re: the Penn st. delusion is just scary

quote:

---

vl100butch

---

quote:

---

TheSexecutioner

---

BBT - I don't disagree with what you're saying. However, none of the SEC schools are as isolated culturally as PSU. Even our combined identity as SEC is an example.

I fell very bad for the PSU family. (I feel worse for the victims and their families.) When this 1st hit the media, I immediately thought of LSU and wondered if our rabid passion for our football program could allow the same to happen at LSU. I really struggled with my zeal for LSU football possibly creating the monster the enabled the abuse at PSU.

Then I considered the degree of accountability we demand. Christ, we demand blood for every perceived mismanaged call. We debated for an entire season when our QB got into a bar fight. Bama can't sneeze without Auburn calling them boogerhead. We nearly lost our head when Petrino cursed at our coach on field - replaying over & over to read his lips.

When I saw the rioting in response to Paterno's termination, that finalized it for me. While some might argue on message boards that is was unfair, the real story would be the angry mob on Miles' front lawn. The fan base would immediately separate themselves from Miles and the discussion would be mainly about who would be the replacement. We would hang our heads in shame. Hell, I still have a hard time holding my head up after the NCG.

Ultimately, though, we would not need to believe in the innocence of our coach bc our program isn't just about Miles. The very fact that they need to cling to Paterno to recognize their own success is at the very heart of what went wrong there.