Blogs and Fans.

Columnist Gene Collier of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is a funny and erudite writer.

Therefore, it is reassuring for me to read something he has written, as I did today, that seems to follow a similar track to my own observations about life and sports.

Admittedly, I'm a rank amateur and was apparently sick a lot when grammar and punctuation instructions were available to me at all levels of the teaching of English composition.

Not sure just how important that is now, as blog writing provides a great release for me, regardless of the size of the audience - other than offering it up as a mea culpa.

Gene's recent column promotes the idea that Penn State should consider dropping college football.

That should keep Central Pa. undertakers busy for the next decade.

Fifteen years of residency in that area confirmed a continuous life and death struggle by the residents that is almost entirely based upon the won/loss results of the Penn State football team.

There also appears to be a lack of recognition on the part of those citizens that there is much more to life than the idolatry displayed for their team.

However,if you ever lived there you'd understand there isn't a lot more available to capture their passion.

My first exposure to the area,after residing in Pittsburgh for 50+ years, was a walking tour in 1986 of Bloomsburg, Pa after being "promoted" to managing an office there.

My most memorable sighting was that of "Eudora's Corset Shoppe", located on the main thoroughfare.

The folks I met did not possess the same eagerness to share their thoughts with a stranger or even start a conversation as did those Pittsburgh residents I left behind.

That is, until you had the insight to question them about their favorite college team. Few responded by commenting on the football program of Bloomsburg University.

Penn State is an institution up there. So is their football team.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the questionable, if not the seemingly unfathomable adulation of the residents, hasn't been seen elsewhere since, possibly, the unknown citizenry's lack of reaction to the "Emperor's New Clothes". And, we're not referring to the Penguin.

No attempt is being made to ridicule their fan support anymore than should be made for the mysterious affection of Pittsburghers for their kielbasa. Oh, and the "Pirates" - of course.

It would be interesting for me to know how those Central Pa. folks are now dealing with the recent news concerning the lack of compassion and responsibility demonstrated by the administration of their beloved university when faced with a real opponent -Truth!

How would they react if a child victim who was allegedly abused was a member of their own family? I recently asked a similar question of a friend who was expressing his extreme support of Herman Cain.

It scares me to think that both responses might have been similar.

What kind of rationality will be employed by the citizens? Will it be one of denial?

Or, could it simply be the current preferable and trendy processing following accusations of wrongdoing by folks who simply respond, "Well, they're all doing it - aren't they?"

I'll probably never know and might not even deserve an answer.

You have to remember, there are more than a few of us Sullivans - including myself - who refuse to accept the gruesome reality about our beloved Pirates.

But, then again, we have our "Stillers" - and even " Penguins" - to get us through the consistently poor baseball results of our incomparable favorite baseball team.

Unfortunately, the same thing cannot be said for those poor fans in the middle of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Should Penn State University announce a decision to drop football at a time you were considering a visit to the area - any alternate travel plans you might have - should not rule out Iran.