Paterno statue being removed in the early hours of Sunday morning

Penn State has finally made a decision, one that has been a long time coming according to many inside and outside of the Penn State community, as early this morning construction workers began the process of removing the statue located in front of Beaver Stadium.

In a statement released this morning Penn State president Rodney Erickson stated: 

Since we learned of the Grand Jury presentment and the charges against Jerry Sandusky and University officials last November, members of the Penn State community and the public have been made much more acutely aware of the tragedy of child sexual abuse. Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to those victims of Mr. Sandusky and all other victims of child abuse. I assure you that Penn State will take a national leadership role in the detection and prevention of child maltreatment in the months and years ahead.

With the release of Judge Freeh’s Report of the Special Investigative Counsel, we as a community have had to confront a failure of leadership at many levels. The statue of Joe Paterno outside Beaver Stadium has become a lightning rod of controversy and national debate, including the role of big time sports in university life. The Freeh Report has given us a great deal to reflect upon and to consider, including Coach Paterno’s legacy.

Throughout Penn State, the two most visible memorials to Coach Paterno are the statue at Beaver Stadium and the Paterno Library. The future of these two landmarks has been the topic of heated debate and many messages have been received in various University offices, including my own. We have heard from numerous segments of the Penn State community and others, many of whom have differing opinions. These are particularly important decisions when considering things that memorialize such a revered figure.

I now believe that, contrary to its original intention, Coach Paterno’s statue has become a source of division and an obstacle to healing in our University and beyond. For that reason, I have decided that it is in the best interest of our university and public safety to remove the statue and store it in a secure location. I believe that, were it to remain, the statue will be a recurring wound to the multitude of individuals across the nation and beyond who have been the victims of child abuse.

For the full statement including the reasoning behind allowing the Paterno Library to stay the Paterno Library, go here.

Along with the statement by Penn State it has been announced that the NCAA will hold a 9amET press conference to announce "corrective and punitive measures" against Penn State University and it's athletic program. Both ESPN and CBSSports are reporting that the penalties will be significant, with one source stating "I've never seen anything like it," and CBS News stating the penalties will be "unprecedented" in nature. 

For full coverage of the NCAA press conference as well as the follow up make sure you follow me on Twitter @andycoppens and by going to Crystal Ball Run for a national perspective on things. Also head over to our friends at The Nittany Lions Den for their coverage from a Penn State perspective. Until tomorrow, enjoy your Sunday!

It's been a long wait for two former Badger big men, but it finally appears as if both Greg Stiemsma and Jon Leuer have NBA homes. 

For Leuer it's been a hard and trying off-season as he was traded from Milwaukee to Houston on the eve of the NBA Draft and then earlier this week was waived by the Rockets, leaving him homeless in the association. 

It didn't last long though as Leuer confirmed via Twitter that he'll be joining the Cleveland Cavaliers for the upcoming season.

After a crazy couple weeks for me, I'm excited to be the newest member of the Cleveland Cavaliers!!!

— Jon Leuer (@JLeu30) July 21, 2012

For Stiemsma it wasn't a matter of if, but where after having a pretty successful season with the Boston Celtics. He was a restricted free agent and signed an offer sheet with the Minnesota Timberwolves according to multiple reports. Boston is not expected to match the offer sheet and will let Stiemsma, a Wisconsin native return to the Midwest and to his first NBA home with the Timberwolves. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Keep up to date with all things Badgers basketball and Badgers in the NBA by following our basketball reporter @colewbrown on Twitter and our account @MTBadgers as well. 

We took you to the famed blue track of Drake in our last look into the MTB College Sports Bucket List and today we take you to a game that shouldn't need much of an introduction, it's simply known as "The Big Game."

No. 46 - Cal vs. Stanford (FBS Football): 

If you're calling your rivalry "The Big Game" there's got to be a reason behind it, right? Well for Cal and Stanford it's because it was coined for the Thanksgiving Day game of 1900. 

