Amid scandal, PSU must focus on field

Associated Press

Michigan State and Minnesota have coped with their head coaches’ health scares the last two years, and Ohio State has had to deal with the fallout of NCAA rules violations.

Those situations are far different than the distraction 12th-ranked Penn State faces this week as it prepares for a home game against No. 19 Nebraska. Penn State and its veteran coach, Joe Paterno, are under fire after allegations of sex abuse involving children by former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.

With all the discord, the players are being asked to continue with a season that, on the field, has exceeded expectations. If Penn State wins out, they go to the Rose Bowl.

“Usually you go one way or the other under adverse situations,” Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said Tuesday. “You’re either going to thrive in it and fight back or you’re going to let it take you over.”

Dantonio and his counterparts on the Big Ten’s weekly teleconference with reporters steered clear of commenting on the specifics of the Penn State situation. Several coaches expressed support for Paterno, who did not participate in the call.

Potential distractions are always a concern as teams prepare for games. Players get hurt, get arrested, decide to transfer. Sometimes there are tragedies, too; a year ago, Notre Dame student videographer Declan Sullivan was killed in an accident when the scissor lift he was on toppled over during practice.

Dantonio suffered a mild heart attack after a dramatic win over Notre Dame last year, and his Spartans went on to win a share of the Big Ten championship. Minnesota coach Jerry Kill has missed time this season because of seizures, and the Gophers have struggled, though not necessarily because of his absences.

Coaches said a team in turmoil must close ranks.

“If you’ve got great assistants and they have great relationships with their players, that’s the first step,” Dantonio said. “If that’s happening, they’re able to calm the storm.”

Dantonio said it also is important to stick to routine and not change the way any aspect of the program is run during the crisis. Kill said it’s important for players to tune out what is said outside the program.

“The media and everybody gets involved with that,” he said. “Inside closed doors you just go to work.”