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Penn State athletic director Sandy Barbour on Thursday encouraged patience with the football program as it emerges from NCAA sanctions, saying she believes coach James Franklin is the long-term answer and that the program continues to reflect the positive values Joe Paterno instilled.Barbour told ESPN that there are factual realities about Penn State in the post-sanctions era make the on-field recovery slower than some expect. She also noted the initial predictions about the penalties Penn State incurred in 2012, which some described as worse than the so-called death penalty.Penn State hasnt had a losing season since the NCAA imposed sanctions, including major scholarship losses, but the Nittany Lions also havent challenged for the Big Ten title since their postseason ban was lifted.Franklin, in his third season at Penn State, is 17-14 and 7-11 in Big Ten play. He signed a six-year contract with Penn State in January 2014.I get theres a frustration with where we are, Barbour said. Id be worried if there wasnt. I want Penn State football to stand for excellence. Always has and always will. To some degree, I want our fans to be impatient, but I also want them to understand factual challenges.Barbour noted the slower recoveries of other programs facing scholarship losses -- Miami, Alabama, USC -- and noted that 77 of Penn States players have freshman or sophomore eligibility. Penn State returned to its full complement of scholarships this season. Strengthening her endorsement of Franklin last week to The Altoona (Pennsylvania) Mirror, Barbour told ESPN, Theres no doubt in my mind that James is going to be our football coach long term.We were so fortunate to have coach Paterno for so long, Barbour added. He helped shape Penn States values for so long. He was a huge part of it. James Franklin is embodying the same values: the academic piece, the social and cultural parts, the community service. The piece thats a little slow to come is the competitive piece.If we were having issues academically or graduation rate-wise or APR or having a lot of student-athletes getting in trouble in community, Id have the same criticisms and I wouldnt be able to defend it because we control those things.Barbour referenced Paternos grand experiment and program motto -- success with honor -- as things that live on today at Penn State. The school has received criticism for publicly acknowledging Paterno, its coach from 1966 until his firing in November 2011 amid the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.Penn State on Sept. 17 recognized the 50th anniversary of Paternos first game as coach and honored players from his 1966 team.What Im not challenged by is some of the really, really positive influences of Paterno, the things that hes a huge part of shaping over time Penn States values: a focus on academics, a focus on service, Barbour said. The challenge, given what Penn State has been through, is that at the same time, the Sandusky scandal and the tragedies of the young people who were victims, none of us go disconnected from that.Talking about some of the incredible things coach Paterno did and his legacy here is not mutually exclusive to being concerned about the health and welfare of the children, or being concerned about Jerry Sanduskys victims.Barbour has received mixed responses from Penn State fans since her initial endorsement of Franklin, which she expected.They need to take it as a body of work, she said. Are we showing progress? Where are we at the end of the season in terms of our development in a new offensive scheme? Where are we in the development of a really young defense? Where are we with the development of our student-athletes, the identity of the program.Those are the things our fans need to be looking at. Sione Takitaki Youth Jersey . 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Plouffe batted .254 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs in 477 at-bats last season, his second as a regular in the lineup.KAMLOOPS, B.C. -- Matt Walker missed all but the first game of the regular season with the UBC Thunderbirds in 2012 due to a major knee injury -- but the B.C. Lions drafted him anyway. Now, the defensive back is looking to prove the Lions made a good decision as he contends for a job at the CFL clubs training camp. "(The injury) has been a good learning curve, and its made me a better professional, I believe, because I know I cant control anything else," said Walker. "I have to control myself. And, I controlled my rehab, and I worked hard at it -- and Im here today." But to stick with the Lions, he will have to master an unfamiliar position quickly. The 21-year-old Vernon, B.C., native is in contention for a job at safety as the Lions look to replace Cauchy Muamba, who bolted to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as a free agent in the off-season. "When you look at our needs and the potential for the conversion to happen for him, I look at him as a free safety," said Lions coach Mike Benevides. "When you look at his speed and when you look at his heart and skill set, how he plays with a physical edge, thats where he has the best opportunity to compete." Before transferring to UBC, Walker played on offence in two seasons with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and his former Okanagan Sun junior team. At UBC, he briefly played defensive halfback. "Ive only played three games at safety in junior and two games at defensive halfback (with UBC)," said Walker, who also played an exhibition game with the Thunderbirds. "But I used to play quarterback and slotback. When I was running a (pass route), Id always be watching the safety to see what my read was going to be to beat the offence." Recalling his days on offence, Walker tries to go to the spots where he knows the receiver does not want the safety to be. But Benevides said Walker will also have to prove that he can earn a spot on special teams. Muamba also played special teams, and the Lions need to fill another hole on kicking units following James Yurichuks departure to the Toronto Argonauts as a free agent. Benevides has been impressed with what he has seen of Walker on the field thus far. The coach also liked the way he battled back from an injury that threatened his CFL career before it got started. "Theres a lot to be said for him fighting through a devastating knee injury," said Benevides. ";Hes done everything he has to (in order) to try and get an opportunity to be here.ddddddddddddquot; Walker was injured in the Thunderbirds season-opener against the Manitoba Bisons and spent several months recovering. He still managed to get healthy in time for all necessary CFL combine and Lions tryout camps as well as several other informal workouts that B.C. defensive backs coach Mark Washington put him through in advance of the draft. Used to going all out at everything, Walker struggled not to do too much too soon during the rehabilitation process. "You really have to stay in your shoes, because if you dont and you do something dumb, then youre going to miss your whole shot," said Walker. After watching him succeed in his recovery quest, the Lions provided a new one by drafting him in the sixth round, 50th overall. "When the opportunity came, we wanted more depth at the free safety position," said Benevides. "So (Walker) was a perfect pick ... ." Walker is in line for a backup role to Muambas anticipated replacement. J.R. LaRose, entering his fourth year with the Lions and eighth in the CFL, has the starters job for now, pending his performance in exhibition games in Calgary and at home against Edmonton before season opener against the Stampeders on June 28 back at McMahon Stadium. In addition to his desire and determination, the Lions like Walkers passport. The starting and backup safety spots are ticketed for Canadians as the team manages the nuances of the CFLs import and non-import ratio. Benevides said Walker also has a good chance to earn a spot because CFL teams are expanding their practice rosters to nine players from seven this season. The two extra spots must be filled by non-imports in accordance with the leagues effort to develop more Canadian talent. If Walker does not stay with the Lions, he could return to UBC, where he has three years of collegiate eligibility remaining. But he is not overly keen on returning to the classroom, preferring instead to pursue his CFL dream after overcoming significant adversity. "Im making sure Im prepared to be a starter one day," he said. Notes: Centre Angus Reid remained out with a sore back Tuesday. He went to get examined by a specialist. a Offensive linemen Cameron Thorn (concussion) and Andre Ramsey, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, are sidelined indefinitely with injuries suffered in camp. ' ' '