The Penn State Sanctions Punish 5 Innocent VictimsJuly 28, 2012
Football fan or not, you know about the Penn State sex scandal. A storied football program that stood for everything right in the world had more secrets than the Catholic Church.
Penn State was ordered to pay $60 million dollars to setup an endowment fund for child sex abuse victims. The Penn State football team will lose 10 scholarships for four years and will also be banned from playing in a bowl game for four years. I totally agree with the NCAA finning Penn State $60 million dollars. I actually think it should have been more money. My thoughts on what the NCAA’s punishment for the Penn State football program are for another conversation.
Everyone that needed to be punished has been or is in the process of it. Jerry Sandusky has been convicted of 40 counts of child molestation. Penn State athletic director, Tim Curley, and Penn State Vice President, Gary Schultz, are both awaiting trial for perjury. University President, Graham Spainer, has been fired and could possibly face charges. Joe Paterno is dead and so is his statue.
The problem with the NCAA sanctions yesterday is that they did not punish Jerry Sandusky, Tim Curley, Gary Schultz, Graham Spainer, or Joe Paterno. They punished more innocent people. Here are five innocent groups of people that will have to suffer.
1. Current PSU football players and coaches – The sex scandal was not an NCAA infraction and was beyond the level and reach of the NCAA. Where was the NCAA when a Baylor University basketball player murdered another Baylor University basketball player? Where was the NCAA when a men’s lacrosse player at Virginia killed a women’s lacrosse player at the university?
So, because coaches and administrators committed crimes several years ago, innocent players and coaches who were not at the university at the time now have to suffer? Not cool. Yes, the current players can transfer, but college football training camps begin in two weeks. Also, who’s to say that the schools that these players maybe interested in, will be interested in them. A college offense or defensive playbook isn’t an easy thing to learn. A Penn State stater maybe forced to be a backup if he transfers to another school.
2. The Penn State Athletic department – Football is the cash cow of any major university. I’m sorry, but the Men’s Tennis team, Women’s Ice Hockey team, and neither Cross Country team are bringing in money. The money that the football team generates funds the other sports at the university. The amount of the money lost is affecting more than just the football team.
3. Penn State football fans – Their favorite football team is going to suck for the next 8 to 10 years and they had nothing to do with it. You think a sports team can’t do anything for a city or a person’s morale, then talk to the New Orleans Saints fans when they won the Super Bowl in 2010.
4. State College, PA – Penn State University makes its home in this Happy Valley town. People will still pony up the money to pay for football tickets for Penn State games because their fan base is that loyal. No one is going to be celebrating with food and drinks after the games, because to celebrate, you well…um have to win and Penn State won’t be doing much of that.
5. The Big Ten Conference – Strength is schedule is everything in college football. The more competitive teams you have in your conference, the better your conference. Soon beating Penn State in football will be the same as beating Popcorn State.
That’s all I got,
Ricky Writer
