I am no Penn State fan (and my alma mater, UNC, has troubles of its own with the NCAA), but I don’t see why the NCAA has jurisdiction in this particular case. I understand that football coaches are involved, but does this really involve the football program in any real way? Now, I believe Penn State is accontable for these terrible actions and failures to act. I just don’t believe that the NCAA is the right body to deal with it.
Head coach covers it up? Other coaches know.
Yes. That’s the football program and a breach of the public trust and conduct expected from any adult, much less one entrusted to train and teach young men.
The actions of Sandusky were covered up in order to prevent damage to the football program. That is the definition of an “unfair advantage,” the whole basis of all NCAA rules regarding recruiting, etc. The difference between this and, say, a player getting a ride across campus in a golf cart, is that these actions rise to the level of a criminal offense.
The NCAA has jurisdiction in the case, ultimately, because PSU is a member institution of the NCAA and this episode demonstrated not just a lack of institutional control, but a coordinated institutional effort to cover up crimes. If PSU didn’t think that the NCAA had jurisdiction, they could probably withdraw their membership, but then good luck on finding any games to compete in ever again. Also, the school signed off on the sanctions before they were announced, so that pretty much blows the “no jurisdiction” argument out of the water.
Are you suggesting with a straight face that they would have covered it up if it was the chess team coach instead of the football coach?
“I am no Penn State fan (and my alma mater, UNC, has troubles of its own with the NCAA), but I don’t see why the NCAA has jurisdiction in this particular case. I understand that football coaches are involved, but does this really involve the football program in any real way? Now, I believe Penn State is accontable for these terrible actions and failures to act. I just don’t believe that the NCAA is the right body to deal with it.”
I know the NCAA sure does when the players mess up, on or off the field. I know Marshall U. players have been in trouble with the NCAA often for doing crimes off campus. So why not the coaches? The coaches should hold a higher standard as well. This is as about as low as any coach could sink.