Updated: July 24, 2012, 3:45 PM ET
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[h=5]Bill O'Brien Vows To Fight For Penn State[/h]
Bill O'Brien Vows To Fight For Penn State [h=6]NEXT VIDEO
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Penn State Nittany Lions coach Bill O'Brien is stressing education and the opportunity to play in front of 108,000 fans every fall Saturday as he tries to convince his players not to transfer.
O'Brien in a conference call with reporters Tuesday said no current member of the team has indicated they will transfer following the NCAA sanctions imposed on Penn State. The penalties allow current players to transfer immediately without restrictions.
"I have been very up front with these kids," O'Brien said. "There's a lot of passion. We've got a lot of stand-up young men."
Penn State also has a four-year postseason ban, but O'Brien equated home contests at massive Beaver Stadium to playing in bowl games six or seven times a year. O'Brien says it's important Penn State will remain on TV.
"We get to start our season on Sept. 1 in front of 108,000 strong and I couldn't feel better about that," O'Brien said.
[h=4]Mike and Mike in the Morning[/h] ESPN's Brent Musburger explains why he was disappointed by the NCAA's punishment of Penn State and more.
More Podcasts »
Senior linebacker Michael Mauti told Gary Laney of GeauxTigerNation that "every school in the country" has contacted Penn State's players to gauge their level of interest in leaving.
"I can really only speak for myself, and I'm staying," Mauti told Laney. "But I think our core guys are sticking together, too."
One of those core players, senior defensive tackle Jordan Hill, told ESPN.com's Jared Shanker that he has not talked with any other programs and that he plans to finish his career at Penn State.
"I haven't picked up the phone if I don't know the number," said Hill, an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection last season. "I haven't picked up the phone."
One player who has drawn national interest is running back Silas Redd, the Nittany Lions' leading rusher last season.
USC already has notified Penn State of its interest in Redd, a source told ESPN's Joe Schad on Monday. Redd has met with O'Brien, who sources say has stressed to players that they can still play games and still appear on television.
Mauti, a fifth-year senior, said he didn't understand why the NCAA would sanction the current players for issues from the past.
"Who's getting punished here, besides us?" he said. "I don't understand what that does."
But Mauti remained steadfast that the unprecedented sanctions should not be a reflection of the current players' actions.
"This is not our fault, not our burden," Mauti said. "I'm sure some guys are looking to go (elsewhere). But I can tell you right now, the core guys are sticking together. This is not our fault."
The drastic sanctions also are expected to impact Penn State's ability to recruit.
Cornerback Ross Douglas, a four-star recruit in the Class of 2013, already has withdrawn his commitment from Penn State.
An Ohio native, Douglas confirmed Tuesday that he has committed to Michigan but would not discuss his decision to decommit from Penn State.
Joe Schad is a college football reporter for ESPN. Information from GeauxTigerNation's Gary Laney, RecruitingNation's Jared Shanker and The Associated Press was used in this report.
ESPN.com news services
[h=5]Bill O'Brien Vows To Fight For Penn State[/h]
Bill O'Brien Vows To Fight For Penn State [h=6]NEXT VIDEO
- Bill O'Brien Vows To Fight For Penn State [h=5]Bill O'Brien Vows To Fight For Penn State[/h]
- O'Brien Reacts To NCAA Sanctions [h=5]O'Brien Reacts To NCAA Sanctions[/h]
- NCAA Announces PSU Sanctions [h=5]NCAA Announces PSU Sanctions[/h]
- Penn State Responds [h=5]Penn State Responds[/h] Rodney Erickson, Dave Joyner and Karen Peetz on Penn State sanctions.
Penn State Nittany Lions coach Bill O'Brien is stressing education and the opportunity to play in front of 108,000 fans every fall Saturday as he tries to convince his players not to transfer.
O'Brien in a conference call with reporters Tuesday said no current member of the team has indicated they will transfer following the NCAA sanctions imposed on Penn State. The penalties allow current players to transfer immediately without restrictions.
"I have been very up front with these kids," O'Brien said. "There's a lot of passion. We've got a lot of stand-up young men."
Penn State also has a four-year postseason ban, but O'Brien equated home contests at massive Beaver Stadium to playing in bowl games six or seven times a year. O'Brien says it's important Penn State will remain on TV.
"We get to start our season on Sept. 1 in front of 108,000 strong and I couldn't feel better about that," O'Brien said.
[h=4]Mike and Mike in the Morning[/h] ESPN's Brent Musburger explains why he was disappointed by the NCAA's punishment of Penn State and more.
More Podcasts »
Senior linebacker Michael Mauti told Gary Laney of GeauxTigerNation that "every school in the country" has contacted Penn State's players to gauge their level of interest in leaving.
"I can really only speak for myself, and I'm staying," Mauti told Laney. "But I think our core guys are sticking together, too."
One of those core players, senior defensive tackle Jordan Hill, told ESPN.com's Jared Shanker that he has not talked with any other programs and that he plans to finish his career at Penn State.
"I haven't picked up the phone if I don't know the number," said Hill, an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection last season. "I haven't picked up the phone."
One player who has drawn national interest is running back Silas Redd, the Nittany Lions' leading rusher last season.
USC already has notified Penn State of its interest in Redd, a source told ESPN's Joe Schad on Monday. Redd has met with O'Brien, who sources say has stressed to players that they can still play games and still appear on television.
Mauti, a fifth-year senior, said he didn't understand why the NCAA would sanction the current players for issues from the past.
"Who's getting punished here, besides us?" he said. "I don't understand what that does."
But Mauti remained steadfast that the unprecedented sanctions should not be a reflection of the current players' actions.
"This is not our fault, not our burden," Mauti said. "I'm sure some guys are looking to go (elsewhere). But I can tell you right now, the core guys are sticking together. This is not our fault."
The drastic sanctions also are expected to impact Penn State's ability to recruit.
Cornerback Ross Douglas, a four-star recruit in the Class of 2013, already has withdrawn his commitment from Penn State.
An Ohio native, Douglas confirmed Tuesday that he has committed to Michigan but would not discuss his decision to decommit from Penn State.
Joe Schad is a college football reporter for ESPN. Information from GeauxTigerNation's Gary Laney, RecruitingNation's Jared Shanker and The Associated Press was used in this report.