[zaga_fan]

Exactly it punishes those who have done nothing. Those who commited the acts are noy being punished by this at all.

Well we need to look at punishing schools altogether then...
anytime scholarships are taken away that is one less kid that gets his school paid for that didn't do anything to deserve it.
USC has a postseason ban - did all of the players on that team deserve to be knocked out of a bowl?

This is the best thing the NCAA could've done.

Whether or not this was a football crime - it was an instance in which a football program became bigger than what it should have been. If this was a janitor molesting kids in 1998; he would be out of jail and listing his address on the sex offender website right now.

[Truth]

Two observations:

1. The NCAA has about the same approval rating nationally as does the US Congress. Therefore, I think most of the motivation for their harsh decision and related televised performance before the media was intended to make themselves look like a competent and effective organization. Whether or not they succeeded is in the eyes of the beholder.

2. Unlike recruiting violations and similar infractions, the sins of Sandusky, regardless of how heinous, had no effect whatsoever on the winning or losing of football games by PSU. Therefore, I believe true historians and those who closely follow and interpret the statistics and records of football will still consider Paterno as the all-time winner of games on the collegiate level. The NCAA cannot erase recorded history by a wave of its magic wand other than in its own mind and in the minds of those who are not sticklers for the facts.

[OrangenowBlue]

Accordng to the NCAA constitution wording, it left enough leeway for the NCAA to take action in this situation. As far as innocent people getting punished, it happens every time the NCAA takes action. There is always innocent victims, even in the case of recruiting violations. When Kentucky got in trouble, Reggie Hanson, Richie Farmer, Sean Woods, John Pelfrey, and Deron Feldhaus were all innocent victims. Most of the violating coaches move on to another job with no suspension or banishment, such as Eddie Sutton. As far as having an effect on wins and losses, UMASS and Calipari had to vacate wins in the mid nineties due to Camby signing with an agent his Senior year. This was to no benefit to UMASS or Coach Cal. Moral and ethical responsibility are both discussed in the NCAA constitution. Their primary responsibility is to enforce rules that effect the outcome of games, but it is not their only responsibility. I do think that most people believe that the NCAA got it right this time.

[Mountaineer Man]

Here's my $.02 on this whole thing. What happened at State College was criminal, and Sandusky is going to spend the rest of his life in prison, and rightfully so. He had his day in court and was found guilty.

I have not read the report, and yet I'm expected to believe word for word what's in it. The last time I looked, in this country you are innocent until proven guilty. Sandusky had his day in court, the AD and university president is going to have his day in court, yet Joe Pa will never get that opportunity for his day in court.

As for what the NCAA has done I feel they have sent a pattern now that I'm not sure they will live or have the guts to live up too. By that I mean, this was a criminal case, a law was broken, and not a NCAA rule but law of this land. With that being said, is the NCAA going to step in and "drop the hammer" on every school from here on out that has a coach, player break the law. For example, how about the lacrosse team from Duke and what happen a couple of years ago with a man lacrosse player, killing a female player? That is just to name a couple.

For me as a college football fan, PSU will never be what I once knew them as. PSU will now be the Indiana of Big Ten football, and I'm not sure PSU will ever be relevant in college football again. The kids that are attending PSU now had nothing to do with what went on a decade ago, and that's not fair to them.

The 60 million, while a lot of money, I'm sure that a lot of PSU alumni will see that is taken care of. The loss of 40 scholarships is huge and no post season is big as well. The real problem I see is on the backside of this of convincing kids to come an rebuild this program.

As for the reductions of wins, the NCAA can do what they want, but how can you take wins from kids that had nothing to do with this. How about the '08 team that some thought should have played for the BCS championship. You telling me those guys didn't play that season. Come NCAA that's joke. What Sandusky did, albeit wrong, but why punish kids who worked their tail off to win games and now take them away? As far as I'm concern, Joe Pa is still the winningest couch in NCAA history. But there should be an asterisk beside it.

Well that's my opinion, that a $1.00 will get you a coke at McDonalds.

[RunItUpTheGut]

^
That just gave USC a better chance at getting to the championship.
I knew the few really good players Penn State had would go to major programs.
I wouldnt be surprised to see a few get in the SEC programs.
To be honest, i dont see how any parent could let there kid stay at the school after this.
If it was my choice, there wouldnt be enough kids for Penn State to even field a football team.

