What’s next for Penn State?

Times aren’t so happy in Happy Valley these days. You don’t need me to tell you that (or at least, you shouldn’t). The NCAA has handed the school historic sanctions, and while they’re designed to effect only the offending football program, the question of what they might do to the whole program has been on my mind for some time. In particular, the question of what the future holds for the volleyball program.

I’m not just singling out volleyball because this is a volleyball blog. Penn State women’s volleyball is a big, big deal. Before a loss to eventual national champions UCLA in last year’s NCAA tournament, Penn State had rattled off four straight national championships themselves, including two consecutive undefeated seasons. Those teams included 2012 Olympians Christa Harmotto and Megan Hodge, and the Olympic team featured two Penn State-ers as reserves as well. A year ago at this time, you might have thought “Joe Paterno” and “football” first thing when you thought Penn State, well, maybe you should have actually been thinking “Russ Rose” and “volleyball.” Rose has been with the university since 1979, posting over a thousand wins, five total NCAA championships (1999 and 2007-2010) and a further three title game appearances (’93, ’97, and ’98). These figures put Paterno’s record, no matter how you compile it, to shame.

Things will probably be fine this year. The team brings back six players with starting experience, including one of the heaviest hitters in the nation, 2011 first-team All-American Deja McClendon. McClendon was one of the stars of the team’s (actually kind of unexpected) run to the national championship in 2010, being named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player as a freshman. The team enters the year ranked #3 in the preseason poll, and they’re without question still a powerhouse. Last year was a big down year for them, and they still came to the NCAA tournament was the #9 seed (only the top 16 teams out of the 64 in the tournament are seeded).

But these players aren’t gonna be around forever, of course. How does the university, how does Coach Rose, go about recruiting players to put a name on their backs that’s basically become synonymous with child rape in the American subconscious?

It’s a tough sell, and the best thing the team can do is create (or perhaps reaffirm) their own identity completely separate to the wayward football program. Easier said than done. I can’t help but notice that Penn State’s official athletic website contains a ticker in the top-right corner counting down to….the football team’s first game of the season. It’s pretty clear who’s still king, and that’s just a damn shame. It’s contrary to the sanctions imposed by the NCAA as well. Of course the football team will also try to “turn over a new leaf” or…something…but until the sanctions completely wear off (and maybe not until they’ve completely recovered from them, which could take more than a decade) that’s just a load of hot air, frankly.

Which is why I wonder if it will be for the school’s other athletic programs and in particular, the dominant, powerhouse volleyball program. It will be interesting to see what kind of recruiting class Rose is able to bring in for the 2013 season. The team has only two seniors this season, and neither of them are stars, so it probably won’t be a very big 2013 recruiting class. That’ll help. The fewer slots you need to fill, the more likely you’re able to find recruits who bleed Penn State blue and want nothing more than to put on that uniform (shockingly enough, there’s even still some of these in football).

Times are dire for Penn State, but the best thing for them to do is just win. Especially for students and alumni, the need will be there for sports to become the escapist fun they’re always meant to be. Nobody really wants to keep hearing about the bad stuff, but it’s not gonna go away until there’s someplace else to go to. That’s the destination for Penn State volleyball.

Penn State’s season begins August 24 against Morehead State, with a showcase tournament aptly called the “Big Four” coming at home on August 31 and September 1 against Florida, Texas, and Stanford.