UNIVERSITY PARK - Stephon Morris was asleep Wednesday night when he heard the Penn State campus rioting.
The PSU cornerback turned on his TV to see students rioting in the streets and turning over a WTAJ-TV van. Then he saw the confirmation that Joe Paterno had been fired.
"It was on every channel," Morris said. "It's such a sad situation. I just called my family."
The players said they all learned of the Board of Trustees' decision from watching TV.
About half of the team went to the football office and sat around, trying to absorb the events.
A team meeting was held at 8 a.m. this morning, and interim coach Tom Bradley urged the players to stick together during this emotion-filled time.
Morris said Bradley's message was that "it's our team, it's not his team."
Bradley called the captains Wednesday night and emphasized the same.
"Coach Bradley is a great leader, and he has a lot of support," senior wide receiver and captain Derek Moye said.
Senior linebacker Nate Stupar called this morning's meeting "pretty quiet."
"It's uncharted territory for all of us, but we have to stay focused and play as a unit," Stupar said.
The Lions host Nebraska on Senior Day Saturday at noon.
Morris said, "It's one of those games we have to win."
