NCAA source: unprecedented penalties against Penn State Monday

Submitted by Leaders And Best on
Not sure what this means, but if they are announcing it without a letter of inquiry, it probably means Penn State administration and AD is in agreement. I am guessing a fine or profits donated to charity with no TV ban or death penalty.
 

NCAA source tells CBS News athletic assn. will announce "unprecedented" penalties against Penn State, football team http://cbsn.ws/QnwOzy

NCAA @NCAA

NCAA to hold press conference on #PennState Mon at 9 a.m. ET. Live coverage from @InsidetheNCAA & web stream link avail tmrw.

UPDATE #1:

- Reports that PSU will not fight the penalties. Points to deal between PSU and NCAA.

Bruce Feldman @BFeldmanCBS

RT @djoneshoop PennSt will NOT appeal NCAA's decision, I've been told. Speed of decision/lack of contention pts to a deal betw NCAA & PSU

UPDATE #2:

- Yahoo Sports NCAA Angel of Death Charles Robinson reporting penalty of multiple bowls and crippling scholarship losses.

Charles Robinson @CharlesRobinson

Penn State penalty: multiple bowls, crippling scholarship losses & NCAA Prez is levying it w/ no in-house investigation http://tinyurl.com/btmywbn

UPDATE #3:

- CBS Sports reporting massive fine in penalty.

@McMurphyCBS: Penn State will be fined b/w $30 million to $60 million, sources told @CBSSports http://cbsprt.co/O8tNRq

bdsisme

July 22nd, 2012 at 9:59 AM ^

Rumor-mongering quote:

I heard from a groomsman in my wedding. His brother works for the NCAA as a PR guy. Anyway, I got a text from him on Thursday about what my friend had been told by his brother (I know, I know…my sourcing isn’t so credible, right?). Anyway, I snidely dismissed it right away as ridiculous and said there was no way. My friend just sort of said don’t shoot the messenger. Now, with this “unprecedented” talk, I’m nervous for the first time.

The punishment according to his brother: two year suspension of program with all players being granted full release with immediate eligibility (which seemed most strange to me since, you know, practice starts in like 2 weeks). Anyway, I’ve never been “that guy” but figured I’d share this…even though I still not necessarily believe it.

http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2012/7/22/3175512/joe-paterno-statue-re…

superstringer

July 22nd, 2012 at 10:42 AM ^

I wouldn't want to see my team on the field with them this year. and it's not fair to others who don't have them on the schedule (we are one of those right) because it's a scrimmage now when you play pus -- they will be worse than an FCS team. (no apply jokes plz).

dnak438

July 22nd, 2012 at 11:37 AM ^

Per ESPN's Joe Schad:

NCAA president Mark Emmert has decided to punish Penn State with severe penalties likely to include a significant loss of scholarships and loss of multiple bowls, a source close to the decision told ESPN's Joe Schad on Sunday morning.

But Penn State will not receive the so-called "death penalty" that would have suspended the program for at least one year, the source said.

The penalties, however, are considered to be so harsh that the death penalty may have been preferable, the source said.


 

Muttley

July 22nd, 2012 at 10:42 AM ^

for decades.

 

There are 119 BCS programs.  Yes, there will be some disruptions in innocent bystanders lives.  But no where near to the degree of the distruptions in the innocent victims' lives.

PSU the university has trashed its side of the contract to all involved.  So tear up any restrictions on the athletes that would keep them stuck at PSU.

wolverine1987

July 22nd, 2012 at 3:47 PM ^

because tomorrow will punish 85-100 players, an entire new staff of coaches and assistants, the student body of PSU, and assorted other people that benefit from PSU football, ALL of whom are completely and utterly innocent of any wrongdoing whatsoever. And don;'t tell me the players are ok because they get to transfer--they are not.

