Dear Athletic Dept, I humbly submit for your consideration that the time to return to nameless

[NittPicker]

The 2012 uniform change was imposed on the football team/coach. O'Brien and his staff are not going to burn any bridges by disclosing the details of the situation. I'm not going to address the other side of the equation.

I admit to not knowing any behind the scenes information about why the names were placed on the jerseys. As an outsider, to me the other side of the equation was Joyner. He seemed obsessed with pushing his own agenda. In addition to the names on the jerseys he seemed to be the guy behind retiring #22. Watching interviews from the time it appeared as though Joyner had a huge man crush on Cappelletti. That's not to imply Cappy didn't deserved to be honored but to me the best way to honor someone is to keep using their number. I often find myself seeing a number on the field and trying to recall everyone who wore it in the past. It's not about the name or number on the jersey but rather the person in the jersey.

 

[SEPATOPTEN]

football jerseys is upon us. I will always be grateful for the commitments of the courageous young men who stood by Penn State in time of crisis. They represent the best of Penn State, and the inclusion of their names into the uniform was and is a fitting tribute. However as we move past the sanction era, the continued inclusion of the names dilutes the intention of that honor and is a disservice to those men. We have an opportunity to preserve the nobility of that tribute by allowing it to occupy its rightful place within the context of history. We also have an opportunity to honor the current football program by affording it the dignity of resuming a proud identity earned through decades of achieving Success with Honor.

Thank you for your consideration.

Zenophile

I understand where you are coming from but I myself love the names on the Jerseys. I hope they stay.

 

[SEPATOPTEN]

I think the opposite. Just about everyone can send a recruit a picture with their name on a jersey so it carries little impact. Our message should be at Penn State you are part of a team, a tradition, and a history, that trumps any individual. Franklin could say to the kid "Bobby Recruit. If you are the type of player we think you are, people will not need to see your name on your jersey to know who you are."

Kids are not even thinking about that these days. Franklin will not go back. He is going to use every tool he can to entice a kid to go to Penn State. The pink is out of the Penn St. Jersey also.Things change.

 

[SEPATOPTEN]

I have a good friend who tells me the same thing. When he does, I always respond..."Mike, if you don't understand by now, you will never understand."

I think most people understand the no names angle but don't think the change is bad.

 

[SEPATOPTEN]

good answer!

Most people understand the no names angle but seem to like the new method. Penn State does not have checkered end zones nor pink in their uniform anymore. Some see this as a bad change. I and some others like it. Hey I want the jersey from the eighties back. It ain't happening.

 

[SEPATOPTEN]

This is James Franklin's show now. Let him run it how he thinks it's best. If he thinks names on the back of jersey's is the best way to market the program, I support him 100%. The recruiting results speak for themselves.

A four star player is routine now. It was an event if we got 5 or 6 in one year for most of the first 10 years of this millennium. The Fresh approach is working. I will add that names on or not these guys are still going to be able to recruit.I just would not change it.

 

[SEPATOPTEN]

I respectfully disagree. If you leave it to the whims of 19 year old kids you will have uniforms that are constantly in a state of flux. For example, why not blue helmets with white stripes if that's what the kids want? What do we do, take a vote every year? Part of the charm, and popularity, of college football is tradition. Sure, you can tinker here or there, but adding names was much more than that. Still, there is not much I can do about it other than voice my opinion, and I have.

You forgot about the head coach. It would not be left to the whims of the players.

 

[SEPATOPTEN]

I like the meaning behind the tradition of no names.

That said... we live in a different time. Every game is on TV, everyone has big screens. You can read the names on TV, unlike in a stadium. Top kids today are even more focused on exposure and promoting themselves for the next level. Even "team players." Kids promote themselves on YouTube, Twitter, etc. They expect to have the exposure, not be nameless. IMHO, O'Brien's excuse about honoring those who stayed was just that--an excuse to do what needed done.

The program needed modernized in several facets. To me, the core values of getting an education and graduating student athletes at a high level, while not cheating, and while competing at a high level (doesn't have to be a championship every year, but competitive) are our most important traditions and values. The rest supports that to varying degrees. As someone who was in the Blue Band during the last National Championship (dating myself here), I understand the value of, and have over the years enjoyed, numerous traditions. And while I appreciate traditions like the uniforms, some things come and go over time. As long as we don't stray from the core principles. I don't see no names on the jerseys as a core principle, I see it as a tradition. One that two coaches felt was necessary to change. Hey, all "traditions" were brand new at some point.

While I'm not sure I'm used to the names (it still stands out to me when I see it), I must admit as a fan I appreciate them. Makes learning the roster easier, and watching the games more enjoyable. If we went back to no names I would enjoy that as someone who appreciates traditions and uniqueness. But if we never did go back, it wouldn't negatively affect my enjoyment of the game, nor my support of the team. It's not worth getting the proverbial panties in a bunch over, in the grand scheme of things.

Very well said. The core values hold much more weight with me.

 

[SEPATOPTEN]

Well there's the problem...kids nowadays don't want to be part of a team. This is the "me" generation.

