Ok sorry this is a little late…. but my new job is crazy…

Those who have known me long enough know I have bled blue and white since I was 6 years old. At that age my favorite article of clothing was a Rose Bowl sweatshirt. One of the two stuffed animals I kept was a bear with a Penn State T-shirt. My grandparents met at the Corner Room. My uncle went to Penn State. I spent six years in State College because I couldn’t leave after I graduated. These are my Penn State credentials.

I have been a photographer for nine years, five of which I spent covering Penn State and Penn State football. I have been Photo Chief, Photo Editor, and Multimedia Editor for The Daily Collegian. (insert link) I have covered four seasons of Penn State football, including the 2008 Rose Bowl, off-field issues, and YES, Joe Paterno. These are my media credentials.

While none of this is unique, it means I have been on both sides, and I see both sides. While covering incidents off the field involving players, I have had to look classmates and football players in the eye and answer these questions: Why are you here? Why are you doing this? Yes, all 6′, 150 pounds of me had to look two current pro football defensive linemen in the face and say I’m sorry it’s my job. Oh by the way, I had to see one of them in class the next morning. So to the media I understand your concerns and fears. The rioting was probably unnecessary, but seriously it wasn’t that bad.

Now as a fan, alumni and Nittany Lion, I’ve had to hear wave after wave of attack on our school, and our LEGENDARY former (that word hurt to write) head coach. I have felt ill this week more that once listening to reports. I see and hear OPINION reported over and over. Even from men I believe to have very strong journalistic integrity, (as far as sports reporting goes, sorry to all the great sports reporters I know and have worked with). Honestly, seeing some of these people joining the frenzy, just adds insult to injury to Penn State. We expected people like Mark May, a bitter Pitt grad, to attack, but some of the opinions I’ve heard from people like SVP, (who I greatly respect) and Colin Cowherd (who is an opinionated jerk but I believe still tries to be as unbiased as possible) make my stomach turn. I literally heard someone on ESPN radio criticize students because at their age his father was a POW not rioting. WOW uncalled for! Thank you for serving and I’m sorry for your family’s sacrifice, but that’s not relevant or necessary.

NO ONE I KNOW IN THE MEDIA OR FROM PENN STATE CONDONES OR DEFENDS WHAT HAPPENED!!!! IT WAS SICK AND TWISTED AND MY HEART IS BROKEN FOR THOSE BOYS AND THEIR FAMILIES!!!! (That message gets lost by both sides.)

More importantly all Penn Staters need to do two things right now… Rally Around Old State. Make each other proud, and start to rebuild the school the right way. This includes supporting the victims and their families.

And for now rally around the Joe we know. Make him proud, let him know that we learned the good he taught us and remember him for what he was — a man who tried to do right for us, the school, and those who needed it, not the mistakes he made. AND HE DID MAKE MISTAKES. HE’D BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU HE’S A MAN AND A COACH NOT A GOD OR SAINT!