Rutgers AD Apologizes for Inappropriate Behavior by Rutgers Fans:
Throughout Saturday afternoon and night, photos circulated through social media of various groups of Rutgers’ fans making crude references through shirts and banners. Two of the most popular photos being circulated was a photo of a banner that showed two stick figures portraying a sexual act with Penn State written on the top of the banner. Another was a picture, which appeared on the official Rutgers Football Facebook page before it was deleted, showed a Rutgers’ fan wearing a “Beat Ped State” shirt. These were only two of a handful of acts that took place on Saturday.
In the light of the issue, Julie Hermann, the athletic director at Rutgers, realeased a fully apology on Monday for the actions of fans that were referencing the Jerry Sandusky scandal that took place of Penn State. Her full statement is below;
On behalf of Rutgers University and the Athletic Department, we would like to apologize for the regrettable actions of a handful of Rutgers fans on Saturday that do not convey the message of good, competitive spirit that we look forward to having with our new Big Ten rival Penn State University.
Some of the signage and t-shirts that we have been made aware of were both inappropriate and offensive.
I have spoken with and apologized to the Penn State athletic director Sandy Barbour and I would like to apologize equally to the Penn State University fans, as well as Rutgers fans that were subjected to this classless display that does not represent the ethos of our university, athletic department or fan base.
The two inappropriate pictures that appeared briefly on our Facebook page as part of a 200-picture montage were immediately removed when we were alerted to their content.
It is unfortunate that the actions of a few spoiled an otherwise historic and record-setting night that Rutgers fans provided for our first Big Ten football game.
Julie Hermann
Rutgers Athletic Director
Penn State Fans Planning a “Joe Out” :
No, it’s not going to be a Beaver Stadium “White Out” on Saturday, where all fans where white making the entire 107,000 seat stadium pure white. That game is October 25th against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Penn State’s game on Saturday afternoon will be a “Joe Out”.
Fans have been planning the “Joe Out” on campus and through social media, an event that will be full of Penn State fans honoring the late hall-of-fame coach on Saturday. Fans have been told to wear anything with 409 on it, in reference to Joe Paterno’s 409 career wins before NCAA sanctions lowered the wins total to 298 career wins.
The Paterno subject is still a controversial one throughout the country, as many believe that the legendary Penn State head coach harbored child-sex abuser Jerry Sandusky. While we may never fully know what Paterno truly did or did not do in reference to the Sandusky child-sex abuse cases, what we do know is that he was one of the greatest coaches to ever step onto a college football field.
[Photo: Roman Fuchs/Wikipedia]Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
