Directly or delicately, the poaching of Nittany Lions will happen

CHICAGO - Thursday was perhaps the dreariest Big Ten football Media Day that's ever been.

That stood to figure, since this is the grimmest off-season in Big Ten football history. That, of course, is thanks to the conviction of former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky on sex-abuse crimes, the findings of the Freeh Report, and the NCAA and Big Ten penalties assessed to Penn State this week as a result.

Normally, the coaches of the other 11 Big Ten schools would simply have offered their sympathy about the whole atrocity, and moved on to tell everyone how excited they were about the coming year and how hard their players have worked since January.

But the NCAA gave Penn State's players free agency. They can even transfer to a fellow Big Ten program right now, without penalty.

If every coach wasn't already going to be asked if they would seek to add players from the Nittany Lions, it was guaranteed Wednesday when it was learned Illinois sent a squadron of assistant coaches to State College Wednesday to try to make contact with Penn State players.

“We went to two establishments outside campus and called some individuals and if they wanted to come by, it was their opportunity to come by,” said first-year Illinois Coach Tim Beckman.

“We're just following the rules of the NCAA. We provided Penn State with the names of the people that, prior to us even going there.”

It all seems unseemly. It further illustrates what the hunger to win will cause some people to do. Or in the case of Joe Paterno and some Penn State high-ranking administrators, what they won't do.

Thursday's scoreboard: Big Ten coaches who would take players from Penn State: 8. Those who would not: 3.

Those in the minority are Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald, Michigan's Brady Hoke and Wisconsin's Bret Bielema.

“No way, shape or form,” Fitzgerald said.

“I'm not casting doubt on anybody or questioning anything, but we made a decision that we would not actively pursue any Penn State players,” said Bielema.

“And it wasn't anything more than I have a group of 105 players that are reporting on August 5th that I want them to understand and believe that I think they can help us win another championship. And to bring someone in at this point so close to the season, I just wasn't comfortable with it.”

If, however, Bielema had an immediate need at quarterback and could land an eligible graduated senior from an ACC program a la Russell Wilson, well …

Most of the coaches on the other side of the coin used careful wording. Like Iowa's Kirk Ferentz.

“I think first and foremost, everybody needs to be compliant,” Ferentz said. “I think after that, it's a matter of people doing what they feel is appropriate. And that's what we try to do as much as possible. We'll try to continue to do the same moving forward.”

The Iowa stance is it won't pursue any Penn State players looking to transfer, but would be receptive if a player approaches the program. Penn State coach Bill O'Brien said Wednesday that Ferentz was among the coaches who called him to let him know about potential recruitment.

It's a delicate thing, trying to establish a gentlemanly protocol when you have NCAA clearance to raid another team's roster.

Purdue's Danny Hope was about as candid as he could be when he said “As long as we're compliant, we're going to exercise every opportunity we can to enhance our own football team.”

A couple dozen Penn State players have pledged to stay put. But standout running back Silas Redd, who reportedly met with USC Coach Lane Kiffin Thursday, isn't among them.

There will surely be some Penn State underclassmen who transfer, perhaps more after the 2012 season than before it. Some will probably turn up on other Big Ten rosters.

Ultimately, what's the difference if they go to a school that sent an office-full of salesman to their town or if the player and his new coach kept their interest muted before announcing their new relationship?

Either way, the schools that take players away from Penn State are making a simple and honest statement, whether they make it directly or not. Which is:

“Hey, we're trying to win here.”

Better to do that by poaching players than covering up felonies.