What If...

At this point we're all either on one side of the fence or the other when it comes to the Penn State scandal. Whatever side you're on, I believe we all agree nothing like this has ever or should happen again in the world of sports...or in society in general. But is has happened, and how we react is truly based on our emotional attachment to this story. Parents, child advocates and most of America is outraged. Penn State students, alumni and fans have sympathy for Joe Paterno being fired. The location of this incident dictates everyone's opinion, but let's see how we feel if the scenario was different. Join me for a game of "What If?".


What if the scandal happened at your alma mater or the school you cheer for?

Living in the heart of college football, The South...SEC Country, I hear people greet one another on a daily basis with phrases like, Go Dawgs, War Eagle and Roll Tide. People's lives revolve around college football season. Fans are quick to berate a rival school for the littlest incident but when a scandal breaks out at their beloved institution, you get a bunch of excuses or cowardly silence. 


So what if this scandal occurred at your school? Would you demand that your head coach be fired? Would you make death threats to a graduate assistant for not calling the police after witnessing a child being raped inside a school facility? Think real hard before you answer. Especially if you're a fan of a school on the verge on playing for a national championship (hello LSU, Oklahoma St., Alabama, Stanford and Boise St.).


What if the scandal happened at a school like Jackson St., Clark Atlanta, Howard or any other HBCU?

We all know the justice system's track record in this country. Would investigators had dragged their feet if this was going on during Eddie Robinson's watch instead of Joe Paterno? What if it were a black coach molesting a white child? Hey, I'm just asking. Don't get upset.


What if one of the victims was your child?

Everyone is quick to say, "If it was my child, I'd be ready to hurt somebody." Why does it have to be only if it were your child? We should be ready to lay a beat down on anyone who is harming any child, not just your own!


What if Penn State had beaten Alabama earlier in the season and was undefeated?

Something tells me we would have heard nothing about this if Penn State was making a national championship run.


What if Sandusky was your friend, family or spouse?

Be mindful, there are thousands of Jerry Sanduskys near you right now.