Unlike SMU. OSU and other scandals, all of which involved player participation in illegal benefits or activities, in the PSU scandal there are THREE people involved, three, other than the ex-employee most responsible. All of whom are either dead or fired and facing jail time. Yet all of the people not involved will now suffer for the sins of three. It's sad. And missing bowl games and losing scholarships does not a thing, not one thing, to comfort the victims. 

UMgradMSUdad

July 22nd, 2012 at 5:27 PM ^

Yes, it will be sad for all those reasons.  But you know what would be even sadder? It would be for PSU football going forward to suffer essentially no real consequences, to continue to have an equal opportunity for success to any other program as if nothing had happened, and to enjoy the fruits and success today and tomorrow that the cover-up of child rape allowed the program.  It does really suck, but that's the possibility the head coach, AD, and president gambled with when they covered up criminal acts to protect the university and football program.  We can't go back in time and undo what they did.  For the true victims, the children raped by Sandusky and their families, the worst insult would be to allow the football program to continue on, essentially unscathed.  And yes, I would say losing scholarships and bowl games will provide some sense of comfort to comfort the victims; it says that the PSU football program and university created this mess and should not be allowed to continue.  I can only imagine the pain and disgust the victims would feel if PSU were to go to a bowl game in the near future, and to watch the team and fans celebrate victory while the victims are still trying to heal.  It's not perfect, but it sure beats no NCAA sanctions at all.

wolverine1987

July 22nd, 2012 at 6:44 PM ^

don't agree obviously. I think they have suffered a huge loss of prestige in public perception (witness the competition in the media and blogs to see who can suggest the toughest sanction, including mainstream media that normally pays little attention to football). Their reputation won't be the same for years, whatever the penalty. And beyond that (since I agree with you that bad media coverage isn't enough) they will lose literally hundreds of millions in lawsuits, and the remaing two people face criminal charges. That is the penalty that addresses the crime.

Every previous NCAA involvement before this was in response to actions that provided a competitive advantage in playing football. That is not the case here. Here the NCAA is making a moral judgement and taking the place of courts to punish an action they disapprove of (as we all do) but which provided zero advantage to the football program and involved no football players. That is not their place IMO. 

Reasonable people will disagree of course.

MGoSoftball

July 22nd, 2012 at 7:50 PM ^

slightly different take.  We all agree a horrible crime has been committed.  In many states all 4 involved could be executed.  A cover-up ensued to protect the football program.  So by default, the football program is a co-conspiritor.

Once the facts came out and there were conviction, it puts more pressure on the football.  Everyone involved believed they were above the law, that they were untouchable.  The 4 did everything they could to hide and allow Jerry to continue.  Jerry was at the Executive Boxes the games before he was arrested.  If that is not enabling, I dont know what is.

This is significantly worse than tat-gate, or paying a player.  Hell Reggie Bush had to give back his Heisman Trophy because he took some money?  This is peanuts compared to what PSU did.

So the football "program" has to pay the ultimate price.  The football team must be torn down and start over.  The death penalty does not even begin to start the healing process.  The entire culture needs to be destroyed so this will never happen again.

The current players will not be punished.  They will be given the option of transferring.  If not the NCAA should allow those players to stay and get an education under the terms of their scholarship.  They will still get a free education.

When someone gets convicted of a major crime no one says, "but he shouldnt go to jail because he has small children.  They shouldnt be punished."  Bad things happen to good an innocent people.  It is just a part of life.

I have pledged to donate money to the PSU softball team if their is a death penalty.

 

southern_yankee

July 22nd, 2012 at 8:09 PM ^

^^^. This. The only thing I would add is the Freeh report puts the blame squarely not just on Paterno et al, but the entire "culture" at Penn State. The kids on current scholly will be fine one or another ( transfer -- whatever ). But that enire University, athletic department, and fan base must give their pound of flesh.

Mr Miggle

July 22nd, 2012 at 6:29 PM ^

So I have to ask, who are those three?

Were they the same three who allowed football to opt out of required compliance procedures? The same three who tolerated Paterno's refusal to allow the school to discipline players? Were they the only three with knowledge of Sandusky's assaults?

