Penn State - Are the Sanctions Right?

[Axemaster]

There is no proof Paterno knew what was going on other than "oh I'm angry so he must have". The only reason they docked wins was so Bowden could be number one. Bowden sits and says "I can't celebrate passing Joe" while he has a smirk on his face.

Penalties obviously too harsh.

I could have sworn that Joepa, last year when he was still alive, was Quoted in a Interview to the Media that when he found out, and was told what happened, he now wished he would have gone to the University and done more! Seems I also read something like that in Sports Illustrated too.

[Hadez]

I have no problem with the penalties being harsh. USC got hammered pretty bad for what Bush did and this was far worse imo.

College is a place our youth should be built up and shown many doors to having a great life. Taking advantage of our youth and then the cover after was a HORRIFIC act.

The ONLY thing I would have considered doing different is leaving the statues up of all the kids while tearing down the former coache statue.

While do feel a little for him losing the wins I really could care less in the big scheme of things we are talking about.

[CanDB]

Further to.....this could be a great opportunity for Penn State to become known for other important things, such as academics. Maybe they will become known and respected even more for the good aspects of their college world. Maybe the good folks in charge will grab every chance to display positive and resourceful ways to impress upon the world that it has the right stuff, and that students should be proud to participate in its programs.....for all the right reasons.

I want to make one thing clear.....I do not know enough about this institution to pretend that I understand all that it represents. Possibly it sets high standards for academics, and for its contributions elsewhere. I do not want to underestimate its other activities. This is not a broadbrush statement about the University itself. Unfortunately many have to pay for the actions of others.

[CanDB]

Overall I am in agreement with the penalties assessed Penn State. It's hard to be a layperson and walk in thinking I know much about a much researched issue.

A few comments:

- It needed to be harsh and send a message. And it needed to basically say that no person or corporation is above the law......and never will be!
- And though I have a bit of concern for who it impacted (see next point), I believe the objective was to essentially bring Penn State to its knees, and almost start its program over again from scratch, to clean out the "culture" that got them in trouble in the first place. And if this seems too much of a penalty, think about the kids and their family and friends who may never get over this. And think of how many opportunities arose when this could have been stopped, thereby saving so many from having to endure the pain and humiliation that followed. And then think, this could have been my family.....and if you think that way, I am sure you would wish for an even harsher result.
- I do feel for all those innocent students/players (past, present and future) who may be impacted....whether it relates to their future careers and/or the stigma attached. It will be a long time before the name Penn State will be heard without some folks thinking negatively about it. BUT, on the other hand I do believe that those who have worked hard, and done the right things, will be rewarded for their effort, regardless of the "stigma".
- I hope that all aspiring players/students get to where they want (and deserve) to be.

In the end, we could analyze the details, for a long period of time, but the essence of the discipline was correct in that it made its point, and changed the direction of a very powerful organization. I just hope others who promote worngdoing for the sake of their beloved programs and revenues and such are taking note

[CoryWinget81]

They were warranted. If you look at it subjectively, they stopped just short of killing the program, because that would've hurt the Big 10 as a whole.

[Al Wilson 4 Mayor]

My short response is that Paterno and the AD tried to cover this up to protect the image of the football program. The football program should absolutely suffer.

[Flatlander Fan]

Penn State University is a state school with funding from various sources. How can the NCAA claim the right to $60 million? Students will wonder exactly who is being penalized when tuition increases and their predatory loans go up.

From the NCAA website (section on Penn State sanctions)

$60 million fine. The NCAA imposes a $60 million fine, equivalent to the approximate average of one year's gross revenues from the Penn State football program, to be paid over a five-year period beginning in 2012 into an endowment for programs preventing child sexual abuse and/or assisting the victims of child sexual abuse. The minimum annual payment will be $12 million until the $60 million is paid. The proceeds of this fine may not be used to fund programs at the University. No current sponsored athletic team may be reduced or eliminated in order to fund this fine.

The NCAA isn't banking the $60 million for their own coffers. They're putting it into use for preventing child sexual abuse and helping victims of child sexual abuse.

[samparnell]

Penn State University is a state school with funding from various sources. How can the NCAA claim the right to $60 million? Students will wonder exactly who is being penalized when tuition increases and their predatory loans go up.

[Flatlander Fan]

Directly from the NCAA Div I Manual:

2.1 THE PRINCIPLE OF INSTITUTIONAL CONTROL AND
RESPONSIBILITY

2.1.1 Responsibility for Control. It is the responsibility of each member institution to control its intercollegiate athletics program in compliance with the rules and regulations of the Association. The institution’s president or chancellor is responsible for the administration of all aspects of the athletics program, including approval of the budget and audit of all expenditures. (Revised: 3/8/06)

2.1.2 Scope of Responsibility. The institution’s responsibility for the conduct of its intercollegiate athletics program includes responsibility for the actions of its staff members and for the actions of any other individual or organization engaged in activities promoting the athletics interests of the institution.

