It's not at all unusual for Penn State to negotiate a home/away/home - three game schedule with other non-league teams. I'm a Syracuse fan and never considered Paterno beyond cocky.
He abandoned their division to make a lot more money, and destroyed a huge tradition for both Universities.
Penn State did no such thing. Penn State and Syracuse were never in a "division" together. Penn State was an independent football school before joining the Big 10. I think the last league Penn State played football in previously to joining the Big 10 was a Pennsylvania league for one season back in the late 1800's.
Did Penn State and Syracuse regularly play each other as independents? Yes. Do they have plans to play each other now in non-league play? I believe they do in 2013. 2013 at the Meadowlands - so at neither school's home field.
Aren't you throwing a few stones here from your glass house - having abandoned the Big East just weeks ago? How can anyone believe that has to do with anything but money?
When you throw out tradition, and with it any scruples you may have had , we are not surprised that this nauseating scandal would happen.
Syracuse has abandoned many of its traditions, its Saltine Warrior, its long time basketball rivals, it's Big East membership. Guess we are going to see a breaking scandal from Syracuse soon too?