In my opinion. lack of institutional control such as existed at Penn State requires the involvement and acquiescence of many more people. It's okay to feel sad for innocent people who will lose something, but it's not a reason to minimize what is leading to PSU's penalties. Yes, OSU's scandal involved players and PSU's didn't. Is that a more important factor to correlate with the penalties than the amount of damage done by the violations? I don't think so, nor do I think the involvement of players is worse than the involvement of the upper administration.

wolverine1987

July 22nd, 2012 at 6:41 PM ^

other than those three, from the Freeh report on down.You make reasionable points, so I don't want to debate you, but to me the harm that is done to innocent people via this penalty is wrong, and is wrong because it doesn't address the problem, a problem which has already been addressed and corrected. And literally hundreds of people will be impacted by this penalty. IMO the legal process, and the civil court process, is the place for this punishment to take place. They will suffer huge loses via lawsuits, and the other two still alive face criminal charges. That is the remedy that addresses, specifically, the harm done. Not this.

burtcomma

July 22nd, 2012 at 8:38 PM ^

Was it not the total power and ability to control the entire situation from both the PSU football head coach and the various other university and law enforcement officials and athletic heads that led to the cowardice of this cover-up?

The message to be sent is to all future administrators and coaches that if you think it is bad to blow the whistle on yourself in cases like this, and worry about your reputation if you disclose what is going on, it is even worse when we find out you covered it up and attempted to sweep it under the rug!  The punishment is not about the water under the bridge, it is about making sure it does not happen again anywhere in college sports.

 

Gameboy

July 22nd, 2012 at 9:30 PM ^

Can we get one thing straight?

The fault of the current players getting screwed is not the fault of NCAA. It is the fault of Curley, Schultz, Spanier, and Paterno.

THEY are the ones who decided to sweep the pedophile under the rug. THEY are the ones who (incorrectly) deduced that it would be better to keep things quiet rather than to come out clean - not once, but TWICE!!! THEY are the ones who are screwing the current generation of players. If they did what was expected of ANY human being of any moral character, NONE of this would be happening today. They traded the little embarrassment back then for the catastrophe today. They made that bargain, not NCAA.

NCAA is just doing what it can to reduce the chance of this happening again in the future (how small that may be). If they don't take any significant step, they would be crucified by everyone. Why should NCAA take heat for PSU?

NCAA is not screwing anybody. It is the incomprehensible action by the administrators and Paterno that screwed everyone.

wolverine1987

July 22nd, 2012 at 10:58 PM ^

But this action is voluntary, this action, in and of itself, is harming only people who had no role in this--it literally harms not one person that was at fault for the crime. That is wrong IMO. Punishment is supposed to harm the guilty--not the people who are left after the guilty people already have been charged. Would you support punishing a rapist's family (not just the one parent who didn't speak up) because they set the wrong "culture" for the rapist--or any criminal? Sorry folks, you enabled him, it's his fault--you suffer but... sorry, that's justice.

LSA Aught One

July 22nd, 2012 at 11:25 AM ^

said that he's really tight with a guy who plays poker with a guy who cuts the grass for the assistant equipment manager at Temple.  He says that his uncle is neighbors with a guy who grew up near State College.  He said that you need to stop listening to 8th-hand rumors and just wait for the announcement.  In fact, if the weather where you are is half as nice as it is in TN, we should all go outside and do something recreational.  I headed there, now.

BlueGoM

July 22nd, 2012 at 9:28 AM ^

Well that sounds good, but on the other hand I do worry about the current players getting punished for something some coaches and administrators did.

BlueCE

July 22nd, 2012 at 2:30 PM ^

I think the university should pay stiff financial penalties, and use those funds to help children who have gone through these types of ordeals.  I mean tough, 10 years of profit or whatever.  I think that will hurt the university, especially those that covered it up, hurting less the current students/athletes that were not involved.

trueblueintexas

July 22nd, 2012 at 3:35 PM ^

Why should all the students of the university who have nothing to do with football be impacted by this? Lest anyone forget, there are far more students attending Penn State for an actual education than play football for the school. Making the whole school pay huge fines to protect the current football team is the dumbest most sports centric idea I have ever heard.