[Real Badman]

I hate this affects players that had nothing to do with that. Imagine yourself a star player on the 2006 Orange Bowl. How many people can claim they've played in a BCS bowl, and won it? You were punished for something you couldn't control. A player now can't ware that ring without someone mentioning this. This was a horrible punishment from the NCAA. The death penalty, though extreme, would be more appropriate and wouldn't have any consequences of the players who are innocent.

[OrangenowBlue]

Players were innocent, but oh yeah, so were the victims getting sexually violated in the lockerrooms of Penn State while the administration was turning a blind eye. This punishment may be a horrible punishment, but it isn't near as horrible as what the victims went through all these years. Anytime a school gets punished and has to forfeits games for other violations, innocent players are punished for something they couldn't control. Hmm! Which one should I feel sorry for the most, the player who has an Outback Bowl ring won against UK in 1999 and now being razzed by someone, or the young kid having been brought to the Outback Bowl in 1999 and having been raped by someone.

[PaintsvilleTigerfan]

Innocent people got hurt by sandusky no one is disputing that, but how in the world is punishing more innocent people supposed to help the original innocent people. The players had nothing to do with the tragedy, and the fans had nothing to do with the tragedy. The businesses that will suffer had nothing to do with the tragedy. This sets a dangerous precedent.

[FBALL]

Strip Parerno 's name from everything. He covered it up and is guilty as sin for that alone.

But the NCAA overstepped here. UK was caught cheating. Violating set NCAA guidelines trying to gain a competitive advantage in a sport.

This was not an NCAA matter.

[OrangenowBlue]

Innocent people are always victims whenever the NCAA hands down punishment for whatever reason. They are the ones who get punished the most whether it be rape or illegal recruiting and the violators go on with their lives. Penn State staff made one of the sickest, biggest, dumbest, and self serving blunders in sports history and now they are paying for it.

[OrangenowBlue]

Strip Parerno 's name from everything. He covered it up and is guilty as sin for that alone.

But the NCAA overstepped here. UK was caught cheating. Violating set NCAA guidelines trying to gain a competitive advantage in a sport.

This was not an NCAA matter.

Ignoring allegations of child abuse was a method used to keep a competitive edge because they feared that the bad publicity would hurt the reputation of the school and in turn, hurt the recruiting and maintaining of a successful football program.

[judgementday]

IMO.....

I do not agree that this is worse then the death penalty in that the players will still get to play and the coaches will still get to coach for the upcoming season and beyond...

I also do not agree with the harsh penalties against the football program as to me the punishment does not fit the crime, typically, sanctions are placed against a program when some sort of cheating has taken place, they are being punished for what some sick bastard did or was doing outside of football operations (practice, games, etc...) I would be in agreeance if he was a current coach and the players and coaching staff knew what was going on and was hiding it.

I do however agree with the fine against the school and feel that the school administration should have been punished more and not the football program.

[FBALL]

Ignoring allegations of child abuse was a method used to keep a competitive edge because they feared that the bad publicity would hurt the reputation of the school and in turn, hurt the recruiting and maintaining of a successful football program.

It was aethod of protecting there own asses. All of which are in a sling now. It's a matter for the criminal justice system that is currently punishing those involved. The NCAA dog and pony show is using its power to force PSU into this bill board for political correctiveness.

[OrangenowBlue]

It was aethod of protecting there own asses. All of which are in a sling now. It's a matter for the criminal justice system that is currently punishing those involved. The NCAA dog and pony show is using its power to force PSU into this bill board for political correctiveness.

If they had taken the appropriate steps each time it was reported, they wouldn't have had to protect their own asses. They were too worried about the schools reputation and the adverse effect the allegations wouild have on the football team. If they would have taken the appropriate steps, there would have been some negative publicity but it would have been short term and already forgotten about with no long term repercussions by the NCAA, media, or the general public. Instead of treating the blister when it appeared, they just covered it up and hoped it would go away. Instead, it became a bad infection that caused great damage. What the NCAA did is not politically correct, it is morally and ethically correct.

[OrangenowBlue]

IMO.....

I do not agree that this is worse then the death penalty in that the players will still get to play and the coaches will still get to coach for the upcoming season and beyond...

