PSU's Pat Chambers: 'It's somber here'

Geno Thorpe, Pittsburgh area talent, which recruited the Panthers, as well as Kansas and Wisconsin, announced Tuesday that he will attend Penn State.

It was a huge scoop for the new coach Pat Chambers, one that will resonate loudly usually in basketball circles.

This, however, are not normal days at the University of Pennsylvania.

With the scandal swirling around the football program - specifically child molestation charges against former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky - basketball, and almost everything else on campus took a back seat.

"It's dark here, dark for several reasons,''said Chambers.

His work in building basketball program certainly seems trivial in light of the charges, and much more that eight of the victims reportedly suffered. But basketball season is here and Chambers work. Nittany Lions open the season on Saturday against Hartford.

The team decided to hint at 4:30, hoping to cash in on the overflow of fans pouring out of Beaver Stadium the following afternoon game against the football team of Nebraska.

"You should try and do their own thing,''said Chambers." What more can we do? We must stay together through it, try to keep a positive attitude and mentality of the trenches.''

Chambers called his team together for group meetings, trying to answer their questions and reassure them of the problem.

But the answers, he admits, is not so easy to find.

"The charges, all of it is in the legal system, so not much I can say is," he said. "But I can say I am a father so it's obviously hit home. If true, this is disturbing, despicable, but there is not much more I can say than that."

None of this is not going away any time soon  there are lengthy legal issues facing the Sandusky and two sports administrators accused of failing to alert authorities. There will be issues dogging Joe Paterno and the stigma of the university.

Of course, it will come, when Chambers hit recruiting trail.

Even Thorpe, high primary school, was asked about the scandal during his press conference.

"It's sad to see, but at the same time it did not prevent my decision,''he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.