I commend Benjamin Green for the insightful letter published in the sports mailbag last month.
Our large universities have become pawns to extracurricular sports programs, spending millions to build larger and larger stadiums that seat 100,000-plus spectators to watch college football.
The larger the program, the more rife it becomes to unlawful practices and cover-ups of anything that might stain their reputation.
How can these universities justify the money spent on these programs and keep raising tuition costs that keep many young students from getting the college education they deserve and need to compete in today's highly technological culture?
Of course, there is the government student loan program. Facing four years of college, the average student must rely on the program to augment what their family is able to pay.
Four years of college, even working part time as a supplement, these students graduate with a burdensome debt of thousands of dollars.
Some of the lucky ones find lucrative jobs and with budgeting can manage. Most barely get by even with a second job.
Is this fair:?Is this the "American Dream?"
These same administrators compete with their peer universities to hire a coach for their football team to the tune of $4 million a year and a million more in amenities. This is not only outrageous but immoral.
Yes, our priorities are misguided.
Lucia Donnelly
Altoona
O'Brien's the man, let's support him
I think my disappointment in the hiring of Bill O'Brien, much like a lot of Penn State fans, was immediate and has since been tempered.
I'm actually looking forward to seeing what O'Brien can do.
The Ted Roof hire has taken a lot of flack, but in addition to their shared opponent in Alabama this year, the Auburn defense also faced Clemson, LSU, Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina and Georgia.
Penn State's national ranking defensively was bolstered by very soft competition. The Nittany Lions were absolutely blistered by strong offenses.
Roof was pretty dreadful as the head guy at Duke, but David Cutcliffe has gone 3-9 here the last two years.
Like it or not, O'Brien is our guy. It's time to get behind him. Look on the bright side: Rob Gronkowski had 90 catches, 1300 yards and 17 touchdowns with the Patriots this year.
Maybe we'll finally throw to our tight ends.
Neil Grove
Hillsborough, N.C.
Chambers impressing
My early impression of Pat Chambers is positive.
He has the team's attitude going in a very solid and constructive direction. He is getting more out of their talent than if Coach DeChellis had stayed.
In short, this team is overachieving and striving to get better and better with each game. They are going to have to keep pushing and playing above their potential in the Big Ten with at least six teams in the Top 25.
Chambers knows he came in with the talent level needing some real impact to compete. He will start recruiting his own players that fit his system starting 2012-2013.
Chambers' recruiting efforts will start paying off in three years. The fan base needs to be patient with this program's development and an eventual return to being competitive in the Big Ten and getting into the NCAA Tournament on a more regular basis.
Les Hart
Duncansville
Tasty possibilities at PSU
Will the Creamery have Orangy O'Brien in a few years or will it be Rocky Road?
Howard Best
Montoursville
Keep Rudel, Giger away
The best decision Bill O'Brien could make would be to ban Neil Rudel and Cory Giger from having any access to the Penn State football program.
Penn State could have hired Bill Cowher and these two guys would have found a way to put a negative spin on it. I am looking forward to see if O'Brien puts up with them the way JoePa did.
Dave Stimer
Duncansville
