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Sunday, April 29, 2001

For years, rival recruiters have used Joe Paterno's age against him. "Why would you want to go to Penn State? Paterno won't be there by the time you graduate."

Now, the rival recruiters have a much more dangerous poison to spread.

"Why would you even consider Penn State? It's a racist school."

What?

You're surprised rival recruiters would stoop to that level?

You're naive.

Paterno's job is tougher now than it has ever been in the 52 years he has been at Penn State. The same is true for every other coach at the university. It doesn't matter if the racist allegations are true or not. That's the perception of Penn State at the moment. And, as we all know, perception is reality.

There long have been whispers about black students, including athletes, being uncomfortable in mostly white State College. There have been hushed complaints about no social life, no place to worship, no place to get a decent haircut.

But last Saturday, the whispers became national news when protesters stormed the field at Beaver Stadium before Penn State's annual spring football game to protest a series of death threats received by several black students and a university trustee. The game was delayed for about 15 minutes and 23 students and three others were arrested. To those arrested, it was a small price to pay to spread their message that university officials have created an atmosphere that condones racism.

A less-than-satisfying meeting Tuesday between Penn State President Graham Spanier and the university's Black Caucus members was front-page news in this newspaper and others across the state and made all of the television and radio newscasts.

All of it delighted the rival recruiters.

It must have sickened Paterno.

Paterno declined a request for an interview last week. So did Penn State men's basketball Coach Jerry Dunn, who is black and has struggled for years to lure top black players to his program, presumably, in part, because of apprehensions about the racial climate at the school.

It's unfortunate Paterno and Dunn chose not to speak out. It would have been nice to hear them say they are not working for a racist university.

It's also unfortunate the allegations figure to have a negative impact on Paterno and Dunn. They are two of the most colorblind people in sports. It doesn't matter to them if a player is white, black, yellow or green. They will play him if they think he can help them win.

Most coaches are like that. So are most athletes. For every John Rocker and Charlie Ward -- the guard for the New York Knicks who made it clear last week he has little use for Jews before hiding behind the "taken-out-of-context" excuse -- there are hundreds of players who don't look at a teammate as black or white, but merely as another guy who shares the goal of winning and being a champion.

"We all sweat and bleed together," Penn State running back Omar Easy told the Post-Gazette's Ray Fittipaldo last Saturday. "We're like a family."

It's true.

There is much less racism in sports than in society as a whole.

That doesn't mean Penn State's black players haven't been targeted. Paterno acknowledged quarterback Rashard Casey received threats last season after he was charged with assault in the beating of a white police officer. (The charges were dropped). Easy said tight end John Gilmore has been threatened. There have been reports that parents of some black players also have received threats.

"In light of what happened, I think I'll be a little more proactive about it when I talk to the squad and make sure I'm not overlooking something," Paterno said last Saturday. He met with reporters at the spring game before the on-field protest, but after news of the latest death threat against outgoing Black Caucus President LaKeisha Wolf, a senior from the North Side, had broken.

"Up until now, it does not appear to be a problem [for the football players]. I may have my head in the sand, I don't know. But I am going to talk to them about it."

It's a shame Paterno is in a position where he has to protect his players from the insane, unconscionable bigotry.

The Penn State players -- black and white -- are lucky to have him on their side.

Rival recruiters probably won't mention that, though.

Ron Cook can be reached at rcook@post-gazette.com.