The punishments recognize that the victims will will probably file, or have alrady filed, civil suits which Penn State will most likely settle out of court for healthy sums.

The wiping out of the victories is the only way for Penn State to acknowledge that had this been investigated fully when the allegations came to light in 1998 that JoePa would likely have been fired and that the program would have faced similar penalties, if not worse, which would have, in all reality, hobbled the program for years. By vacating the victories they are admitting that and taking away from JoePa the legacy that he earned on the backs of little boys.

As far as the athletes who have lost victories? They lose none of their memories of their accomplishments. Any current players can transfer to a program unhobbled by decades of covering up for a pedophole and allowing children to be raped in their locker room.

I for one would run screaming for another school. ANY other school.

programs can suffer years after the infraction occurs. this is standard operating procedure for the NCAA. we've seen Calipari's former schools have wins erased even though he has moved on. PSU covered up child rape in order to keep their competitive advantage. they deserve everything they are getting.

sucks to be a PSU grad.

I'm not saying Penn State doesn't get what they deserve. But students who had no involvement whatsoever are getting screwed and vilified. Hurting them doesn't put things right. And I still say that $60 million should go as compensation to the victims.

what students are getting screwed? the players are allowed to transfer w/o penalty.

Look how long it took SMU to recover from the death penalty. This doesn't punish the perp....it just hurts everyone else.

I think it's wasted effort. None of those punishments hurt the actual criminal...but they will hurt a lot of innocent students.

so there should never be penalties against programs that break the rules? it will always affect someone who isnt involved. so in your world a school can cheat all it wants but never have to pay a penalty because of a student athlete that wasnt involved?

what this does is hopefully scare other programs into not making the same mistake.

Even students who have nothing to do with football are going to get screwed. That team pulls in millions of dollars, money that goes towards other things besides just football.

I don't think there is a reasonable response to this type of thinking.

The NCAA acted as they did in the hope that such sweeping actions would serve as an example to other schools that a cover-up will cost them more in the long run.

Penn State has a $2 billion dollar endowment. That's nine zeroes. They ain't hurting for cash. Last year they raised $209 million dollars.

Also, football will be played at Penn State for the next four years. So they can't go to bowl games or compete for the Big Ten championship. Boo hoo. They weren't going to compete for that anyway. The Buckeyes and the Badgers own the conference for the next few years.

What will hurt them soon is when the civil suits start hitting and they have to settle those. That's gonna be hundreds of millions.

I am going along with most of the comments here disagreeing with the premise of the OP, that this somehow "harms the innocent students".

My disagreement with today's ruling is that Penn State really needed to receive the death penalty. On one hand, I am gratified at the seeing PSU forfeit 111 victories--14 years worth. That's a pretty good sized body slam and it is especially appropriate to wipe out Paterno's "winningest coach" record. I only wish he had been alive to experience it in person--and to watch the statue being taken down.

Why the death penalty? Because first and foremost, this abuse occurred not just because of the venality and cowardice of a few administrators. It also was nurtured by a campus and social culture that valued football above all else. The decisions to ignore and coverup were not made because the men involved approved of child rape. They were made because protecting the image and status of a football program and the personal privileges and power of a football coach were deemed to be more important than protecting defenseless young boys. Even when informed of Sandusky's actions in 1998 and 2002, top administrators backed off -- to protect the program and because they were unwilling to challenge the authority of the most powerful figure in Pennsylvania--Joe Paterno.

By putting so much emphasis on football and allowing one sports program such control over the university, Penn State sold its soul. And the students, alumni, and community members who elevated Paterno and football to an almost religious status help create the culture that led to today.

One need only look at the reactions of many at Penn State and its apologists since the Freeh report was issued, and after today's sanctions were announced, to see the depth of the sickness of that culture.

I respect that the NCAA made what they thought was a reasoned decision. I applaud them for acting swiftly and decisively. I respect that they tried to impose the punitive and accountability actions on the institution and lessen the impact on those in the community whose livelihoods depend on the football program.

I have no illusions that ANY proof or any sanction would be enough to shake some of these people out of their denial. But in an instance like this, with an addiction so strong, to me the first line of treatment needed to be imposing a "cold turkey' withdrawal, a radical surgery to remove a malignant tumor. They needed the reality slap of seeing a dark stadium for at least a year or two. Instead, in a few weeks, 106,000 people will fill that stadium and use the resumption of the football season as an act of defiance. To me, it's like intervening with an alcoholic by telling him he has to switch to MIller Light.