I disagree. All of these guys have played team sports their whole life. The bonds are the same as the kids from the generations before. There are the exceptions but the times have changed. If the coach and the kids want them on then so be it. They are the ones putting their body and their reputations (Sam Ficken) on the line on saturdays.

 

[SEPATOPTEN]

At Penn State, it was always more about the TEAM then the individual. Putting the names on the jersey add more individuality to the team. At least that is what I remember from way back when.

I am sure the poster knows that. He is just saying that he can't understand why there can't be a change. Penn St. over the years I am sure would have still won 409 games under Joe Paterno whether they had names on the Jerseys or not.

 

[bjf1984]

Two totally different situations.

The JS saga is complicated, in that there are ongoing investigations, ongoing lawsuits, and C/S/S are still charged by the PA OAG with no indication if the charges will stand and/or when the cases will go to trial. Most people that could provide info here prefer to only speak off the record to those they trust, or not speak at all so that they avoid being noticed by the investigating authorities.

The 2012 uniform change was imposed on the football team/coach. O'Brien and his staff are not going to burn any bridges by disclosing the details of the situation. I'm not going to address the other side of the equation.

I really don't much care either way about the Name/Uniform "controversy". Some folks feel strongly one way or another....fine with me - but I just don't feel I have any dog in that fight.

What does leave me "consternated" is that there would be ANY reason whatsoever that the decision process surrounding the Name/No Name decision would - three years later - still be considered some kind of "secret". THAT - to me - is bewildering. Treating it as some kind of state secret - IMHO - just multiplies the conspiracy theorists 10X the level that would be present if the simple truth (whatever it may be) was just "out there".

In essence - it FORCES one to assume there MUST have been nefarious intent, since that is the ONLY rationale for keeping the decision cloaked under lock and key. LOL...now even I - who really doesn't care about the actual decision - want to know who made the decision.

;-)

 

[SEPATOPTEN]

Certainly. Just saying the jury is still out. Has proven relatively little as yet. Wish him well.

Relatively little? The recruiting alone has been a huge improvement. Kids are considering Penn St. that never had PSU on their radar before. This is not his first head coaching job. He did a terrific job on the field at Vanderbuilt.

 

[SEPATOPTEN]

You assume if the names stay, it's because of the coaches "interacting with said recruits". I make no such assumption. It could be just because the AD, or the BOT, or the Barron, let Franklin know they want no reminders of the Paterno era. Like I said, I will be more likely to change my position if you find a single recruit that says names matter. That is about all I have to say on the matter. All I know is that my opinion won't mean anything in making the final decision, so further debate is sort of pointless.

It could be that Franklin had a premonition. Or could it be that Bill O 'Brien wanted to show folks that it was his program now. It is all conjecture just like it came from the BOT or the AD.

 

[SEPATOPTEN]

It's Penn State's tradition

It was every teams tradition until the 60's. Penn St. just did not change and Joe said it was because the name on the front was more important than the name on the back. It was something Joe used to enhance the Penn St. brand the way he thought best.

 

[BlueBand]

It was every teams tradition until the 60's. Penn St. just did not change and Joe said it was because the name on the front was more important than the name on the back. It was something Joe used to enhance the Penn St. brand the way he thought best.

Which was always kind of funny if you stopped to think about it... there were no "names" (e.g. Penn State) on the front either. Unless you're counting the front of the helmet, and if you go back and look, that was a Joe thing... it wasn't on earlier helmets.

 

[Zenophile]

It was every teams tradition until the 60's. Penn St. just did not change and Joe said it was because the name on the front was more important than the name on the back. It was something Joe used to enhance the Penn St. brand the way he thought best.

Agreed. The nameless jerseys are a quintessential component of Penn State's brand.

 

[Zenophile]

Which was always kind of funny if you stopped to think about it... there were no "names" (e.g. Penn State) on the front either. Unless you're counting the front of the helmet, and if you go back and look, that was a Joe thing... it wasn't on earlier helmets.

And FWIW I'd be ok with it coming off the front of the helmet.

 

[bsmith51]

In my opinion, the Penn State brand was relatively simple/plain uniforms (which I think look great) and having high quality student athletes. Nothing has changed on that front. And if they wanted to get rid of everything Paterno, they would have completely changed the uniforms (blue helmets, redesign decals, etc.). They did not. Regardless of the names on the back, the Penn State uniform is one of the most recognizable uniforms in all of sports. Your casual fan (who would probably be the target audience if they were trying to stomp out everything Paterno) would most likely not even notice the names thing or recognize it as a significant change. I am a huge football fan and someone in an earlier thread pointed out that USC does not put names on the back. I never noticed because it is not something I (and I believe most people) care about.

 

[TheGLOV]

The names stay on!

 

[manatree]

If Nike can write a check and have their logo plastered over the player's heart, than the player, who busts their ass to be on the team sure as hell have earned the right to have their name on the back.

 

[pennstgrad]

It's not about what you or I want..it's what the players want

 

[Zenophile]

If Nike can write a check and have their logo plastered over the player's heart, than the player, who busts their ass to be on the team sure as hell have earned the right to have their name on the back.

