Just hours after Penn State students took to the streets of State College in the wake Joe Paterno's ouster as head coach, Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne called for and was granted extra security for Saturday's game at Beaver Stadium.
"We have visited with Penn State security and we understand they are enhancing their security efforts for Saturday's game and are taking extra precautions to ensure that all players, coaches and fans are treated in a respectful way," Osborne said in a statement released by the school. "We also appreciate that there is a student-led effort at Penn State to respectfully welcome Nebraska fans to Beaver Stadium and into the Big Ten Conference. We know that our fans will reciprocate and display good sportsmanship toward Penn State's fans and players."
Can you blame Nebraska for having concerns? Students took to the streets and became raucous - and in some cases violent - during their protests, which were shown nonstop on every major news channel, sports or otherwise.
Nebraska regent Tim Clare brought initial concerns to light after watching footage of Wednesday evening's events in State College, which included students overturning a television news truck, bringing down light posts and hurling rocks. No injuries were reported and despite lots of damage and some pepper-sprayed students, the disturbance was adjourned peaceably.
Still, the actions of some students caused concern for Nebraska players, coaches and staff for what will be the first game in which Paterno has not coached in 61 years and 704 games.
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Graham Watson is on Facebook and Twitter: Follow her @Yahoo_Graham.
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