Joe Orenstein
Philadelphia
Wouldn't it be Lovie?
The City of Brotherly Love would be so honored to have Lovie Smith as its next head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. After such a horrific 2012 season with the worst record in recent history, Smith is certainly the man to give the big boost to recharge the Eagles' franchise. Chicago's loss may very well be Philly's gain.
Wayne E. Williams
Camden
The haze might help
A Pennsylvania state senator wants to introduce legislation to legalize marijuana here. Can you imagine what Harrisburg's legislation could look like if pot was legal?
Then again, maybe we would be able to tolerate it better.
Mayer Krain
Philadelphia
Grad's mixed emotions
Re: "NCAA just adds to list of victims," (Christine Flowers column, Jan. 4).
Your commentary on the Corbett-initiated lawsuit against the NCAA was printed in the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette this morning. As a Penn State grad ('79), I have many mixed emotions about the whole scenario. First and foremost, the courage for the young men to step forward with their stories with Sandusky, relay them in a courtroom and stand up for the right thing to do is simply amazing. All these men had challenges in their childhood, and the fact that they were looking for help from somebody they respected and walked into this very bad situation is a shame.
When I read about the lawsuit, my first thought is Gov. Corbett is protecting his office, since his new attorney general is a Democrat and not necessarily on his side. I like Tom Corbett and believe he is good for the state of Pennsylvania, but he has switched tones on his opinion of the sanctions from "Penn State needs to accept them and move on" to "the NCAA has overstepped their ruling boundaries." Maybe this is a case of Corbett reviewing the facts, deciding the sanctions are actually hurting the commonwealth in regards to the reputation and the businesses of Centre County more than Penn State University. $60 million is a drop in a bucket for a university with a $4.3 billion budget.
I am more interested in the legal outcome of the three administrators of Penn State that are currently indicted. That will tell more of the story and either add to the validity of the Freeh report or discredit it.
One good thing happened this week and that is Bill O'Brien is staying put as the coach. However, I sense there is some repairing to do between him and the administration. Something doesn't appear right there.
The university will continue to strive, and I respectfully disagree with your comment that the degrees the students are receiving will be somewhat tainted. From what I read, applications continue to pour in, enrollment is slightly up and Penn State grads are still ranked by one major journal the No. 1 ranked grads for employment. The academics at Penn State are solid, and people elsewhere know that.
I agree with you on kudos for Corbett to take on this fight; now we need to get the board of trustees to shrink in numbers, alumni to settle down, find the right president to move the university forward and continue to support the university because it is a terrific school and will be for years beyond the years you and I stay on earth.
Donald J. Lovre
Wexford, Pa.
Another NCAA critic
We down here at the University of Alabama have had our rounds with the NCAA and are well- aware of the vindictiveness and desire to prosecute members in what amounts to show trials. I was in New Orleans for the epic Sugar Bowl battle between my Alabama (Class of '81) and Penn State and enjoyed the games between the two schools over the years. I'd hate to see the Penn State program destroyed by sanctions.
Robert DeWitt
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
