The clamor from a small but vocal minority for men's basketball coach Jerry Dunn to be dismissed has reached a level of incivility which must be addressed. Lost in their histrionic appeals are the real facts about this team and the history of Penn State basketball and the state of other programs.

First, the program has attracted high quality individuals of character and integrity because that is a reflection of Coach Dunn. We have not had the rampant examples of members of our basketball team getting drunk, destroying property, getting arrested, battering women, getting into brawls or having their college work done by others as other programs have had. In short, we have a clean program. One that thinking people should be proud of.

Second, in case the mob hadn't noticed, we have a very young team. Perhaps the forgetful do not recall that Coach Dunn took another young team and molded them into teams that went to the NIT and the NCAA. It was Coach Dunn who took a tall, skinny, unpolished young player named Calvin Booth and turned him into a pro in the NBA. If those who think with their mouths and their signs would look, they would see that this team with Riley, Summers, Johnson and others is the nucleus for an excellent and exciting team that has to grow and learn. The record shows that Coach Dunn is an excellent teacher to those who want to learn.

Finally, if one really wants to deliver a message to Coach Dunn, don't lurk in the anonymity of the crowd. Visit Coach Dunn at his office and voice your displeasure, your desire to have him replaced and explain your reasoned rationale. I am sure it will sound very much like the voices of two years ago who were saying that Coach Paterno should hang it up because he wasn't able to mold a young team into a winner. Look at the genius he became this year.

Any one who considers themselves a "fan" of Penn State athletics should realize the damage this clamor does to this team and to future basketball teams at Penn State.