Ncaa Issues 'Unprecedented' Penalties Against Penn State Following Scandal

[News_Editor]

NCAA issues 'unprecedented' penalties against Penn State following scandal < br />

2012-07-24 08:32:58 GMT+7 (ICT)

BELLEFONTE, PENNSYLVANIA (BNO NEWS) -- The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) handed down 'unprecedented' penalties against Penn State Monday after allegations of a cover-up by top officials of a child sex scandal.

The penalties, considered to be the harshest ever handed down to a university by the NCAA, came after an investigation showed that several top officials at Penn State were involved in the covering up of sexual acts between former coach Jerry Sandusky and a number of young boys.

The school will be forced to pay 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 a fund for programs preventing child sexual abuse and/or assisting the victims of child sexual abuse.

The NCAA also imposed a four-year ban on participation in postseason play in the sport of football, beginning with the 2012-2013 season and expiring at the conclusion of the 2015-2016 season. During the four-year period, the school will not be eligible to participate in any postseason competition, including a conference championship, any bowl game, or any postseason playoff competition.

In addition, the school will be stripped of all football wins they achieved between 1998 and 2011, the alleged time former coach Joe Paterno knew about the allegations against Sandusky by a number of minors. Due to having these wins removed, Paterno is no longer considered to be the coach with the most victories in NCAA football history, and this record is now held by former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden. The school also lost scholarships and was placed on probation for five years.

In response to the penalties, Penn State President Rodney Erickson released a statement, saying, in part, that the school accepts the penalties. "Penn State accepts the penalties and corrective actions announced today by the NCAA. With today's announcement and the action it requires of us, the University takes a significant step forward," he said.

Erickson adds: "The NCAA ruling holds the University accountable for the failure of those in power to protect children and insists that all areas of the University community are held to the same high standards of honesty and integrity."

A report released earlier this month by a special investigative council showed that several high ranking officials, including former coach Joe Paterno, who passed away in January, failed to report the child sexual abuse allegations, even after knowing them to be true. The report claimed Paterno and other senior officials had 'total disregard' for the victims of the sexual abuse that took place.

Last month, Sandusky, who worked as a coach at Penn State from 1969 until his retirement in 2009, was convicted of 45 counts of sexual abuse. The abuse occurred over several years with a number of young boys both at his home and at various Penn State facilities and events. The boys were part of his 'second mile' non-profit charity to help at-risk children since 1977.

Sandusky faces up to 442 years in prison for his crimes.

On Sunday, a statue of Joe Paterno on the campus of Penn State was taken down following the most recent allegations. Although a number of people were against the statue's removal, the school made the decision after several weeks of discussion.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-07-24

[connda]

"The NCAA also imposed a four-year ban on participation in postseason play in the sport of football, beginning with the 2012-2013 season and expiring at the conclusion of the 2015-2016 season. During the four-year period, the school will not be eligible to participate in any postseason competition, including a conference championship, any bowl game, or any postseason playoff competition."

That's the politically correct way to do things -- Screw the players for the wrongs of the coaching staff and that pedophile POS. NCAA should basically demand that Penn State fire everyone involved (looking the other way), then get back to business. Talk about throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Sandusky faces up to 442 years in prison for his crimes.

That will probably become the death penalty unless Sandusky is put into protective custody within the prison. Inmates are not fond of pedophiles.

Edited July 24, 2012 by connda

[hearditallbefore]

I agree, why punish the student players? Seems out of line.

[RKASA]

Not punishing the students really - it is the boosters they went after with that one. They pay out for players and the school tried to please them by the cover up and keep their program on track. If no post season hopes - then they will close the check book on the school and players that give them any hope of a post season anyway. The boosters likely pressure the school to do things their way or the highway - be sure of that.

Students can play else were and new students will get hired and paid by boosters at other schools that still have a post season possable. The school will lose all those future players that choose to go else where. The only players left would not see a post season play anyway - all second string line-up. Yes NCAA ball is bought and pay for - count the ways they do it - may as well let it out in the open like pro ball - that is what most of them play for anyway.

[Bluespunk]

Hard to see what else the NCAA could have done. The appalling crimes that were committed were ignored and covered up by those in authority at Penn state for the sake of the programme and all the benefits such a successful programme brings to a College. The NCAA is not only punishing Penn state but it is also sending out a message that it is absolutly unacceptable to cover up crimes such as this for the sake of profit and prestige. Yes the players will be inconvenienced but I understand that any players who wish to leave Penn can do so without hindrance. I am a massive sports fan but no amount of success is worth covering up for a pedophile. NCAA had no choice, they had to take this stand. All other colleges now know what will happen if they act as Penn did.

[BookMan]

The penalty of 60 million plus loss of titles, ban on competing in finals etc for 4 years sends a very strong message to all NCAA members.

Don't cover up child abuse. It is very simple.

That top officials knew about this and covered it up, or failed to act, mainly it seems, out of a desire to have a smooth and successful running team, is a ad reflection of these people. Surely these officials had children of their own, or at the very least. should have felt they had some moral duty of care to young people in their spheres?

You can be sure any other NCAA official in the future will think very hard about covering up similar allegations.

[geriatrickid]

To those who think the penalty is harsh, I suggest they read the Freeh report. I have seen highlights and the coverup was widespread including Coach Paterno's threatening and bullying of university personnel. The football program was a moneymaker for the university and the desire to protect money fueled the coverup. The pursuit of money was the root of the evil in respect to the coverup.

[GentlemanJim]

Well I would like to propose that the NCAA are used to impose sanctions and punishments on the Vatican and the Roman Catholic Church.

Edited July 25, 2012 by GentlemanJim