Published: Friday, November 11, 2011

By MATTHEW OSBORNE
mosborne@trentonian.com

I am taking a week off from making excuses about games that didn’t cover the spread for some reason.

Instead, I want to take this time to remind everyone that the Penn State scandal is not about football.

It’s also not about Joe Paterno and all his wins, and it’s not about whether someone will throw a beer bottle at Mike McQueary’s head if he coaches on the sidelines.

It’s not about whether Crisco, Vagisil or whatever sponsor on whatever bowl game will invite the Nittany Lions to play.

This nightmarish situation is about the children who were irreparably harmed.

Click here for full column.

-- Follow Matthew Osborne on Twitter @trentonianozzy

New York Times is reporting that Penn State is beginning the process of ending Penn State coach Joe Paterno's tenure at the school.

The Times is basing their report on two sources. The removal is on the heels of the Sandusky sex abuse scandal.

Read the NYT column here.

Published: Thursday, November 03, 2011

By MATTHEW OSBORNE
mosborne@trentonian.com

I can’t begin to count the number of times my father and I have watched a game together while doing the math over and over, only to come up with the same answer.

“You know, Pops,” I would say, “The only way you can cover now is if some triple-overtime shenanigans happen.”

Usually, that moment never comes. When it finally did last weekend, Pops was on the other side — allegedly the safe side — with USC getting eight points.

As the Trojans battled Stanford and led most of the game, it looked impossible for USC not to cover, even if Andrew Luck heroically led the Cardinal back.

But he did, and USC didn’t cover.

Some folks like Pops salvaged a push, but others had the Trojans with 7½ and left with a loss snatched from almost certain victory.

Click here for full column.

-- Follow Matthew Osborne on twitter @trentonianozzy