Penn State gets the hammer from the NCAA

Yesterday the NCAA announced that Penn State University will be banned from post season competition for four years, reduction of 20 scholarships a year for four years, $60 million fine which will go towards child abuse charities and programs, and all of Joe Paterno's wins from 1998-2011 vacated along with Tom Bradley's one victory while he was the interim coach, and five years probation.

Also the Big 10 Conference announced Penn State will not receive any bowl money that is divided between the schools and will be ineligible to play in the Big 10 Championship game while on probation.

On Sunday the statue of Joe Paterno in front of Beaver Stadium was removed as well.

Even though I preferred the Death Penalty for five years, this is a good start.  Penn State is being made an example of and it sends a message to all the other NCAA schools that this bullshit will not be tolerated.  Penn State football is broken for at least ten years, and the Penn State faithful can thank Graham Spanier, Tim Curley, Gary Schultz, Joe Paterno, Jerry Sandusky, and Mike McQueary for all this.

Of course the Paterno family had to whine about all this.  Here is what they (or son Jay) had to say about it:

Removing the statue:

“Tearing down the statue of Joe Paterno does not serve the victims of Jerry Sandusky’s horrible crimes or help heal the Penn State Community. We believe the only way to help the victims is to uncover the full truth. The Freeh report, though it has been accepted by the media as the definitive conclusion on the Sandusky scandal, is the equivalent of an indictment — a charging document written by a prosecutor — and an incomplete and unofficial one at that.
“To those who truly want to know the truth about Sandusky, it should matter that Joe Paterno has never had a hearing; that his legal counsel has never been able to interview key witnesses, all of whom are represented by lawyers and therefore unavailable; that there has never been an opportunity to review critical evidence which has not been made public; that selective evidence and the opinion of Mr Freeh is treated as the equivalent of a fair trial. Despite this obviously flawed and one-sided presentation, the University believes it must acquiesce and accept that Joe Paterno has been given a fair and complete hearing. We think the better course would have been for the University to take a strong stand in support of due process so that the complete truth can be uncovered.
“It is not the University’s responsibility to defend or protect Joe Paterno. But they at least should have acknowledged that important legal cases are still pending and that the record on Joe Paterno, the Board and other key players is far from complete.”

The sanctions:

“Sexual abuse is reprehensible, especially when it involves children, and no one starting with Joe Paterno condones or minimizes it. The horrific acts committed by Jerry Sandusky shock the conscience of every decent human being. How Sandusky was able to get away with his crimes for so long has yet to be fully understood, despite the claims and assertions of the Freeh report.
The release of the Freeh report has triggered an avalanche of vitriol, condemnation and posthumous punishment on Joe Paterno. The NCAA has now become the latest party to accept the report as the final word on the Sandusky scandal. The sanctions announced by the NCAA today defame the legacy and contributions of a great coach and educator without any input from our family or those who knew him best.
That the President, the Athletic Director and the Board of Trustees accepted this unprecedented action by the NCAA without requiring a full due process hearing before the Committee on Infractions is an abdication of their responsibilities and a breach of their fiduciary duties to the University and the 500,000 alumni. Punishing past, present and future students of the University because of Sandusky’s crimes does not serve justice. This is not a fair or thoughtful action; it is a panicked response to the public’s understandable revulsion at what Sandusky did.
The point of due process is to protect against this sort of reflexive action. Joe Paterno was never interviewed by the University or the Freeh Group. His counsel has not been able to interview key witnesses as they are represented by counsel related to ongoing litigation. We have had no access to the records reviewed by the Freeh group. The NCAA never contacted our family or our legal counsel. And the fact that several parties have pending trials that could produce evidence and testimony relevant to this matter has been totally discounted.
Unfortunately all of these facts have been ignored by the NCAA, the Freeh Group and the University.”

And here is MY response to the Paternos:

Shut the fuck up!  You are acting like Joe is the only victim in this whole saga.  Joe had numerous opportunities between 1998-2011 to speak up and he didn't.  That is his own fault.  A week before he died he was asked by a reporter if he knew about the 1998 investigation and he lied saying he did not.  The proof is in the e-mails.  He also committed perjury in the grand jury investigation.  You should be glad he is dead so he would not have to face federal charges.

I think what is really pissing you off is that your dad/husband can no longer call the shots at PSU like he did for forty years.  And since he is gone your family is now persona non grata as it should be.  You even demanded access to the university jet, and a prime suite box at Beaver Stadium for 25 years.  And he got that deal months before the scandal broke.  No wonder the administration wants nothing to do with you.

And by the way, shut the fuck up!  I will enjoy watching Iowa kick PSU's ass for at least ten years.  At least Coach Ferentz had a winning record against JoePa.