DC Dave

July 22nd, 2012 at 10:47 AM ^

shouldn't be punished but whatever happens to Penn State, somebody is going to get hurt that doesn't deserve it.  Everyone who was involved, afterall, has been removed already.  The point of levying a punishment on a university or football program isn't just to exact retribution on the wrongdoers but to create a consequence for the institution that engaged in or failed to prevent bad stuff.  That sends a signal to all institutions to take proactive steps to prevent the same kind of bad stuff from happening in the future.  I don't have a strong opinion about what the NCAA should do but how current Penn State football players are impacted isn't high on my list of concerns. 

lhglrkwg

July 22nd, 2012 at 10:57 AM ^

Current players really can't be brought up or else you'd never be able to punish any university. Especially in this case, you can't say that the NCAA was mean and hurt innocent players, everyone needs to look to Penn State and blame them for hurting the current players and countless other people (especially, especially the victims). Not the NCAA's fault but they'll undoubtedly get blamed for being cruel

MGoSoftball

July 22nd, 2012 at 9:46 AM ^

everyone still using the term "punish"? 

Everyone has to keep focus on the the goal of the STUDENT-athlete.  The student agrees to play a sport for a free education.  I have never heard where the death penalty pulls schollies.

The football players will still get a top quality education.  If the player wants to transfer, the NCAA will allow that.  So how is it "punishing" anyone?

Hell punish me by giving me a free education, room, board and I dont have to practice 80 hours per week.

Lionsfan

July 22nd, 2012 at 11:15 AM ^

"They" weren't a part of anything except playing football. JoePa, Sandusky, Graham, and Spanier are the only ones to blame. These kids now are getting screwed because when they were 8-10 years old, a few assholes decided to fuck things up

mackbru

July 22nd, 2012 at 3:52 PM ^

Those "few assholes" happened to be the leaders of the administration, the athletic department, and the team (not to mention at least one other coach, McQueary, and god only knows how many others who no doubt heard whispers and did nothing). It was a cross-departmental conspiracy/cover-up at the very top of the pyramid. It wasn't just a few random bureaucrats. It's basically football Watergate. 

dayooper63

July 22nd, 2012 at 11:45 AM ^

I couldn't diagree more with the rationale that it was only four people the "fucked it up."  Who gave Paterno his power?

 

Let's look at the culprits:

1: The PSU administration for showing no backbone.  They did whatever Paterno wanted.  It set up a power structure where there was no check to his power.  As time passed, his power grew.  They tried to remove him in the mid 2000's.  He said no.  The board and president knew if they fired him, the backlas from the alumni (and their donations) would be swift and severe.  He was allowed to pick his own AD (his own boss).   

2: The culture of the students and alumni.  They worshipped him.  He became the face of the university.  Paternoville.  The statue (and defense of).  The school was Paterno's brand of football first and everything else second.  The great strides made by their medical research was overshadowed by Paterno's football legacy.  

3. Culture of the community.  They let Paterno get his win before they charged Sandusky.  The media didn't start hounding him until after he won the game that gave him the record.  The backlash the victim received when it was found out he was accousing Sandusky (the victim and his mother received death threats due to the accusations).

 

The power that Paterno had was given to him by the culture of PSU and State College.  There are many, many people to blame.  Now, did the above know what was happening?  I doubt it. They did put the mechanisms in place that allowed the cover to happen.  The "Football is the face of the University" culture is what needs to be changed.

Lionsfan

July 22nd, 2012 at 12:18 PM ^

First off, while you're making valid points, you're still failing to prove how any of this belongs on the current players.

