfrenzy
— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) July 24, 2012
The bailing by incoming recruits began immediately:
In the wake of the NCAA press conference on Monday morning, Ohio cornerback Ross Douglas has withdrawn his verbal pledge from Penn State. The four star was the second player to commit to the 2013 recruiting class when he came on board February 29, just hours after QB Christian Hackenberg.
Following the release of the Freeh Report, Douglas planned a couple of visits and was actually at Nebraska this past weekend. He has a visit to Wisconsin planned for later this week and with the other options presenting themselves, today’s sanctions were enough to force his hand.
The Daily News says there could be much more to come:
Scout.com’s Brian Dohn, a recruiting analyst responsible for the Northeast territory, said he expected the impact to be substantial.
“My initial reaction is, the long-term hit will be devastating toward the football program,” Dohn said.
Brandon Huffman, Scout.com’s national recruiting analyst, said he expected “very tough years” ahead for Penn State. “The earliest you could expect them to be relevant again would be 2020,” Huffman said.
A big indicator of how Penn State recruits will decide could hang on the shoulders of Adam Brenemen, a blue-chip tight end from Camp Hill, Pa.
“If they lose a guy that solid, that’s all-in on Penn State, then the kids from out of state (will likely leave too),” Huffman said. “He holds the key to this entire class.”
Pat Forde says Mark Emmert “kicked ass and took names” while still not imposing the death penalty:
Emmert told Y! Sports that a multi-year suspension of the football program was “vigorously discussed” with members of the Division I Board of Directors. Ultimately, Penn State’s willingness to take its medicine – commissioning, accepting and making public the damaging Freeh Commission report, and accepting massive NCAA penalties without due process – helped save the school from a complete shutdown of football for a season or longer, Emmert said.
“The resolve demonstrated by Penn State to get past this was very important in people’s minds,” he said.
More to come
July 24, 2012
PSU Football