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One can only imagine how many of the current players on the Penn State football roster are feeling, especially those who aren't sure if they want to remain with the program.
Most, if not all, of them, are either in their late teens or early 20s. And they're faced with a decision that may have an impact on the rest of their lives.
Dallastown football coach Kevin Myers understands that, and he's trying to give the best advice he can to one of his former players in linebacker Ben Kline, a redshirt freshman at Penn State.
"Ben and I talked," Myers said Wednesday. "The best thing I told him was to not make it (a decision) on emotion. Talk with your parents and the coaches up there."
With the NCAA declaring Monday that any current Penn State football player can transfer without penalty, opposing coaches have apparently responded by treating it like a free-agent frenzy at the college level.
Under normal rules, if a player wanted to transfer to another school in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, the NCAA would require the player to sit out a year before competing. Either that, or the player could move to a lower division to play right away.
More than 30 Penn State football players held a news conference Wednesday to say they are staying with Penn State.
According to published reports, Penn State coach Bill O'Brien said Wednesday several of his players have received scholarship offers from other schools.
Various reports said opposing coaches were waiting outside the Lasch Football Building on the State College campus on Wednesday, hoping to talk to Nittany Lions' players in hopes of getting them to jump ship.
Kline: Myers said Kline is keeping his options open at this point. Thus far, Myers said Kline has received scholarship offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Purdue, Northern Illinois, Bowling Green, West Virginia and others.
"What do you say in a situation like this?" Myers said. "I said you
Baublitz: The other York County native on the Penn State roster, defensive lineman Kyle Baublitz, has apparently decided to stay at Penn State. Central York football coach Brad Livingston confirmed Wednesday that the former Panthers' standout is staying with the school. Baublitz reportedly confirmed that on a Facebook message.
As a redshirt freshman last season, Baublitz saw his first playing time on the field on defense and special teams in all 13 of Penn State's games.
He has three years of eligibility remaining with the Nittany Lions. Baublitz was moved to defensive tackle after spring practice.
Eligible: Kline, meanwhile, still has four years of eligibility left after redshirting in his freshman season a year ago.
With the NCAA handing down a four-year bowl ban on the program, and the Big Ten Conference prohibiting Penn State from competing for a conference title in the next four seasons, Kline would not get a chance to compete in postseason play should he opt to stay with the Nittany Lions.
The NCAA clarified Wednesday that as long as players don't practice with Penn State between now and the start of the 2013 season, they can jump schools without penalty. Opposing coaches may contact players until Penn State's first day of classes on Aug. 27.
Myers said he's unsure of a timetable as to when Kline will make a decision on his future.
"What I can tell you right now is I think he's still keeping some options open. That's all I can really say for now," he said.
-- Reach John Walk at jwalk@yorkdispatch.com.