I just don't understand how punishing the school is going to help, when the two people involved are dead and behind bars.....

I just don't understand how punishing the school is going to help, when the two people involved are dead and behind bars.....

It's not just two people. That's about as simply as I can put it. The culture that enabled these crimes to occur is an integral part of the fabric of the university and the university community. While the blind reverence to football was certainly not practiced by everyone at PSU, it is reflected in attitudes at every level--from students to the board of trustees. The callousness of Paterno, Spanier, et al, was explicitly spelled out in the emails and other documents cited by the Freeh report. Those actions would not have been possible without the deference to football that allowed Paterno to have the power to elevate the interests of the football program over the need to protect childred from being raped.

And we haven't even begun to scratch the surface of the financial links between PSU, Paterno, and The Second Mile and how those might have influenced the school's actions as well. By the time the investigations are all finished, I suspect the stench of corruption will be almost unbearable.

But back to the denial that still exists. Even after the arrest of Sandusky, even after the release of the grand jury presentments which clearly showed the moral failure of Paterno and the PSU administration to act (the actual lies, perjury and criminal cover up were revealed later in the Freeh report), two new trustees to the Penn State board were elected by overwhelming margins who ran specifically on a "pro-Paterno" platform. Anthony Lubrano, one of the trustees, pledged to work to posthumously rehire Paterno as football coach and demanded that the school issue a formal apology to the Paterno family. Did the Freeh report change his mind? Of course not (facts never matter to true believers). His reaction to the NCAA sanctions was, predictably, to call them "preposterous", claim that he was "outraged", and attempt to obfuscate by nit-picking at the Freeh report ("one man's opinion").

Want more? Try this gem from the Penn State Letterman's Club (unfortunately not a local fan club for David Letterman):

On behalf of the Penn State Football Letterman’s Club, our thoughts and prayers continue for the victims and their families in the heinous criminal acts of Jerry Sandusky. Their lives have been negatively impacted forever and it is important that their stories are not overshadowed by those continuing to define and sensationalize their narrative.

Got that? It is hard for me to put into words how calculating, self-serving, condescending and repulsive those words are.

One aspect of the Sandusky arrest and trial is that it has empowered other victims of abuse to come forward and tell their stories. Having read many of these accounts, it is impossible to overstate the horror that these children experienced and the devastating impact the abuse had on their lives. Compared to that, the inconvenience that some pumped-up adolescent might not get to play a game the way he wanted (even though he will continue to receive his $150,000 scholarship) seems pretty meaningless.

I suppose that some individuals at Penn State will be unfairly penalized by actions they had no control over. We can't always control how life lessons are going to be learned. I suspect, however, that those least culpable --i.e. students and faculty at PSU who had no connection or interest in the football program, or who even knew how corrupt it was and refused to support it--will also be the ones who understand best what needed to be done and who will applaud the NCAA's actions.

So the "old boys club" takes the first of a major hit. . .surprising. Even more surprised that the current leadership of Penn State willingly accepted the punishment and took responsibility without even choking over the words.

If my grandkids were old enough to be considering colleges, don't know about you, but Penn State would be a very good recommendation to them right about now.

-Debra

Living in a Big Ten Campus town, I can tell you that our local news is focusing on the fact that the turn out for the Purdue/Penn State game may not be very good... PRIORITIES!

I don't see anything wrong with the punishment. Many schools will be happy to take the talented athletes and scholarships from Penn State. I wouldn't want to be part of that organization..

I'm not saying Penn State doesn't get what they deserve. But students who had no involvement whatsoever are getting screwed and vilified. Hurting them doesn't put things right. And I still say that $60 million should go as compensation to the victims.

what students are getting screwed? the players are allowed to transfer w/o penalty.

Assuming they can find a slot at a comparable level that hasn't already been filled in time for the new academic year/season.

While not disagreeing with the overall decision, I do feel for the athletes whose careers will be damaged, cut short and derailed by this, though they have no personal culpability. I very much doubt, given the timing of the announcement, that all those 'allowed' to transfer will be able to find spots, and particularly not into teams of a comparable standard. I empathise with those who have committed years of their young lives to training, sacrificing, in many cases, a great deal to achieve a standard of excellence, only to have the rug pulled from beneath their feet, through no fault of their own.