2.4 THE PRINCIPLE OF SPORTSMANSHIP AND ETHICAL CONDUCT
For intercollegiate athletics to promote the character development of participants, to enhance the integrity of higher education and to promote civility in society, student-athletes, coaches, and all others associated with these athletics programs and events should adhere to such fundamental values as respect, fairness, civility, honesty and responsibility. These values should be manifest not only in athletics participation, but also in the broad spectrum of activities affecting the athletics program. It is the responsibility of each institution to: (Revised: 1/9/96)
(a) Establish policies for sportsmanship and ethical conduct in intercollegiate athletics consistent with the educational mission and goals of the institution; and (Adopted: 1/9/96)
(b) Educate, on a continuing basis, all constituencies about the policies in Constitution 2.4-(a). (Adopted: 1/9/96)

[Flatlander Fan]

maybe so but the people that come into work after? they should be punished as well

as much as people want to make it a "football" issue it isnt, plain and simple, its a legality issue unless the NCAA has specific rules against this (which i doubt). they didnt cheat in anyway, and were punished by the law seperately.

I think I see what you're getting at. I guess I just see it differently than you. Paterno WAS football. Paterno WAS Penn State. His involvement in covering things up made it a football issue - although it's not directly about competing fairly on the field, to be sure.

[SBboundBRONCOS]

If the person was known to his company to be a killer, then was found killing someone within the company facility and the company decided to keep things in-house because it is "the humane thing to do", you can be darn sure the company is then going to be held liable to a large extent....

maybe so but the people that come into work after? they should be punished as well

as much as people want to make it a "football" issue it isnt, plain and simple, its a legality issue unless the NCAA has specific rules against this (which i doubt). they didnt cheat in anyway, and were punished by the law seperately.

[ebsoria]

I work with a diehard Penn State alum who grew up in PA and who has told me his favorite childhood memory was when his father handed down a Penn State '78 t-shirt to him & his wife (also a Penn State grad) read the entire Freeh report and might disagree with the "no proof" stance you put forward. Now, I haven't read it myself, so I cannot dispute your assertion - but hopefully you were joking about this being about Bowden getting to be #1 instead of Paterno.

I perused most of the Freeh report and there is plenty of evidence that Paterno and the entire college staff knew what was going on. At one point an email is quoted as saying something to the effect of the faculty member changing his mind on how to deal with one of the early reports after talking it over with Paterno and agreeing that he felt they should sit down with Jerry and tell him to stop it. That right there shows that there was some collusion in trying to cover it up.

[Flatlander Fan]

i have a hard time with this because of just how awful it was.

but on the otherside of things the NCAA really shouldnt get involved with something that isnt specifically football related. Sandusky is going to jail forever and Joe Pa is dead, whoever else was involved should be prosecuted to the fullest extent

but this kinda falls out of NCAA jurisdiction to basically kill this program.

if someone kills somebody you dont go after the company they worked for

If the person was known to his company to be a killer, then was found killing someone within the company facility and the company decided to keep things in-house because it is "the humane thing to do", you can be darn sure the company is then going to be held liable to a large extent...

There is no proof Paterno knew what was going on other than "oh I'm angry so he must have". The only reason they docked wins was so Bowden could be number one. Bowden sits and says "I can't celebrate passing Joe" while he has a smirk on his face.

Penalties obviously too harsh.

I work with a diehard Penn State alum who grew up in PA and who has told me his favorite childhood memory was when his father handed down a Penn State '78 t-shirt to him & his wife (also a Penn State grad) read the entire Freeh report and might disagree with the "no proof" stance you put forward. Now, I haven't read it myself, so I cannot dispute your assertion - but hopefully you were joking about this being about Bowden getting to be #1 instead of Paterno.

[assassin216]

No, the sanctions were not the right call.

I think the sanctions are far too lenient.

The university's football program should be stripped completely. This "Bowl Ban" doesn't do enough. They still get to keep their football program. They still get to attract more people and conveniently enough the Library (where students are encouraged to be quiet during study time) is named after a person who kept quiet!

Finally,someone with some sense...I dont understand how people can sit here and say this had nothing to do with football when it did.....Joe Paterno allowed something like this to happen......ON CAMPUS....and yet did nothing......If I was on the board on the NCAA,I would gotten rid of the football program,fine them for a billion dollars,get rid everybody that knew about it, allow the players to transfer to other universities/colleges,with no consequences,melt the statue and change the name of the library

I dont understand how anyone other than the family can defend what Joe Paterno did to those kids.....I know Sandusky was the actual person who did but Paterno is as guilty as him....

[Charlie Brown]

I agree with that, for sure.

I don't agree with that, at all. There was not one person rioting for Sandusky.

Why punish the student athletes? The people associated with it are all gone now.

They rioted as soon as they found out that Paterno was involved and they rioted because they wanted to "protect him."

I meant to write Paterno as opposed to Sandusky in that one instance.

Paterno and company protected Sandusky and allowed him to continue to have a presence at the university even after they knew about his history.

The students that rioted did so because they are loyal to Paterno and the football program - to them they are the victims rather than the children. Look around the news, you see the reactions from Penn Staters - they are "devastated" by this much more lenient decision.

No Bowl games for 4 years (or whatever)? They still get to go and enjoy Penn State football. They still get to attend Joe Paterno Library. They still get to continue to have the same culture that allowed this to be swept under the rug for as log as it did.