Penn State, Death Penalty or Not?

[Bodhi]

As the other thread is getting cluttered, I thought I would start one that does not focus so much on the Freeh Report, but more so on the actions the NCAA should or could take.

In the wake of the conspiracy to cover up the actions of convicted pedophile Jerry Sandusky, I find it interesting that people still find ways to defend the indefensible.  Leaving out the multitude of civil suits for now (there are some saying damages could top 500 million), the NCAA is now focusing on this scandal ridden school and taking in the known facts and known actions of school administrators, athletics administrators, iconic (sic) coach inactions, and a host of other participants' actions and preparing to make a ruling regarding the sanctions possible against Penn State.  While some delusional and attention seeking individuals claim that the NCAA can not do anything, one needs only refer to the NCAA Division I Constitution Section 6.0.1 to see that Penn State failed miserably at Institutional Control, and beyond that, there are a host of other issues when the words ethics come up.  While it is possible that the NCAA may want to distance themselves from this stinking mess, the NCAA is walking a very tight line here, because any inaction will reflect very poorly upon themselves and their governance of collegiate athletics and institutions that participate in such. 

The only reasonable course of action is that the NCAA at the least, must levy the "death sentence" on the Penn State Football program for no less than 2 years.  Established precedence in the NCAA rulings involving 5 death penalty sentences too date have resulted in two, 2 year sentences, for recruiting violations.  Recruiting violations.  Let that sink in.  2 years of no sport athletics (in the reference sports) for recruiting violations.  Paying student athletes to pay composed one of those "death penalties".  Now look to the comparison at Penn State.  At Penn State, administrators actively conspired to cover up a series of crimes so heinous that most have trouble saying it aloud.  The Institutional Control failed miserably and allowed young adults and children to be brutally sodomized and raped by the scum of the human race, a pedophile named Jerry Sandusky.  Further, the culture surrounding this program that was built up by an iconic "legend" allowed this to continue.  Finally, and amidst the testifying before a grand jury, the iconic football legend was awarded a much larger retirement package even though he failed miserably at the least in simple ethics.

Penn State deserves not a simple 3 year penalty for the football program.  It deserves a ten year absence of NCAA sports.  Maybe then, that scandal ridden culture can truly learn that athletics and ethics can go hand in hand.

What are your thoughts?

[Flipperk]

As the other thread is getting cluttered, I thought I would start one that does not focus so much on the Freeh Report, but more so on the actions the NCAA should or could take.

In the wake of the conspiracy to cover up the actions of convicted pedophile Jerry Sandusky, I find it interesting that people still find ways to defend the indefensible.  Leaving out the multitude of civil suits for now (there are some saying damages could top 500 million), the NCAA is now focusing on this scandal ridden school and taking in the known facts and known actions of school administrators, athletics administrators, iconic (sic) coach inactions, and a host of other participants' actions and preparing to make a ruling regarding the sanctions possible against Penn State.  While some delusional and attention seeking individuals claim that the NCAA can not do anything, one needs only refer to the NCAA Division I Constitution Section 6.0.1 to see that Penn State failed miserably at Institutional Control, and beyond that, there are a host of other issues when the words ethics come up.  While it is possible that the NCAA may want to distance themselves from this stinking mess, the NCAA is walking a very tight line here, because any inaction will reflect very poorly upon themselves and their governance of collegiate athletics and institutions that participate in such. 

The only reasonable course of action is that the NCAA at the least, must levy the "death sentence" on the Penn State Football program for no less than 2 years.  Established precedence in the NCAA rulings involving 5 death penalty sentences too date have resulted in two, 2 year sentences, for recruiting violations.  Recruiting violations.  Let that sink in.  2 years of no sport athletics (in the reference sports) for recruiting violations.  Paying student athletes to pay composed one of those "death penalties".  Now look to the comparison at Penn State.  At Penn State, administrators actively conspired to cover up a series of crimes so heinous that most have trouble saying it aloud.  The Institutional Control failed miserably and allowed young adults and children to be brutally sodomized and raped by the scum of the human race, a pedophile named Jerry Sandusky.  Further, the culture surrounding this program that was built up by an iconic "legend" allowed this to continue.  Finally, and amidst the testifying before a grand jury, the iconic football legend was awarded a much larger retirement package even though he failed miserably at the least in simple ethics.

