In getting it wrong the NCAA might have actually found their voice
Jul 23, 2012
In my opinion, penalizing Penn State University was not the business of the NCAA.
To me, as heinous as this matter is -- and it is undeniable that it is far worse than impermissible benefits or academic fraud -- it was still a matter for law enforcement as opposed to the fellow member institutions that make up the NCAA. The people responsible for what occurred are either in jail for life, headed there, or dead. What has happened today, with the announced penalties, severely punishes hundreds of people who had exactly nothing to do with the past culture of football isolationism.
Make no mistake, what NCAA President Mark Emmert announced Monday represents the very worst penalties ever handed down by the governing body of college athletics. Penn State was fined $60 million, essentially the equivalent of a season's football revenue. The program faces a 4-year post season ban that will likely keep them out of bowl games for far longer. There will be a loss of 10 scholarships in each of the next four seasons, and the school is going to have to operate with a maximum of 65 scholarships by the second year of these sanctions. On top of that, the NCAA took away 14 seasons of wins from Penn State, knocking the late Joe Paterno's win total from 409 to 298, which speaks specifically to how they believed Paterno influenced an apparent coverup of Jerry Sandusky's atrocities.
Penn State football is now a thing of the past. You could make the argument that it mirrors that of the reputation of it's architect. Joe Paterno's legacy is in shambles much like the program he brought to the top of his sport for the better part of three decades. In the 70s, 80s and 90s you'd be hard-pressed to find a program that was more consistently excellent while also standing for all that was wholesome about intercollegiate athletics.
All of that is gone.
It will be at least a decade before Penn State is heard from again in a meaningful way on the football field. The current players will be free to leave Penn State and seek opportunities at the school of their choice -- though it does seem highly unlikely that this can happen immediately, as the season begins in a month. There will also be, regardless of what Emmert said today, a trickle-down impact on the University community and the 28 non-revenue sports which will struggle to survive as they do currently with a severely diminished football program.
However, no matter how much I disagree with the NCAA's involvement in this case, it does signal what I hope will become a new attitude towards rule-breaking. Mark Emmert clearly was lashing out against a culture where the tail of big-money athletics has been wagging the dog of the university as a whole. And, as a general rule, I'm comfortable with that mindset. To that end, isn't that what took place in the past at Ohio State? At North Carolina? At Alabama? At USC?
I've long argued that you'll never change bad behavior unless you're willing to severely punish the offenders. Minimal scholarship reductions, limiting official visits, one-year post season restrictions and vacating a season or two of wins are not real penalties. They're speed bumps.
Monday, in Indianapolis, Mark Emmert may have caved into the court of public opinion. I actually believe he showed more weakness than strength of conviction in doing so. But, if this ushers in a new era of NCAA intolerance towards the culture of athletics ruling the roost, then I'm willing to sit back and see if they can accomplish that goal. I'm of the mind that intercollegiate athletics has needed a reset for a long time. Programs need to be a part of the university as a whole, not a separate, money-generating entity. Maybe, by overstepping his boundaries, Mark Emmert might have actually stumbled upon the solution to that culture run amok.
It's just a shame that it took a decade and a half of heinous criminal activity -- and by that I mean men of alleged character putting themselves above the lives and well-being of children -- to help the NCAA finally find its voice.
Trust me, when I say that we'll all be listening next time.
Most Recent Comments
RE: In getting it wrong the NCAA might have actually found their voice
Anyone who thinks this is an "adequate" penalty doesn't understand the economics of big time college football or Penn State. The 60 million fine is a drop in the bucket. While PSU won't get any bowl revenue for the next few years, they still get TV revenue which totals 20 million a year. Since the 60 mil is payable over 5 years they will have earned 100 mil in that same time frame just from TV money. In addition, PSU raised over 200 million campus wide in donations in 2010. I'm not saying it won't sting a little but it won't do much more than that. I feel that PSU should have come out BEFORE the NCAA and given themselves the death penalty and forfeit any revenue from outside sources. Who cares about the other sports. Those athletes can go somewhere else if PSU couldn't afford to put teams on the field. I know the current athletes had nothing to do with this but everyone has heard the term "guilty by association" Sorry for them but this is all about so much more than sports.- Posted by TJ2368
And, my friend, you don't understand the eco here either.
RE: In getting it wrong the NCAA might have actually found their voice
As much as it pains me to say I agree. I don't feel this is an NCAA issue. This is a legal issue and MANY people need to go to jail. Todd Blackledge managed to join the club of blind loyalty today. Am I the only person who is tired of hearing people say "well we dont have all the facts yet" "Lets not rush to judgement" Please allow me to translate that for you. The facts were discovered and I didn't like the results. Yes people sometimes 3 + 2 does = 5. The facts are the facts. I am sorry if the facts get in the way of the outcome you desire. The truth is the truth. I hate to go all Jack on everyone but these Penn State alums cant handle the truth. It is absolutely sick and embarrassing to listen to the Blackledge and Millen's of the world make excuses for what happen. They spend two sentences talking about the kids that were raped and a novel on how wonderful and misunderstood their precious Jopa was. Gotta question for you Todd. You played at Penn State. You have a son. Your son wants to go to second mile just to be close to where his daddy played football so you allow it. Your son becomes a victim of Sandusky. You later find out that this occured after Jopa was informed in 1998. Jopa could have prevented this happening to your son. Now how much do love Jopa Todd? How much? Who matters more to you Todd. Your precious Jopa or your son. Think real hard before you answer.RE: In getting it wrong the NCAA might have actually found their voice
They need to get my Tar Heels right. Butch did everything he could from firing Blake to pulling any player he thought may be involved until they were cleared to play. Now players that had absolutely nothing to do with it are paying the price. The only person not to take accountability for any of the academics is our spineless Mr. Thorp he thought firing Butch would make it go away and it has grown more. Stand up and be a man Mr. Thorp.- Posted by TruthBKnown Left The BuildingIn getting it wrong the NCAA might have actually found their voice
Except that they didn't get it wrong.
At least now they can re-focus on the Tar Heels and maybe get THAT ONE right, too.
Posted Jul 24, 6:21 p.m.
Rank: Sports Legend Posts: 6446
Joined: Jun, 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
RE: In getting it wrong the NCAA might have actually found their voice
- Posted by ptrrrk1To me, as heinous as this matter is -- and it is undeniable that it is far worse than impermissible benefits or academic fraud -- it was still a matter for law enforcement as opposed to the fellow member institutions that make up the NCAA
Have you ever heard of grammar Adam? Please learn to write correctly.
You forgot to put a comma after the word "grammar".
Posted Jul 24, 6:13 p.m.
Rank: Veteran Posts: 222
Joined: Jul, 2008
Location: Cary, NC
RE: In getting it wrong the NCAA might have actually found their voice
Adam has been around Joe Ovies WAY too long.- Posted by cjw6105
I see the "bash Joe" meme is out again in the comments. What exactly is the point of this? If you do not like the show or the hosts, why do you listen and why do you comment? Seems like you could find something better to do with your time.