I also do not agree with the harsh penalties against the football program as to me the punishment does not fit the crime, typically, sanctions are placed against a program when some sort of cheating has taken place, they are being punished for what some sick bastard did or was doing outside of football operations (practice, games, etc...) I would be in agreeance if he was a current coach and the players and coaching staff knew what was going on and was hiding it.

I do however agree with the fine against the school and feel that the school administration should have been punished more and not the football program.

Typically you are right and sanctions are generally used for cheating(not always). However, this is not a typical situation. There is nothing to really compare it to as there has not been anything like this that has happened in college football before.

[zaga_fan]

Two observations:

1. The NCAA has about the same approval rating nationally as does the US Congress. Therefore, I think most of the motivation for their harsh decision and related televised performance before the media was intended to make themselves look like a competent and effective organization. Whether or not they succeeded is in the eyes of the beholder.

2. Unlike recruiting violations and similar infractions, the sins of Sandusky, regardless of how heinous, had no effect whatsoever on the winning or losing of football games by PSU. Therefore, I believe true historians and those who closely follow and interpret the statistics and records of football will still consider Paterno as the all-time winner of games on the collegiate level. The NCAA cannot erase recorded history by a wave of its magic wand other than in its own mind and in the minds of those who are not sticklers for the facts.

Neither does a booster slipping a $100 bill to player...
but you can still get wins vacated for it.

[OrangenowBlue]

Neither does a booster slipping a $100 bill to player...
but you can still get wins vacated for it.

Nor when a player signs or talks with an agent before his playing career is over.

[Mountaineer Man]

Neither does a booster slipping a $100 bill to player...
but you can still get wins vacated for it.

Totally disagree, you are paying a player to perform, that is against the NCAA rules. What Sandusky did was against the laws of this land, not an NCAA violation.

[FBALL]

If they had taken the appropriate steps each time it was reported, they wouldn't have had to protect their own asses. They were too worried about the schools reputation and the adverse effect the allegations wouild have on the football team. If they would have taken the appropriate steps, there would have been some negative publicity but it would have been short term and already forgotten about with no long term repercussions by the NCAA, media, or the general public. Instead of treating the blister when it appeared, they just covered it up and hoped it would go away. Instead, it became a bad infection that caused great damage. What the NCAA did is not politically correct, it is morally and ethically correct.

Again I'm not defending the actions of Sandusky, Paterno or any of the conspirators.

The NCAA is not a criminal justice agency and this was a criminal act.

Where was the NCAA when the lacrosse murder, (there is no more heinous crime), happened at Virginia last year. Or the Duke lacrosse scandle (solicitation of prostitution, physical and sexual assault). Or the murder and drug scandle at Baylor a few years back. Where were they?

They weren't there. Not because of ethical or moral responsibility. Those crimes were just as heinous as the Penn State crimes. But they werent the blight on the NCAAs biggest money maker like the Penn State Case is. This is simply the NCAA trying to protect the monetary interest of college football by appearing to lance the boil that Penn State has become. It's all about the Benjamins. Any body that thinks this is about justice or morality is sadly mistaken.

May Jerry Sandusky rot in Hell.

[FBALL]

Yes $100 hand shakes do provide a competitive advantage.

[OrangenowBlue]

Again I'm not defending the actions of Sandusky, Paterno or any of the conspirators.

The NCAA is not a criminal justice agency and this was a criminal act.

Where was the NCAA when the lacrosse murder, (there is no more heinous crime), happened at Virginia last year. Or the Duke lacrosse scandle (solicitation of prostitution, physical and sexual assault). Or the murder and drug scandle at Baylor a few years back. Where were they?

They weren't there. Not because of ethical or moral responsibility. Those crimes were just as heinous as the Penn State crimes. But they werent the blight on the NCAAs biggest money maker like the Penn State Case is. This is simply the NCAA trying to protect the monetary interest of college football by appearing to lance the boil that Penn State has become. It's all about the Benjamins. Any body that thinks this is about justice or morality is sadly mistaken.

May Jerry Sandusky rot in Hell.

They were not there because there was no coverup by the universities that lasted over a decade and maybe longer. They wouldn't have been at Penn State if the university had taken the appropriate actions when they should have.

[Truth]

Neither does a booster slipping a $100 bill to player...
but you can still get wins vacated for it.

Really. How many UK wins were vacated as a result of the handshakes, etc. that took place during the Eddie Sutton Administration? I believe the answer is zero.