Cal vs. Stanford is the 10th longest rivalry in NCAA football, but it hasn't been consecutively played with both teams dropping football starting in 1906 and finally getting teams back in 1919. The only other break since then was for WWII from 1943-1945. Since 1946 it's become one of college football's most unique and special games. Since that time they have annually played for the Standford Axe.

Up until recently it's a game that was always played at the end of the season, usually in late November/early December, but with the advent of the Pac-12 conference the game has moved around on the calendar and no longer is the last game of the season for these teams.

With the longevity of this rivalry it's become one of, if not the, most bitter rivalry in the Pac-12 conference. Simply put these two schools compete and hate each other in everything. I'm talking water polo, basketball, volleyball, and hell... even the newspapers of the schools play each other in a game of touch football for supremacy. Ya, it's that hardcore of a rivalry.

The big news coming out of Madison on Friday revolved around defensive lineman Jordan Kohout, the junior from Waupun announced the end of his playing career due to health issues brought on by migraine headaches.

The Badgers added some much needed athleticsm to their 2013 class by getting a commit from Minnetonka, Minnesota native Riley Dearring. Badgers assistant coach Greg Gard has been recruiting Dearring and got a chance to look at him the past two days right here in Wisconsin. Dearring and his AAU team "Net Gain" has been playing at the Under Armour Summer Jam 2K12 at Homestead High School. 

Well, Gard must have really liked what he saw, because this morning he offered Dearring. Before a game Thursday afternoon Dearring was in his hotel room making a call. That call was to Gard, letting him know he wanted to be a Badger. 

Here's a reaction straight from Dearring's twitter account. He has been retweeting people congratulating him all day.

All the blood, sweat, and tears finally paid off! Gotta keep working! Thanks everyone for all the support! #Badgers

— riley dearring (@R_24_Dearring) July 19, 2012

Dearring measures at 6'4" and 170 pounds. He is unranked by rivals, but was previously rated the 19th best small forward in the 2013 class. Dearring attends DeLasallee high school in the Minneapolis area. He currently plays small forward but is a tad bit too small for the 3 in college ball. He'll probably play a combo of shooting guard and small forward for the Badgers, joining point guard Bronson Koenig as the 2nd 2013 in the Badgers' backcourt.

What struck Gard about Dearring? Well first of all, Dearring is extremley athletic. Wisconsin is a program that is highly criticized for throwing out stiffs out on the court and running their slow, boring, low tempo offense. Well, this kid should help minimize that. If he ever finds his way out on the court he'll provide explosive drives. He's pretty good at getting to the rim and is a skilled finisher. The Badgers haven't had a premiere go-to offensive option since Alando Tucker in 2007, so this offering could be aimed at that. I'm not saying Dearring is the next Alando Tucker, I'm saying he'll be a big help on the offensive end for the Badgers.

One negative of Dearring is that sometimes he can find himself getting out of control which leads to high turnover rates. He also has a tendencie to take bad shots. I wouldn't worry about those two problems right now as he still has another year to mature and get better. Plus, if anyone can stop those bad tendencies, it's Bo Ryan and his staff. The effeciency and IQ that's needed to play in Bo's system is something Dearring will have to develop if he wants to get minutes.

The one headscratcher of this offering is the Badgers' depth at shooting guard. Brust and Gasser are on board for 2 more years while incoming freshman Zac Showalter will have 4, possibly 5 years left at UW. While Dearring is a bit undersized, the depth at shooting guard could be an indication that the Badgers are bringing him in to play his current position, small forward.

Overall, this was a good signing for the Badgers. I see Dearring as a hit or miss prospect. When he's on, he's an elite scorer and can carry an offense. But when he's having a bad day he can be a nightmare. He certainly does have a big upside and a bright future if he keeps up the hard work. He will certainly be a very interesting project for Bo Ryan and company, as it's not every day athletic scoring wings choose Wisconsin. Riley Deaerring is definetly a risk, but the potential reward could be very well worth it.

