PSU about to get blasted again by SI investigative report

Submitted by Leaders And Best on

SI is publishing an investigative report into the medical care for athletics in a story titled "Do Athletics Still Have Too Much Power at Penn State." Still unclear what is in the report, but based on the spin coming from PSU already, it doesn't look good.

http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/index.ssf/2013/05/sports_illustrated_investigati.html

EDIT: SI has released a summary of their report and it is pretty damning of the AD David Joyner and head coach Bill O'Brien.

Link: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20130515/penn-state-athletics-power/

Mabel Pines

May 15th, 2013 at 8:09 AM ^

to now feel bad for them.  I, however, don't.  For the sake of "football uber alles", they hid a pedophile.  Well, not really hid him.  Gave him an office and let him continue "helping" kids without telling anyone.  Gross.  I give the new people props for now going forward, but don't feel bad for anyone there. 

highestman

May 15th, 2013 at 9:54 AM ^

I think there is some room to sympathize with some members of the PSU community. Yes, there were a few high level people who did some unforgivable acts, but 99.9% of the PSU community is no different than you or me.  They went to a respected university, studied hard, got a degree, cheered for the team on Saturdays, donated money so that others after them could have the same experience, and promoted the positive values of a higher education institution. Now all thier hard work has been destroyed because the people trusted to act in good faith on behalf of the school ended up being terible people. 

 

WolvinLA2

May 15th, 2013 at 10:55 AM ^

Although most of that community played no role in the transgressions, do you remember the attitude of that community after this all came out? It was disgusting. Everyone defended Paterno and (nearly) everyone else involved. No one wanted to admit to wrongdoing.

So, fuck 'em. They deserve whatever they get.

mGrowOld

May 15th, 2013 at 11:31 AM ^

Amen brother.

Their complete almost en masse denial that anyone (outside of Sandusky) did ANYTHING wrong coupled with their refusal to accept saintly JoePa's removal from deity status ripped any shrad of compassion I had for the fan base away.  You want sympathy for how that big mean ol media is treating your school?  Try ackowledging there was a HUGE problem that got buried by powerful men with an agenda at your school and then reach out to the victims to see if they need any help.  

Until then.....FUCK PSU.

crum

May 15th, 2013 at 9:40 AM ^

What? How the F*** can you feel bad for a culture that covered up child molestation to protect the program?

 

Freaking disgusting!!!!!  They should have gotten a 3 year death penalty, this isnt paying players or recruiting violations, this is PSU providing a forum for child sex slavery.

 

Bleep every one of them

robmorren2

May 15th, 2013 at 1:01 AM ^

So they changed doctors and there might be a decrease in the level of care ... but what does that have to do with the power of athletics at PSU? That was confusing.

Leaders And Best

May 15th, 2013 at 1:43 AM ^

This article seems to hint that the AD and several Board of Trustee members are painted in a bad light. I had been trying to abstain from speculating, but here you go: I think the Head Coach, AD, or Board of Trustees pushed to change team doctors in order to get players who may have not been medically cleared in the past back on the field sooner or to get questionable medical procedures greenlighted for players.

Here is the article talking about the AD and Board of Trustees:

http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/penn-state-football-sports-illustrated-probes-penn-state-athletics-medical-program-1307257/

Mr Miggle

May 15th, 2013 at 6:13 AM ^

Feb 2012 - Bill O'Brien brings in a long time NFL trainer to be the new head trainer. Jan 2013 - PSU hires an outside law firm to investigate complaints about the new trainer. Feb 2013 - O'Brien recommends the school replace the team doctor. Now - After reassigning the doctor as O'Brien requested, PSU is trying to make the move sound like a promotion. 

Jacoby

May 15th, 2013 at 1:03 AM ^

Without seeing the story, it's hard to know anything. But since this is the Internet, everyone should chime in emphatically about something we don't know anything about. Here's my entry: the PSU athletic dept doctors have been euthanizing football players in order to harvest their organs for profit.

snoopblue

May 15th, 2013 at 1:21 AM ^

Damn, they are really kicking them when they are down. They tried to kill Penn State once, and they stood strong. I think all the negativity thrown Penn State's way is going to backfire on the media/NCAA when other schools start standing up for them. At least, that's what I hope happens.

