The Sports Monitor

Bill O'Brien did a heck of a job under the circumstances at Penn State. He had to convince a lot of players to commit to the football program through some tough times. Now, he's bolting for the NFL. O'Brien is free to do what he wants in his profession. But I can't help but think O'Brien didn't follow his own advice. I think abandoning the program is too strong, but he didn't hold himself to the same standard that he pressured college students into staying.

After several days of recharging at Allegany State Park near Salamanca, N.Y., I get back to reality with some big news. The biggest has been the punishment handed down by the NCAA to Penn State. It's quite a lot to take in: $60 million fine No bowl appearances for four years Loss of scholarships Loss of all wins dating to 1998 Players can freely transfer Boom. Now, Penn State starts to rebuild. Coach Bill O'Brien has rolled up his sleeves to keep the team together. Quarterback Matt McGloin and others are saying that they'll stay with the team. That should be the least of O'Brien's worries. In fact, I think he'll be able to keep everyone on the team. He'll be able to rally the players and fans to support the team through this four-year postseason ban. The Us. Vs. The World cry will win over the players already on the team. The biggest hurdle to overcome is the loss of scholarships. We won't know the full effect of that for years. A...