Penn State football coach Bill O’Brien said Tuesday afternoon no players have notified him that they are leaving the Nittany Lions after the NCAA issued stiff sanctions Monday. O’Brien spoke with reporters about the penalties on a conference call.
“I feel good about this team. They care about this university and this football team,” said O’Brien. “We have kids that believe in our staff and our ability to develop them as people and players.”
Those players do have a lot to consider after the NCAA hit Penn State with sanctions that will likely impact the football program for years. There will be no bowl trips for four years and fewer scholarships for the football team. The NCAA is also allowing Nittany Lion players to transfer to other schools with no penalty. Normally, they would have to sit out a season if they transferred. The NCAA will allow them to play at another school right away.
After the NCAA announcement Monday, O’Brien issued a statement saying he was at Penn State for the “long haul” despite the challenges. He reiterated that Tuesday.
“We’re going to do right by these kids. We’re going to do things the right way. I’m committed to this football team,” said O’Brien. “We have kids that believe in our staff and our ability to develop them as people and players.”
O’Brien said the team is playing football and playing football on television he said that is a good thing.