Coming at you for our first full hour Badgers Power Hour of the Summer Sessions, in fact it's our last of the Summer Sessions! We discussed a lot of fun topics and gave you the fan some breaking recruiting news that no other site has as of yet! 

Guests and Topics were: 

Carly Piper (former Badger swimmer & Olympic Gold Medalist)

• Her Olympic experience
• Are the stories of the Olympic Village true?
• What are her thoughts on who to watch for in the pool this year

Allen Trieu (Scout.com's Midwest Recruiting Manager)

• What's up with no QB in the 2013 class
• The chances of David Williams landing at Wisconsin
• Rob Wheelwright & his movement up the charts
• Who's looking good for 2014 class

Our own Andy & Arman discussed the following topics:

• The newest member of the 2013 basketball class
• Football Scheduling Issues
• Snubs & Surprises on Watch Lists
• What's coming on the site & much more!

Don't want to miss an episode or have to manually download it? Then don't forget to download the free Sticher - Smart Radio app for your mobile device or computer. Use the code "Badgers" and you could win  a $100 cash card!

Hey, guess what, we've finally hit another event! Not just a rivalry game or some conference matchup, but an out and out event in the Drake Relays.

Before we get to the event and it's reason for being so high on the list, let's not not forget about what's been highlighted already this week at No. 49 and No. 48 from earlier this week.

No. 47: Drake Relays (Track & Field): 

O.k., this one could technically not fall under the NCAA as there are some of the worlds best professional athletes competing, but the majority of this event surrounds what happens on the collegiate side of things, so for that it qualifies in my book. 

The famed blue track of Drake has been annually hosting one of the best and biggest meets on the college track & field schedule. It's been going on since it's inception in 1910 where around 100 spectators and 100 athletes took part in something that is now a century old. 

Yippie, it's old and stuff, but what makes it unique and worthy of a Top 50 slot? Sure there are plenty of meets out there where people are running fast, jumping high, and throwing far, but there is no other atmosphere like the one surrounding the Drake Relays. 

For Des Moines, IA and the Drake University community it's a chance to annually showcase itself for the entire world to see. Alumni come back to the university in droves, fans from across the world descend on Des Moines, and the community comes out in full support. 

While the actual sporting event itself is important, it's actually become part of a larger celebration, one that has often stretched over three weekends. Of course it really helps when your major scene area (University Ave.) is located just down the street from the venue at hand. 

The Drake relays aren't just about Track & Field, it's truly become a celebration and what happens off the track is perhaps more fun than what is happening on the track at times. It's simply hard to describe if you haven't been to one or witnessed one of these events with your own eyes through some media coverage.

Oh, and it's even become a place for you to show off your best cars. It's really an event where you can find and do just about anything while also enjoying some of the best track & field athletes in the world.

Today you can expect about 8,000 or so athletes competing and many, many more fans in the stands and around the stadium having fun and creating one of the most unique atmospheres in all of track & field. It's something you really have to experience to totally understand and because of it's unique mix of entertainment and sports it ranks inside our Top 50.

In the state of Utah there are three teams, but to fans of Utah and BYU there is only one game that matters most each year and that's Utah vs. BYU - the so called "Holy War" between the state university and the Mormon religion based university. However, we're not here to talk about the "Holy War" football game like you'd be thinking - in reality it's basketball that's king between these two schools. 

No. 48 - BYU vs. Utah (D1 Basketball): 

Sure football is a very bitter game between these two, but it's on it's death bed as 2014 and 2015 see the game off the schedule and it's not the first time these two haven't played. Add in that they aren't conference foes and the game takes on less importance with each passing year.

What some people may not realize is this is a sporting rivalry that wouldn't exist had it not been for basketball. The schools have met on an annual basis on the hardwood since 1909, just over a century of non-stop play between the schools that are just 60 miles apart from each other. 

