CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - Virginia's players profess great empathy for what their counterparts at Penn State have been through in recent months.
That doesn't mean they want to beat them any less on Saturday at Scott Stadium.
It's the first road trip for the Nittany Lions (0-1) in their new era under coach Bill O'Brien, as well as the first since the NCAA levied landmark sanctions on the program, including a four-year bowl ban and significant scholarship cuts.
Penn State lost its home opener to Ohio, 24-14, last week and is 1-4 since retired defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was arrested last November on child sex abuse charges, a scandal that tossed this proud program into turmoil.
To make matters worse, the Nittany Lions lost several players when the NCAA this summer allowed them to transfer and play right away. That showed in the second half vs. Ohio, as Penn State's lack of depth allowed the Bobcats to rally from 11 points down.
All that said, Virginia tight end Paul Freedman says the Cavaliers (1-0) have to remember that it's still Penn State.
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