Second, can you really blame people? Prior to this, JoePa pretty much was perfect. How do you expect people not to worship him? Coaching since 1950 and never having any issues? He was their Bo, except bigger. I don't blame people for putting him on a pedestal, for giving him the power. He just showed that unlike Bo, he couldn't handle it. More of a specific character issue than a University problem.

I do think they need a reality check, but I don't think a Death Penalty is the way to go. Hampering their program (schollie reductions, bowl bans, media blackout, etc), issuing a LOIC, and having them on probation would be better than to end up punishing a group of people 10-13 years removed from the initial coverup

dnak438

July 22nd, 2012 at 12:29 PM ^

Institutions have rules and regulations, and mechanisms to monitor and enforce them, in order to prevent executives and other power-brokers, no matter how honest and rule-abiding they may seem, from wrong-doing. Penn State allowed the rules and the mechanisms to lapse on the theory that Joe was honest and in control. So although I agree with you that in some respects this is unique to Joe Pa -- Penn State will obviously never trust any other coach in the same way now that this has happened -- I do think that it is a University problem. The leadership of the Athletic Department and the University decided to gamble on Joe Pa, and they lost.

The NCAA, it seems to me, is interested in punishing institutions. Hence sanctions are designed to punish the institution rather than individuals (see, e.g., USC). In that respect, punishing Penn St as an institution for institutional failings makes a lot of sense.

Lionsfan

July 22nd, 2012 at 1:03 PM ^

Again, it wasn't the university as a whole. They didn't have a commitee vote involving all the falculty, it was 4 guys. Unfortunately it happened to be the 4 guys at the top, but let's not pretend that everyone at PSU knew about this and was actively covering it up. Penn State didn't allow the rules to be bent, the only guys with knowledge of the situation let the rules be bent.

Don

July 22nd, 2012 at 1:17 PM ^

That's what so many people seem to be ignoring. Having a cult of personality involving a football coach is hardly a novel thing in college football—Alabama and Bear Bryant sure as hell did, and anybody who says that we don't have a smaller version here in A2 revolving around Bo is simply fooling themselves.

However, that is light-years from having a tiny cadre of upper administrators and athletic people covering up a series of serious crimes that would have revolted and outraged the vast majority of Penn St students, faculty, and administrators had they known what was going on. The fact that there are boneheads who are angry about Paterno's statue coming down or idiots who placed threatening phone calls to the family of the victims does not mean that a majority of people in Happy Valley condone Sandusky's crimes, or the efforts by Paterno and others to cover them up.

dnak438

July 22nd, 2012 at 2:29 PM ^

but if the standard for punishing a university was that "the whole University" knew about a crime and covered it up, then you'd never punish any university.

Nobody is pretending that everyone at PSU knew about this. But many more people are at fault than just the 4 guys at the top.

Here are the salient facts:

  1. The coach knew.
  2. The AD knew.
  3. The president of the University knew.
  4. A senior VP knew.
  5. The Board of Trustees "did not perform its oversight duties" (Freeh report, p. 15) and failed "to make reasonable inquiry" (p. 16) into allegations against Sandusky.
  6. The football program didn't fully participate in some University programs (including compliance with the Clery Act, p. 17)
  7. The University had no centralized office to oversee institutional compliance (Freeh report, p. 31)

And there is much more in the Freeh report. Read chapter 10 and look at how many substantial recommendations the report makes. Penn State FAILED as an institution.

mackbru

July 22nd, 2012 at 4:01 PM ^

Jeez. Lack of institutional control doesn't mean everyone was guilty. It means the institution -- its leaders, its structure, its culture -- was fundamentally corrupt. All the leaders -- administrators, coaches, trustees -- failed, in one way or another. The top dogs covered-up child rape. The school and its trustees -- by their own admission -- failed in their oversight obligations. And the school in general -- again, by its own admission -- created a grotesque football-first culture (evidenced by the obscene pro-Joe riots).

Wake up, dude. How much more evidence of institutional corruption do you need?