Officials decided the song could be awkward in light of the Jerry Sandusky child-sex scandal.
View full sizePenn State fans wear white as they fill Beaver Stadium to show their support for the Nittany Lions as they face Iowa in a game in Sept. 2009 in State College, Pa.Penn State’s home opener on Saturday will be missing a game-day staple: “Sweet Caroline.”
The Altoona Mirror reports that school officials decided to remove Neil Diamond’s sing-along hit from the Beaver Stadium playlist because of lyrics that include: “Hands, touching hands, reaching out, touching me, touching you.”
The song could be awkward in light of the Jerry Sandusky child-sex scandal.
However, Associate Athletic Director Greg Myford says that while the lyrics were discussed, “Sweet Caroline” had been on the bubble for several years because the song has no real connection to Penn State. He says “it simply became easier to rotate out in order to try something else.”
The 1969 anthem is a tradition at many sporting events. The Boston Red Sox play it at every home game.
Diamond has said he wrote the song in tribute to President John F. Kennedy’s daughter, Caroline Kennedy.