From 1922 to 2010 these schools got a chance to heat this basketball rivalry up because they were members of the same conferences during that time. Since the Cougars left for the West Coast Conference and the Utes went off to the Pac-12 things aren't changing unlike in the football game as the basketball game isn't in jeopardy of being lost.

Roster changes continue to be the headline of the offseason for the Wisconsin men’s hockey team.

On Tuesday it became official that forward Jason Clark will leave Madison to pursue a professional career. The Minnesota native is in the final stages of negotiating a three-year, entry level, deal with the New York Islanders

Before coming to Wisconsin, Clark was a third round selection of the Islanders in 2010.  His two seasons in Madison were plagued by injury and the numbers showed that. In 35 games, Clark tallied just two points.

A year removed from surgery on both hips, Clark insists that his health is not an issue. However, it is possible that his troubled health history played a factor in his decision to sign a professional deal now, rather than later.

According to multiple reports, the decision was mulled over meticulously for an extended period of time.

The first step in Clark’s journey will be to secure a spot with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL.

Clark is the fifth Badger to leave the program since the conclusion of the 2011-12 season. Defenseman Justin Schultz signed a deal with the Edmonton Oilers, while Mitch Thompson, Tyler Lapic and Patrick Daly opted for the Division III level.

I know... two Scoops in a two day period.... What's going on, right? Well, it's about that time of year when the news becomes a bit crazier and more frequent. So, let's dig into the latest scoop, huh?

Up first is Wisconsin wide receiver Jared Abbrederis, who made the Biletnikoff Award watch list. Wonder when the last time a walk-on went all the way to the Biletnikoff Award watch list? It actually happened just one season ago when Patrick Edwards from Houston was named, even making the Semi-Finalist list.

Yesterday we highlighted the fact that Chirs Borland was named to the Butkus Award (best linebacker) watch list. Personally, I was really surprised fellow linebacker Mike Taylor wasn't on the list and apparently I wasn't the only one. Tom Mulhern of the Wisconsin State Journal says there is no excuse for leaving him off the list and I agree totally. The guy was 3rd in the nation in tackles last season, right? How does that alone not make you one of the best linebackers in the nation? Last time I checked it's what linebackers are there to do - make tackles!

Sticking with football ESPN's Big Ten Blog continued their position by position rankings in the conference with the QB units. Amazingly Wisconsin didn't finish at the bottom (thanks Penn State), but it wasn't in the top half either :( 

Sticking with the ESPN theme it was the individual QB's and Wisconsin's Danny O'Brien landed at No. 6 on the list. Sorry, behind Taylor Martinez and MarQuies Gray? Just wondering if Bennett bothered to see anything these two did last year? Look, it's possible and probable that they are going to improve, but don't you also think it's possible that O'Brien will improve with a better team in front of him too? I'll gladly take O'Brien over Martinez for sure as a pure QB any day of the week, anytime of the week.

In case you missed it your Rose Bowl New Years Day tradition will be viewed on ESPN for the foreseeable future, having inked a deal through the 2026 game.

And now from the completely absurd, yet totally up the college sports geek's ally... SI's Andy Staples gives us a mock draft of college football players and boy oh boy did it get interesting. Wisconsin's Montee Ball went 12th while the likes of Ricky Wagner, Travis Fredrick, and Chris Borland all go. As for Wisconsin... not shockingly it's drafting an offensive lineman and it's LSU's Alex Hurst.

Usually we reserve all of our wonderful words at the scoop for the Badgers, but we can't let this one go... Paternoville has become Nittanyville and I say THANK GOD. Apparently some students and at least one blogger aren't fans of the name change.... gee, who didn't see that coming? Seriously pathetic in my book. If only on the field accomplishments matter in life we've got some serious issues as a society. You don't get to have one or the other, they are related, sorry to say.

Finally, we'd like to announce our first partner here at MTB and it's the fine folks over at Gameday Goods! Please check them out as they have some awesome Badgers related gear and memorabilia for your collection. Oh, and you can even save 10% off your purchase with the code on the picture to your left!