Penn State deserves not a simple 3 year penalty for the football program.  It deserves a ten year absence of NCAA sports.  Maybe then, that scandal ridden culture can truly learn that athletics and ethics can go hand in hand.

What are your thoughts?

What about the students who had no involvement? A 10 year absence will absolutely destroy future funding to the school where tens of thousands student attend... is it fair to the other students to suffer the consequences of this?

10 years is a little harsh... I would lean towards a 3 year ban vs 10 years.  You want to teach a lesson, but you definitely don't want to punish students and staff that were not involved by limiting their ability to further their careers and education.

[kilo2]

No penalty from the NCAA.

[caldera]

I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit.  It's the only way to be sure. 


10 years?  Crucify the people that covered this up but don't destroy more lives that have nothing to do with what happened.
Kill the football program for 5 years or whatever, but what you propose is throwing out the baby with the bath water.

[Rob52240]

Regardless of what happens officially.

How many HS players are going to sign with Penn State if they are also given offers to any other school?
In my opinion, not many.

[Bodhi]

What about the students who had no involvement? A 10 year absence will absolutely destroy future funding to the school where tens of thousands student attend... is it fair to the other students to suffer the consequences of this?

10 years is a little harsh... I would lean towards a 3 year ban vs 10 years.  You want to teach a lesson, but you definitely don't want to punish students and staff that were not involved by limiting their ability to further their careers and education.

Covering up the rapes of children and failing to control the athletic program in an ethical manner is only a notch up from paying players to play in your program, right?

Take a look at the failures at PSU.  Then tell me again, based upon precedence of punishments, that 3 years is fair.

[Bodhi]

10 years?  Crucify the people that covered this up but don't destroy more lives that have nothing to do with what happened.
Kill the football program for 5 years or whatever, but what you propose is throwing out the baby with the bath water.

I think 10 years is reasonable.  Based upon the precedence for past punishments involving the NCAA "death penalty" (2 years for paying players to pay), the only reasonable reaction is to severely punish PSU.  As for destroying lives, I think people can get over not playing sports, but how do you suppose the victims of this heinous crime will endure?   

[Skilless]

There is no innocence; only varying degrees of guilt.

[kilo2]

There is no innocence; only varying degrees of guilt.

BS

[Skilless]

BS

Compelling retort.

[kilo2]

Compelling retort.

Thank you, nearly as well thought out as your own.

[Delirium]

Penn State will get 2-3 years, I can almost guarantee it.

I'd much rather see them get 10 years and lessening the 'death penalty' to 5 years if they throw their faulty Administration (including the late Paterno) under the bus by admitting there was wrong doing. No more trying to cover it up (or putting a happier face on it), and firing every single faculty member that was involved (no matter how minor).

Frankly, if Penn State can survive the civil suits against them (500million+), it will be amazing. In addition, I hope the victims sue the school, the people who made up the Administation at the time, and even the late Paterno's estate until nothing is left in their names/estates.

I understand this will affect students and even the local area, but if soft discipline is used here, it will send an entirely wrong message to all other schools. I still believe some of Penn State's Administration should be going to jail because of the mandatory reporting laws that were not followed.

[Bodhi]

See Rule #4

[kilo2]

See Rule #4

[Skilless]

I am not crapping anywhere. If you wanted a bunch of people to agree with you why not just PM each other?

What makes you think we're not?  There were only two guilt free people that I know of; then she ate an apple...

If this ruins Penn State so be it.  A clear message needs to be sent.  There are more than enough other schools out there to absorb the athletes with little or no reprocussions.  Penn State is not the only college with a football program.