Thousands continued to voice their displeasure for the past 2 years. Many have gone as far as to express their protest in public. It was obvious that things just weren’t going right. But our leader insisted everything was going according to plan and we will prevail over the repeating setbacks that have befallen us.

Isn’t it amazing how the Morelli era almost seem identical to our situation in Iraq?

Joe Paterno’s insistence on playing an overrated Morelli despite his ineptitude in winning games with his arm can almost be as stubborn as Bush’s insistence that the Iraq war was the right thing to do. Both can’t be convinced of otherwise and trying to do so is a waste of time.

Then there were the rumors swirling that Morelli possessed an arm capable of shredding defenses to bit. But like Iraq, that weapon of an arm was as existent as the WMDs Iraq supposedly possessed.

The Altoona Mirror ran a piece yesterday titled “B-W Game fans wrong to boo Morelli” and I’ll give you one guess as to what it’s about. But it basically chastised the fans that were vocal in their displeasure of the once overhyped quarterback at this year’s spring game.

“No, Morelli may not have lived up to expectations during his two seasons as Penn State’s starting quarterback. But to boo him in that setting — a practice scrimmage, after his career is over and while he’s being honored on the field for an achievement — was shameful.”

For those of you who weren’t present, Morelli was introduced to the Blue/White game crowd of 73,000 at halftime to accept one of the Players of the Game award for the Florida International game last year. In stark contrast to the rousing reception for Michael Robinson and Tamba Hali just minutes earlier, almost half the crowd rained boos on the now ex-Penn State quarterback surprising many in attendance.

But what is exactly surprising? Are you surprised that the quarterback that single handedly lost us multiple games in the last two years was not given a standing ovation? Yes, Morelli held a 18-8 record during his 2 years as a starter, but are you going to blame Nittany Nation for their unwillingness to accept mediocrity? I sure don’t.

I was in fact one of those that went out of my way to boo the quarterback. But let me explain. I am a Lions fan through thick and thin. Don’t believe me? I was there during the two Zack Mills dark years including the infamous 6-4 Iowa game and never once left early despite the thousands that did during our losing seasons. I am not claiming to be the best fan, but I sure ain’t a bandwagon fan.

But when a school such as Penn State has no remorse in withdrawing an academic scholarship if the student fails to meet the academic requirements, why should athletes be treated any differently? Both were given a free ride to college for their talents. Different talents, but talents nonetheless. Academic scholarships reward those talented in studies and their field of work and athletic scholarships reward the talents in their respective field of play.

So when Morelli clearly performs as badly as a honor student failing his or her classes, and the school continues to reward the failing athlete with playing time and shreds the honor student’s scholarship, why aren’t fans justified in voicing their displeasure. The coach sure won’t heed it, but like those protesting in front of the White House against the war, fans need a public forum to ensure the coach at least noticed it.

Bush won’t end the war because millions marched against the war around the world, neither will Joe bench Morelli. But you can be damned sure, Joe and Bush both knows the fans aren’t happy, and the fact that the boos were directed to one person in particular, Joe knows exactly why they aren’t happy. Is it wrong to condemn a college kid for his ineptitude on the field? Maybe. Maybe not. But fans don’t meet Joe on a regular basis to let him know what they think of his decisions, he is barely around the office to meet his own players on a regular basis. So the best public venue would be at games and the spring scrimmage.

Then there are those that call the boo-birds ‘classless’ and ‘bandwagon fans’. Sound similar to the hordes of pro-war supporters who declare protesters ‘unpatriotic’ and ‘Unamerican’? I have been around Penn State football and love every second of it’s existence. I will sell off my first born for the ticket money if we ever make another national title appearance. But I will also boo Morelli if he deserves it. If I had been at the Ohio State game in 2006 where he threw 2 picks that were returned for touchdowns in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach, I would have boo’d him there too. I am a fan of a team, and a team is bigger than any one person.

If a player does not live up to my expectations for Penn State, I will be damned sure to let him know. I am one of thousands that ensure these players attend college for free, have free housing, free meals and amazing facilities that allow him the best possibility opportunity to compete with the best and if the player is not living up to his end of the deal, fans have the right to voice their displeasure.

To those that were shocked and angered by the boos showered onto Morelli at the Blue/White game, maybe its time for you to catch the games on television from home. If something as insignificant as voicing your justified displeasure bothers you, then maybe sports is not the right venue for you. Sports is a passion and you can’t be shocked when you hear passionate responses. Just like it is your American patriotic duty to ensure the government does not run unchecked by the people, we have the right to rightfully boo ineptitude.

If Morelli can’t handle that, he is more unqualified as a Penn State quarterback and I thought. And he’s already set the standard pretty low.

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