Leaders And Best

May 15th, 2013 at 1:33 AM ^

but I have a gut feeling SI wasn't digging for this story.  I don't think something like this gets out unless you have sources that leak the story. And based on the current infighting and lack of leadership from their Board of Trustees and president, it is not hard to believe.

PSU has brought this mess upon themselves. When the school's alumni elects Paterno apologists and lunatic fringe like Anthony Lubrano to the Board of Trustees, you reap what you sow

Mr. Yost

May 15th, 2013 at 2:08 AM ^

No offense, but I don't want Michigan in this mess.

What good does it for Michigan to stand up for them? It's none of "our" business.

 

...besides, we had that stupid practice gate deal go down...120 of 120 schools in the country did the same thing and no one said shit on our behalf. And again, I don't blame them, it had nothing to do with them.

 

We, as fans, can support PSU or anything else we want to support. But I wholeheartedly disagree with a University standing up for PSU in this matter or the previous matter. If for no other reason, we don't need the media spotlight on us for something that has nothing to do with us. If we support PSU the first time around we're being insensitive to the victims, if we support them now (according to the speculation) we're being insensitive to the student-athletes.

Don't pick fights with the media when it's not about you or something you can get a vast majority of support on. You can say ESPN sucks, they're the reason for the BCS. The majority of the country, including the President of the United States want to see a playoff. You can't say ESPN sucks, they're picking on Penn St...much of the country still has no sympathy for PSU after what happened. Is "support" and "majority opinion" the reason to stand for something you believe in? Individually? No. As a University? Sometimes.

And for the 3rd time, it has nothing to do with Michigan. It would be random. Like Michigan coming out saying they support Jason Collins...and that's something the majority of the country is behind. But why would Michigan need to comment on it?

GoBlueInNYC

May 15th, 2013 at 6:15 AM ^

It's early, so I don't feel like tracking down links, but I actually remember a lot of people (if not schools, officially) sticking up for Michigan during the Rodriguez investigation, including people like Urban Meyer, Jim Tressel, and Kirk Herbstreit.

That said, I don't expect, nor would want, any schools to stick up for PSU (including Michigan). Opinion around these parts seems to be swinging back in the other direction on PSU. It wasn't that long ago that kicking them out of the conference was discussed around here as a serious option.

Monocle Smile

May 15th, 2013 at 9:38 AM ^

Those are PEOPLE, not INSTITUTIONS. Did any other schools do anything resembling interceding on Michigan's behalf? Absolutely not, and that's what Mr. Yost is getting at. Schools aren't going to "stand up" for Penn State here, either.

This isn't "Practicegate" level ticky-tack crap. This is shady shit.

blueheron

May 15th, 2013 at 6:02 AM ^

"we've been on a run of d-lineman that are serviceable but not great; talented underachievers and less talented overachievers"

Yes, we have -- it extends back as far as I can remember in the modern era ... not just the past few years.

Starting from the '80s, make a list of NFL-caliber D-linemen from Michigan. Relative to other areas (say, O-line and QB) it's a pretty short list.

Branch, Woodley, and Graham were exceptions to the rule.

I'm hopeful that the Hoke area will be remembered for its standouts at that position.

TrppWlbrnID

May 15th, 2013 at 7:16 AM ^

Also James hall. Guys who were good on a conference level but not in nfl would be Terrence Taylor, Ron Rene's, grant bowman, off the top of my head. Might dig around for a few more, but I would agree that Michigan has had a lot more success in the nfl other places than DL.

MichiganTeacher

May 15th, 2013 at 10:46 AM ^

Also Huff, Swett, and Gold.

Seriously, that defense with Sword, Irons, Steele, Huff, Swett, and Gold deserves way more credit for being the defense with the most appropriate names ever.

Sione's Flow

May 15th, 2013 at 2:41 AM ^

Seems like this could be much ado about nothing. Bill O'Brien seems to be on the up and up, so until there's legitimate reason to grab the torches and pitchforks again, I'm going to focus on UM and the upcoming season.