Joey O'Connor decommits from Penn St.

[TBF]

This young man has his head on straight, or at least is being advised by sensible folks. He has contacted Penn State to let them know he will be looking for a different football program next year. Now we'll see if the Trustees at Penn State realize they need to shut down their program, thoroughly clean house, and prepare to come back next year or at a later date. Best wishes to you Mr. O'Connor, you are showing better behavior here than many adults, especially with your thoughts for the victims. Too many folks are so focused on sport or institution that they are forgetting about those 10-12 yr old victims who had their lives changed forever by the actions of adults in that football program that they trusted.

Penn State suffered its first decommitment since the firing of coach Joe Paterno when ESPNU 150 offensive tackle Joey O'Connor of Windsor, Colo., backed away from his pledge Thursday evening.

O'Connor, a four-star recruit that was the top prospect in the Nittany Lions' class, called the Penn State staff to let it know it was no longer in his "best interest considering the scandal and uncertainty surrounding the program."

"It was a definitely a decision I had to make," O'Connor said. "I just didn't know what would happen. The best interest for me now is to explore my options. The whole situation is tragic. My heart goes to the victims and families. They'll be in my thoughts and prayers."

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/recruiting/football/story/_/id/7218679/top-penn-state-nittany-lions-recruit-joey-oconnor-decommits-cites-scandal

[Tansy_Gold]

1. Being the cynic that I am. . . .

. . . .If I were an all-star recruit and the school that had recruited me fired a top coach and had an uncertain future for its program anyway, for my own benefit I'd decommit, too.

Doing it out of respect for the victims makes good PR, but it's probably not the real reason.



TG

[TBF]

3. Well you could be right about that, but his statement is more mature than many I am

reading coming out of Penn State. And certainly more mature than the older students rioting to protect their football team. I'd like to see a little more thought about the actual victims in this case.

[markpkessinger]

7. So, is there anyithing the kid could do that would be right in your eyes? N/T

[Tansy_Gold]

11. I never said he did anything wrong. not in the least.

He said in his statement he was doing it in his own best interest. That makes perfect sense, but he isn't doing it out of respect for the victims of the abuse.

If I were a star athlete and I had a chance to play for a top coach which would put me in a good position to go pro, that's where I'd go. There might be other considerations -- weather, academic opportunities, distance from home, alumni slush funds (no sarcasm), etc. -- but a kid whose ticket is sports is gonna go where the sport opportunities are best. That only makes sense.

But when suddenly that coach and some of the staff is gone and the program is wracked with scandal, a major element of the picture changes. Who's going to be the next coach? What's going to happen to the whole PSU football program? Will there even be a football program?

And that's pretty much what Joey said. Sure, adding the sympathy note was a good PR touch, but by his own admission, he didn't decommit out of sympathy for the victims. He did it because it no longer makes any sense for a star athlete to commit to a program that might not exist next fall.



TG

[ceile]

2. Smart and thoughtful kid. n/t

[PearliePoo2]

4. I hope he is the FIRST of many to bail. nt.

[glowing]

5. I'm thinking it has more to do with the program and a lack of a winning coach that

are making this young man choose another college.

[ejbr]

6. + 1/2 n/t

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

8. There's also the prospect that there may not be football in Happy Valley next season

[TBF]

9. Sure, I can't quite figure out why there is still football there this weekend.

How awkward for Nebraska.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

10. My friend is a Husker fan and she's just torn in so many directions

She thinks the game should be canceled, too.