The Sandusky scandal and Joe Paterno's firing has travel agents nervous. As the football season nears an end, one local travel agent fears he might lose money if he puts together a tour package for a Penn State bowl game.
Just the name, Nittany Travel, shows how important Penn State football is to this Lock Haven business.
When the team got off to an eight and one start, Nittany Travel owner Ray McGill thought this year might be the first his business could offer travel packages for two Penn State post-season football games.
"We're working on a Big Ten Championship Game on December 3," said McGill, "and also depending on what happens there, a bowl game."
For a brief time this week it looked like the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal would end up boosting business.
When Joe Paterno announced he was stepping down after the season, McGill thought fans would flock to his business so they could see the legendary coach's last game, but when trustees fired Paterno Wednesday, McGill put any plans for bowl packages on hold.
"If he`s not at those last games, I see diminished business for us," said McGill, who has been in the travel business since the mid 1980s. "I won`t know until we`re actually playing (Saturday's) game."
In the travel business, the level of support and excitement generated by the Nebraska game, could determine just how strong one of the most loyal football fan bases is in the wake of the embarrassing sex abuse scandal.
McGill said he has no strong opinions on the actions of Penn State trustees in firing Paterno. He`s just talking about the business of selling a Penn State football package deal in the wake of the events of the past week.