Ferentz-to-Penn State? No way

I'm ignoring the stunningly sordid aspects of the Penn State scandal for one post. Which, I grant you, is like going to a zoo and ignoring the animals.  What follows are trivialities when compared to the reason Joe Paterno was fired as Penn State's football coach Wednesday night.

1. No, Iowa's Kirk Ferentz isn't going to consider becoming Penn State's next coach.

How many reasons do you need other than no established coach on solid ground would want to move into that job under the current circumstances?

Ferentz is 56. With a son who is a starter on Iowa's team. With another son playing high school ball in Iowa City who, for all we know, could also play at Iowa.

You all know Ferentz's total compensation is in the $3.8 million ballpark. Joe Paterno's total compensation package at Penn State last year was $1.02 million. Not that the school won't pony up big for a coach (it will have to), but that would be some kind of leap.

But this isn't about salary. It's about sanity. And to make that move would be nuts given the rebuilding that will need to be done in more ways than just filling out a roster.

2. Iowa could go to a better bowl game than its record would support because of the Penn State incident.

Like I said, trivialities. But all news is local, so ... let's say Penn State drops two or all of its final three games (very possible) to finish 8-4 or 9-3, and let's say Iowa ends up 7-5 or 8-4. There has never before been a year when a bowl game would take an Iowa team with a poorer record than a Penn State team. But do you want to be the bowl that gets Penn State? Maybe you do.

There certainly would be publicity. It might mean a television ratings bonanza. But ... ehhh. Would Penn State fans travel to that game in droves or just want the thing to be over?

3. Nebraska, welcome to the Big Ten.

Ohio State's offseason scandal, wicked enough to get Jim Tressel fired, was just an unsavory hors d'oeuvre for the stunning events at Penn State.

Now you're playing a game Saturday at what had been billed as college football's paragon of virtue, and you're just props in a lurid and weird event Saturday at a suddenly misnamed place called Happy Valley.

4. What if Penn State wins the Leaders Division?

Hey, the Nittany Lions are capable of beating Nebraska Saturday and winning at Ohio State the following week. They certainly won't win at Wisconsin in the regular-season finale, but if they win the first two they're the Leaders champs.

Let's see. Penn State in the Big Ten championship game playing for the right to be the first winner of the Stagg-Paterno championship trophy? I'm guessing the league office would be OK with the Lions losing out.