The headlines coming out of Happy Valley, Pennsylvania are distrubing for everyone, including former Big Ten Honorable mention Anthony Adams who played college ball at Penn State a decade ago.
"It's a complete shocker," Adams told reporters Wednesday inside the Bears locker room. "I take a lot of pride in my school and the coaching staff that was there, for this to go on, it's heartbreaking."
Accused coach Jerry Sandusky -- who faces allegations of child molestation -- retired by the time Robbie Gould arrived at Penn State, so the kicker didn't want to comment on the accusations but hoped the current team wouldn't be affected.
"Let's hope the kids (players) can refocus and worry about beating Nebraska and not worry about things out of control and out of their hands."
It's ough for former players like Gould and Adams to come to grips with the accusations and mixed emotions on the scandal rocking their former college program. Particularly difficult for Adams who played defensive line for Coach Sandusky, and remembers carrying him off the field after the Lions 1999 Alamo Bowl win.
"He did everything the Penn St. way...he was always very respectful and professi9onal, just somebody that's a role model." Adams said nobody ever questioned the defensive coordinators "Second Mile" program helping at risk youth, and was asked point blank if he ever saw Sandusky with other young boys?
"No, no no, it was always just him coaching...all I saw was him as defensive coordinator, I didn't see any of that stuff" Adams recalled.
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Confusing and conflicting feelings for players who put on the Penn State uniform, because they say they left with life lessons too.
"They taught me how to be a man, how to be professional, how to treat people and carry yourself" Adams said while shaking his head in disbelief.
Gould recalled the sense of responsibility Joe Paterno instilled in his players and holding each accountable for their actions. "obviously we became better people and better athletes by attending Penn State." And for Adams, the father of three including a young son, disbelief.
"Extremely difficult...when you see the Penn State logo, you see sex scandal under that and you're like 'wow.'"
