Posted on 07/23/2012 8:24:17 AM PDT by Zakeet
College sports' governing body today suspended Penn State's football team from postseason bowl play for four years and fined the university $60 million for its handling of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.
The team also must vacate all wins from 1998 through 2011.
"The career record of former head football coach Joe Paterno will reflect these vacated records," the NCAA said in a statement. "Penn State must also reduce 10 initial and 20 total scholarships each year for a four-year period. In addition, the NCAA reserves the right to impose additional sanctions on involved individuals at the conclusion of any criminal proceedings."
The fines are to be paid into an endowment for non-university programs preventing child sexual abuse or assisting victims, the NCAA said.
"The NCAA recognizes that student-athletes are not responsible for these events and worked to minimize the impact of its sanctions on current and incoming football student-athletes," the statement said. "Any entering or returning student-athlete will be allowed to immediately transfer and compete at another school. Further, any football student-athletes who remain at the university may retain their scholarships, regardless of whether they compete on the team."
(Excerpt) Read more at philly.com ...
I think this is a criminal case. People need to go to jail. Aren’t all the people involved in the cover up gone? I don’t see why the NCAA needs to punish the innocent people at Penn State who are left to deal with the shame.
Not a PSU fan, BTW.
According to the article, they can transfer without penalty, and if they choose to stay, can keep their scholarship whether they play or not. I’m pleased with that, at least.
The victims can only sue to recoup individual impacts, such as ongoing need for therapy, etc. There is nothing compelling them to share the money with agencies to help potential victims in other circumstances, as this fine will do. It will go to non-Penn State organizations dealing with ways to eradicate or ameliorate the effects of child sex abuse.
What’s your point?
He’s dead.
If he were still alive and went on trial for covering-up child sexual abuse, do you think that the verdict would be substantially different than that of Jerry Sandusky?
because it makes people feel good.
Surely you jest. I only wish he had lived long enough to get it in person.
And what's up with Mrs. Sandusky? She needs a long rest in the Graybar Hotel.
It would destroy the local economy. Why should people who have nothing to do with this crime pay the price? Go after all involved financially and criminally.
The University did something wrong, so they’re punishing the players??????
Really is Obamaland. :)
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.
4 year bowl ban is better than a death penalty. It allows every one of their current scholarship players to walk.
It makes a point that this sort of thing WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
If I go out and rob a bank and get sent to prison for decades, thus making it impossible for me to make a living, it would destroy my household economy, and people who had nothing to do with the crime would pay the price.
Does that mean that if I rob a bank I shouldn’t go to prison?
I disagree. Joe knew it a while back and choose to do nothing, hoping against hope it would go away.
It didn't go away and he should have known it would not go away.
As for those saying the NCAA doesn't have authority, I disagree with that also.
The scandal was part of the football program. Even if Sandusky was the only one involved molesting the young boys. The University took steps to cover it up.
The NCAA took the correct steps to punish severely the football program. If nothing else it sends a message to the other schools that pedophilia will NOT be tolerated.
We live in America, not Cuba or Iran , people are entitled to the presumption of innocence. I thought we believed in the 4th amendment as conservatives. I guess we just decide when we don’t like someone that individual is guilty of something. That is my point.
A completely ridiculous comparison, and not worthy of detailed discussion.
I don't see a reason to think that the victims won't received a just settlement in the courts. This money comes from the Athletic Department. The school as a whole will have a lot of explaining to do when this comes to court.
“Presumption of innocence” is not just a blind mantra we hum.
The standard for conviction in a criminal case is “guilty beyond a reasonable doubt”.
There can be no reasonable doubt that Joe Paterno did not know what Jerry Sandusky was doing.
“”The victims are going to sue (rightfully so), and every cent the school has should go to them””
Paterno’s huge mistake was in not insisting that Sandusky be completely barred from campus until the allegations were completely investigated and a decision made. I don’t think Paterno had any intention to enable Sandusky, but Paterno’s decision not to take a strong stance had the effect of enabling. Paterno had clear responsibility which he failed to fulfil, but he is not the monster that some are trying to make him out to be.
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