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Lubrano Speaks: Trustee Anthony Lubrano is scared of the way medical care of the student-athletes is now being handled at Penn State in response to the Sports Illustrated article published today. In a move to a more NFL-style of player treatment, Lubrano says that players may be rushed onto the field quicker than they should be.
"Is that a risk we're willing to take?"
More on that in a bit.
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Penn State Responds: In a press release, Jeff Nelson, sports information director for the football team, released statistics of how other teams across college football deal with physicians and surgeons being available to student-athletes throughout the week. The SI article brought into question the fact that Scott Lynch, who replaced Wayne Sebastianelli as the team's orthopedic surgeon, would only be in State College on Wednesdays through the season.
Football Physician In-Season Coverage
Penn State
- Primary care physician attends all practices and games. On Sunday, examines every player whoplayed in the game previous day and any others in need of attention.
- Orthopedic physician attends at least one practice each week (Wed.) and all games. Available post-practice Monday, Tuesday and Thursday if necessary. On Sunday, is available to examine all players.
Iowa
- Primary care physician is available to attend practice and see players post-practice Monday-Friday. On Sunday, is available to examine all players.
- Orthopedic physician is available post-practice Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. On Sunday, is available to examine all players.
LSU
- Primary care physician available post-practice Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. On Sunday, is available to examine all players.
- Orthopedic physician available post-practice Tuesday and Wednesday. On Sunday, is available to examine all players.
Michigan State
- Primary care physician is available to attend practice and see players post-practice Monday-Friday. On Sunday, is available to examine all players.
- Orthopedic physician is available post-practice Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. On Sunday, is available to examine all players.
Northwestern
- Primary care physician is available to attend practice and see players post-practice Monday-Friday. On Sunday, is available to examine all players.
- Orthopedic physician is available post-practice once or twice a week. On Sunday, is available to examine all players.
Nebraska
- Primary care physician is available to attend practice and see players post-practice Monday-Friday. On Sunday, is available to examine all players.
- Orthopedic physician is available post-practice Tuesday and Wednesday. On Sunday, is available to examine all players.
New statements were also put out from the university, Dr. Harold Paz and AD Dave Joyner:
Statement from Penn State on Sports Illustrated article:
To characterize the medical care Penn State provides our student-athletes as anything other than the highest quality is erroneous. Access to urgent and quality care for our athletes is no less than where it was at any point in the past 20 years. We provided Sports Illustrated with facts and data that demonstrate our commitment to our student athletes and how we compare to other peer institutions. Instead, the article sensationalizes in order to insinuate lower standards and largely ignores statements from the Dean of the College of Medicine.
Contrary to the reporter's assertions, Dr. Sebastianelli remains the doctor in charge of the University's entire medical program for intercollegiate athletics, including football. Further, there has been no change in the support provided by State College-based Penn State orthopedic surgeons, including Dr. Sebastianelli.
The article fundamentally distorts the facts. There has been no change in the model of medical care for our student athletes. The allegations on why the change in team physician was made is ludicrous. Worst of all, the article ignores the fact that Dr. Sebastianelli remains the doctor in charge of the University's entire medical program for intercollegiate athletics, including football. In addition, the university athletic trainer reported directly to Dr. Sebastianelli, who supervised the trainer's work. A review shows Penn State's medical coverage is on par with, or exceeds, peer institutions.
Dr. Harold Paz, senior vice president for Health Affairs, Chief Executive Officer, Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Dean of the College of Medicine:
The article suggests that the quality of care provided to Penn State student athletes has been jeopardized by a change in team physicians. It simply isn't the case. Drs. Seidenberg and Lynch, the physicians now responsible for the day-to-day care of Penn State football players are both experienced clinicians, fellowship-trained in Sports Medicine and committed to providing expert medical care to our students athletes.
Any suggestion that care is being compromised by the change in physician assignments is both unsubstantiated and incorrect.
The article further suggests that Dr. Sebastianelli is no longer playing a role in supporting the University's athletic teams. In fact, as Director of Athletic Medicine, Dr. Sebastianelli remains the doctor in charge of the University's entire medical program for intercollegiate athletics.
Dave Joyner, Director of Athletics:
As athletic director for Penn State my first priority is the welfare of our student-athletes. All decisions are, and have been, made with that first and foremost as the goal. Any changes that were made were done for, and only for, the benefit of the student-athletes, the football program, and for Penn State. Any characterization otherwise is appalling, offensive, preposterous and completely untrue. Change is never easy, but that won't prevent us from doing the right thing for our student-athletes.
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Bill O'Brien Gets Angry: The Penn State coach appeared on College Football Live and then held a conference call about an hour later to respond to the article. It wouldn't be wrong to say that O'Brien was perturbed that he had to come out and deal with the article in question. Here are a collection of tweets from the call:
O'Brien says he spent "a lot" of time on the phone Sunday with SI and wasn't quoted once in article.
— Ben Jones (@Ben_Jones88) May 15, 2013
O'Brien says health and safety of his players isn't "Near, or around" the top of his list of priorities. It is at the top.
— Ben Jones (@Ben_Jones88) May 15, 2013
Bill O'Brien called the @sinow article "preposterous" in a phone conference. Says Penn State would never jeopardize player safety.
— Onward State (@OnwardState) May 15, 2013
O'Brien: "We are at 65 scholarships. You think for one second I would jeaopardize the health of a player?"
— Anna Orso (@anna_orso) May 15, 2013
"That article was a character assassination on Dave Joyner. That's all it was." O'Brien is yelling on this conference call.
— Onward State (@OnwardState) May 15, 2013
O'Brien calls Dave Joyner a "first-class person." Goes ballistic when asked about vendetta against Joyner.
— Scott Brown (@ScottBrown_Trib) May 15, 2013
Tells reporter: "Don't put words in my mouth."
— Scott Brown (@ScottBrown_Trib) May 15, 2013
O'Brien is going in on Anthony Lubrano's comments today. Says Lubrano can't comment on something "He knows nothing about"
— Ben Jones (@Ben_Jones88) May 15, 2013
"If there's someone out there trying to undermine us they need to look in the mirror.Why would you try to undermine something that is good?"
— Onward State (@OnwardState) May 15, 2013
O'Brien on cutting off press conference: "I've got my son's Little League game in 15 minutes. If I'm late for that I might be divorced."
— York Daily Record (@YDRPennState) May 15, 2013
Ben Jones was also kind enough to provide the Internet with audio of Bill O'Brien yelling a lot. Enjoy!
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Finally: A Sports Illustrated spokesperson spoke with Daily Collegian reporter Anna Orso and said that the story was objective and well-sourced and that they stand behind it 100 percent.
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