There is no relationship between supporters giving players money (direct illegal contact with actual players) and Sandusky's behavior (no contact whatsoever with players).

To knowledgeable followers of college football and to purists who respect the numbers, Paterno will remain the winningest coach of all time. The NCAA, in a dubious effort to look "tough" and "competent", cannot change history.

[FBALL]

They were not there because there was no coverup by the universities that lasted over a decade and maybe longer. They wouldn't have been at Penn State if the university had taken the appropriate actions when they should have.

The men that covered up had already been dealt with by the university and by the criminal justice system.

It was actions by a few men with priorities way out of wack. Not by a university and not in violating in of the ncaa's rules regarding competition or compliance.

Sandusky is a scumbag in the worst sense. So is Paterno for worrying more about his reputation than the victims of a predator. But that is not what the NCAA is there for. This is almost extortion on the NCAA's part. The guilty are in prison, dead or awaiting trial. This hypocrisy is not a punishment. It's political damage control by the NCAA with the Penn State and State college communities served up as a sacrifice.

[Strikeout King]

Not only did the NCAA penalize Penn State, the Big Ten did as well.

Big Ten has banned Penn State from the Conference Championship Game for 4 years and will not share any bowl revenue with Penn State

[Mountaineer Man]

Probably in my lifetime Penn St. football will never be relevant again.

[zaga_fan]

Yes $100 hand shakes do provide a competitive advantage.

Well if we are going down that road...
Then turning a blind eye to a coach's felonious activity does as well.

Receiving 100 bux for a good game is even less rewarding than dodging a jail cell for your contributions as a coach.

[FBALL]

The $100 handshakes were designed to attract players. This situation was the result of one piece of crap being covered for by an old geezer who thought if he reported a crime it would tarnish his spotless reputation.

[Stardust]

The men that covered up had already been dealt with by the university and by the criminal justice system.

It was actions by a few men with priorities way out of wack. Not by a university and not in violating in of the ncaa's rules regarding competition or compliance.

Sandusky is a scumbag in the worst sense. So is Paterno for worrying more about his reputation than the victims of a predator. But that is not what the NCAA is there for. This is almost extortion on the NCAA's part. The guilty are in prison, dead or awaiting trial. This hypocrisy is not a punishment. It's political damage control by the NCAA with the Penn State and State college communities served up as a sacrifice.

Take the time to read the "Institutional Control" by-laws. This certainly fits the sanctions! The Football program assisted in the cover-up of a crime, thus, they deserve everything they have received! It's not even debatable, yet the talking heads on ESPN don't have an answer when quizzed on the Institutional Control requirement. Thus, I'd love to hear yours (assuming you will read it of course) and anyone else who feels the punishment did not fit the crime!

[toussaints]

it doesn't matter how much money the football program makes, the program always answers to the school. Each major program's coach has at least 2 bosses, the athletic director and the university president. Joe Paterno became bigger than those 2 and the football program became bigger than the school itself, whether it was intentional or not. that "lack of institutional control" makes all of Penn State responsible for what happened as much as Paterno and Spanier.

Yes, there were innocent individuals that were punished, but they needed to punish Penn State as a whole to send a message.

[Mountaineer Man]

The so called "Lack of Institutional Control" is such a blanket statement that can be applied to so many situations. Don't get me wrong, Penn St. should be punished, but according to what I have read, the football program generated enough money to fund every other sports program at Penn St. Now I wonder what happens to the women's volleyball team, women's lacrosse and men's, and all the other non-revenue sports?

I've stated this once and I'll state it again, Penn St. will probably never be relevant in my lifetime again, I'm not saying that's a bad thing.

However, where was the NCAA when the women's lacrosse player at UVA was killed my the men's lacrosse player, that UVA knew was stalking her? Was there no "Lack of institutional control" there?

Or what about the Duke men's lacrosse team that had a party where a women was raped, again was there no "lack of institutional control"?

What about the basketball player at Baylor who was killed by another player, was there no "lack of institutional control'?

Finally what about Bobby Petrino at Arkansas hiring his 20 year old girl friend, again was there no "lack of institutional control"?

I think the NCAA has opened a box that can not be closed now and they will have to police in area's they have no business to police.

With what happened at Penn St. when the courts are through with them, that would have been punishment enough. Remember we have not even heard of all the civil suits there is going to be.