Penn State And The Death Penalty

[douglas]

ehhh...the mercury marquee bring the fans...both of em ...should be fine

[Just1More]

On initial review, I'm impressed with the sanctions passed down by the NCAA against PSU.

[NewsCopy]

Penn State was fined an unprecedented $60 million, given a bowl ban and scholarship reductions and saw victories from 14 seasons wiped from the records books in a stunning series of penalties announced by the NCAA on Monday.

The rest of the story

[Boomer]

I don't know about this penalty---USL gets the death decree and these guys can't go to a Bowl and just give Conference TV money to the NCAA-----The cover up begs for at least 2 years without football!!!

[SlappyCajun]

I think the stripping of wins is a hollow, pointless act that does nothing. I think the money fine, bowl ban, etc is appropriate.

Boom, IMO this is harsher than a death penalty.

[wgwillis]

As horrible as this whole thing is, I do not think the NCAA has the right to make such a decision. This is a criminal and civil matter and goes way beyond the scope of the and function of the NCAA. They should stick to sports related items. Their input is hollow. This is much more involved than their penalties and they should yield to the civil and criminal courts as this is way over their heads. This has nothing to do with the NCAA or the PSU sports programs. This is much bigger than they are and if the civil and criminal authorities wish to fine PSU so be it but the NCAA is way out of line. I think the NCAA is getting to much power and may need to have some of their authority cut. As far as the victims, whatever the courts say should be done and my sympathies and support are with them but this not a problem that the NCAA should have any authority over. So, if Paterno had shot and killed someone should the NCAA be allowed to destroy a entire football program. Don't you see we have laws for such acts and the NCAA is not the LAW of the land!

[CajunAmos]

As horrible as this whole thing is, I do not think the NCAA has the right to make such a decision. This is a criminal and civil matter and goes way beyond the scope of the and function of the NCAA. They should stick to sports related items. Their input is hollow. This is much more involved than their penalties and they should yield to the civil and criminal courts as this is way over their heads. This has nothing to do with the NCAA or the PSU sports programs. This is much bigger than they are and if the civil and criminal authorities wish to fine PSU so be it but the NCAA is way out of line. I think the NCAA is getting to much power and may need to have some of their authority cut. As far as the victims, whatever the courts say should be done and my sympathies and support are with them but this not a problem that the NCAA should have any authority over. So, if Paterno had shot and killed someone should the NCAA be allowed to destroy a entire football program. Don't you see we have laws for such acts and the NCAA is not the LAW of the land!

Actually, I do feel this is also sports related. A decision was made at the highest levels that it was more important to maintain a football programs good name and success than to report a criminal act that occurred within the department. It actually seems to fall greatly under lack of institutional control.

[wgwillis]

I respect your feelings but I simply disagree. We have to many people and groups that think they have a right to tell others what to do. The law is good enough for me.

[VObserver]

I respect your feelings but I simply disagree. We have to many people and groups that think they have a right to tell others what to do. The law is good enough for me.

So you are saying that the Knights of Columbus or the Shriners should not be allowed to impose sanctions on their members who engage in criminal behavior? Remember, the NCAA is a voluntary organization. PSU can always withdraw from the NCAA if it does not want to accept the sanctions.

This is clearly a lack of institutional control issue of the highest order, and the penalties handed down by the NCAA are appropriate.

[VObserver]

As horrible as this whole thing is, I do not think the NCAA has the right to make such a decision. This is a criminal and civil matter and goes way beyond the scope of the and function of the NCAA. They should stick to sports related items. Their input is hollow. This is much more involved than their penalties and they should yield to the civil and criminal courts as this is way over their heads. This has nothing to do with the NCAA or the PSU sports programs. This is much bigger than they are and if the civil and criminal authorities wish to fine PSU so be it but the NCAA is way out of line. I think the NCAA is getting to much power and may need to have some of their authority cut. As far as the victims, whatever the courts say should be done and my sympathies and support are with them but this not a problem that the NCAA should have any authority over. So, if Paterno had shot and killed someone should the NCAA be allowed to destroy a entire football program. Don't you see we have laws for such acts and the NCAA is not the LAW of the land!

This is not about Sandusky's acts, per se. It is about a systematic and pervasive coverup of those activities over a multi-year period for the stated and specific purpose of protecting the PSU football program. If PSU had fired Sandusky and turned him over to authorities immediately upon finding out about his activities, there would have been no NCAA action.

The FOOTBALL program at PSU had become more important than the integrity of the university. That is quite clearly an NCAA matter.