Dedication and sacrifice, and the critical moment of opportunity, are two of the few comparable areas in performing arts and sports, and my sympathies are with these young men, as well as the victims of these appalling crimes.

Except it's already starting. I don't follow college football much, but I do know one of the PSU players has already pledged to transfer to UM. I am sure some of the players will just be out, but those that have talent and will go on in life in this arena will find a place to play no doubt. There is always room for talented athletes anywhere they choose to go, both in college and in the pros.

Now that we have had time since the announcements, my opinion that PSU absolutely needed to be given the death penalty has been vindicated.

Just a couple of examples:

A quote by 2 PSU alumni:

Meet Tom and Sally Price. Tom is a Penn State graduate, and both are die-hard Penn State football fans. In an interview with News Watch 16 WNEP in Pennsylvania, Tom compared the sanctioned levied against his school to one of America’s greatest tragedies – the terrorist attacks of September 11.

“I just can’t put my arms around it. To me, it was our 9/11 today. I just saw planes crashing into towers,” said Tom Price.

His wife, apparently, feels the same.

“It had nothing to do with the Sandusky scandal. They played hard, they worked hard for those victories and to take them away, we will always feel that (Paterno) is the NCAA victory leader,” said Sally Price.

One of many recent quotes from current PSU linebacker Michael Mauti:

Mauti: No sanctions, no politician is ever going to take away what we have here. None of that is ever going to tear us apart. Right now, all we can do is put our heads down, and just go to work. That’s all we can do.

We’re gonna fight for Penn State, we’re gonna fight for each other, because this is what Penn State is about — fighting through adversity, and we’re gonna show up every Saturday and raise hell.

Nice priorities, dope.

And finally, this picture of T Shirts now on sale in the community:



They just don't get it--which is why the whole program needed to be torn down, not just the statue.

At this point, one can only hope for two things: the upcoming and relentless stream of multimillion dollar lawsuits will continue to both beat down these people as well as divert $$ away from the football program.

And, as the ongoing sanctions dig in, the experience of watching their football team being beaten 40-0 by Harrisburg Poly Tech will finally bring the message home.

But I doubt it. A sickness this deep doesn't go away with just a time out in the corner.

Now that we have had time since the announcements, my opinion that PSU absolutely needed to be given the death penalty has been vindicated.

Just a couple of examples:

A quote by 2 PSU alumni:

Meet Tom and Sally Price. Tom is a Penn State graduate, and both are die-hard Penn State football fans. In an interview with News Watch 16 WNEP in Pennsylvania, Tom compared the sanctioned levied against his school to one of America’s greatest tragedies – the terrorist attacks of September 11.

“I just can’t put my arms around it. To me, it was our 9/11 today. I just saw planes crashing into towers,” said Tom Price.

His wife, apparently, feels the same.

“It had nothing to do with the Sandusky scandal. They played hard, they worked hard for those victories and to take them away, we will always feel that (Paterno) is the NCAA victory leader,” said Sally Price.

One of many recent quotes from current PSU linebacker Michael Mauti:

Mauti: No sanctions, no politician is ever going to take away what we have here. None of that is ever going to tear us apart. Right now, all we can do is put our heads down, and just go to work. That’s all we can do.

We’re gonna fight for Penn State, we’re gonna fight for each other, because this is what Penn State is about — fighting through adversity, and we’re gonna show up every Saturday and raise hell.

Nice priorities, dope.

And finally, this picture of T Shirts now on sale in the community:



They just don't get it--which is why the whole program needed to be torn down, not just the statue.

At this point, one can only hope for two things: the upcoming and relentless stream of multimillion dollar lawsuits will continue to both beat down these people as well as divert $$ away from the football program.

And, as the ongoing sanctions dig in, the experience of watching their football team being beaten 40-0 by Harrisburg Poly Tech will finally bring the message home.

But I doubt it. A sickness this deep doesn't go away with just a time out in the corner.

And it gets even worse: "Team Outlaw" is now becoming the rallying cry.

In retrospect, a really bad decision by the NCAA--this is now the Versailles Treaty of college sanctions.