Wearing a proper Penn State football jersey is an honor, and it's an honor these kids have earned and been denied.

 

[pandaczar12]

It's not about what you or I want..it's what the players want

And what if the players want to wear Green and Yellow jerseys with pink elephants on them?

Now hopefully you understand why your statement is wrong.

 

[Zenophile]

And who doesn't love a story with a happy ending?

http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/071615aaa.html



#WeAre

 

[fairgambit]

And who doesn't love a story with a happy ending?
http://pennstate.247sports.com/Bolt/Penn-State-taking-the-names-off-jerseys-38233332

View embedded media

#WeAre

CONGRATS!!!!

 

[jerseylion109]

can they un-retire cappys #22?

 

[FLAlionfan]

And apparently the coaches disagree with you. They're the ones interacting with said recruits every day. I'll defer to their judgement on this one.

BTW, that was not the conversation after the sanctions. It was probably more like: "Mom, I can play for conference championships all 4 years, I can play with the best skilled teammates, I can go to bowl games... or I could play for Penn State.

So now explain your BS regarding the coaches disagreeing.......take your foot out of your mouth after taking your head out of your a$$ first!

 

[FLAlionfan]

Franklin wants the names on the back of the jerseys. My guess is he has a good reason for wanting them there.

Stuck foot in mouth again? Tell us again that you know what Franklin wants!

 

[FLAlionfan]

Tom, if all this were true and adding the names was really a grander plot by nefarious administrators to spit on a Penn State football tradition, why hasn't Franklin simply taken the names off? I would think that autonomy over the program would have been something granted to Franklin in the negotiation process, particularly with the transition in AD administration. Or has Franklin been a "good soldier", as well?

Guess your question is answered today huh?

 

[bsmith51]

Stuck foot in mouth again? Tell us again that you know what Franklin wants!

Be careful what you wish for. Now that the staff has sided with the traditionalists on the base uniform, I suspect this will open the door to Penn State going with a funky alternative uniform for one game each year that will make the traditionalists want the names for all games instead of the annual alternative duds.

 

[BlueBand]

So now explain your BS regarding the coaches disagreeing.......take your foot out of your mouth after taking your head out of your a$$ first!

Damn, nasty attitude. I said I'd defer to the coaches.

And, things have changed you know. As I pointed out, when the names went on the jerseys, the recruiting pitch was not the same as it is now. They have a lot more to sell kids on now.

 

[green2623]

football jerseys is upon us. I will always be grateful for the commitments of the courageous young men who stood by Penn State in time of crisis. They represent the best of Penn State, and the inclusion of their names into the uniform was and is a fitting tribute. However as we move past the sanction era, the continued inclusion of the names dilutes the intention of that honor and is a disservice to those men. We have an opportunity to preserve the nobility of that tribute by allowing it to occupy its rightful place within the context of history. We also have an opportunity to honor the current football program by affording it the dignity of resuming a proud identity earned through decades of achieving Success with Honor.

Thank you for your consideration.

Zenophile

Mr. Zeno Sir.
Some one is listening? But whom? I am hoping beyond hope it is Sir Franklin and his knights, for this would make it honorable. I am reflecting right now on how and why this happened. If and it should be, this is about Legacy, Honor, and Tradition,and the soul of this Penn State football team and those that walk in their footsteps
I am all in and overjoyed. If this is about Moving on and a Bot, AD or chamberlainesq appeasement project from the leaders of My University, I will be pi**ed beyond the scope of reason. And... it will provide more evidence that the "Culture Problem" of this University is hidden behind the dark walls of the board rooms of this University and our Government of this State, "Doing the Right Thing" is sometimes hard to know, and most times hard to assess. I will wait silently and with a smile on my face and hope, that what is happening now is being done for the correct purposes of honor and history.

A loyal and humble alumni

 

[Judge Smails]

Stuck foot in mouth again? Tell us again that you know what Franklin wants!

Huh? CJF wanted the names on the jerseys until he didnt. Why dont you relax a little bit.

 

[lein]

Spiders wife's jerseys were above average quality sewing - every letter was individually stitched on into the jersey. This happened after the UVA game. The UVA jerseys were outsourced, but they weren't done properly due to inexperience with having the names on the back of the jerseys. Now they are just stitched onto a name plate which is then sewn on the back of the jersey - not on the jersey itself.

Joe Paterno was reaching down from heaven and pulling the names off during that UVA game

 

[Nashville Lion]

Well, the players seem to be happy. We will all still know who Hack is....LOL

 

[Fizz1]

Cappelletti wasn't made aware of the intention to retire his number until the 11th hour. It was so late that he would have had to 'make a scene' in order to decline it, and he elected to not 'make a scene'. Just FYI.

Given the context at that time (scandal was still fairly recent, BOT placed one of their own in the AD role, and Joyner was purging employees associated with the Paterno era), the retiring of Cappy's number came across to me as a desperate and disjointed attempt to by Joyner/Administration to try to appease angry alumni. What you said about Cappy not knowing until the 11th hour makes a lot of sense.