A Penatly Worse than Death.

Penn state, or the State Penn?

The NCAA hit Penn State with a four-year postseason football ban, reduction of 10 initial and 20 total scholarships each year for a four-year period,  a $60 million sanction, and they are forcing Penn State to vacate their wins from 1998 to the present. This might just be worse than the “death penalty.” This punishment has been viewed differently from all over but before I state my opinion, I would like to first explain what all of this means.

1. Penn State will lose 112 wins which in result will strip Coach Joe Paterno of his record for most wins as a head coach.
2. Penn state will have a very hard time recruiting due to not being able to play in a bowl game for the next 4 years.
3. Penn State will have 20 less scholarship in the next 4 years which would disallow the amount of good athletes Penn state is used to obtaining.
4. The athletic department is on a five-year probation.
5. All current players may transfer and play for another school immediately.
6. Penn State loses 6 bowl wins and two conference championships.

With the understanding of the penalties, these penalties suited Penn State fairly. The crime Penn State as a program committed was so beyond the game of football, but the people who committed the crimes were the leaders and coordinators in charge of the football program. When dealing with crimes against children that are as life changing as child molestation, action has to be taken.

Some are saying the football team and school shouldn’t have been punished because the actions of two coaches and certain administrators should not punish the whole school. Those who say this are either too close to the situation, or are allowing themselves to be ignorant to what took place. According to the Freeh Reoprt,  Jerry Sandusky did illegal acts to children within the confines of Penn state, and not only were authorities aware, but they covered it up to protect the brand of Penn State. This is absolutely wrong and I am glad the school was so harshly punished.

Another point to be made is when Reggie Bush’s parents accepted improper benefits from USC, the whole school was punished and USC was banned from postseason play for multiple seasons. If the NCAA can punish a whole school for the actions of one former player’s parents, the NCAA better punish a school for coaches and administrators covering up molestation of underprivileged children.

I would also like to state that I am totally against vacating wins, except in this case. In the case of USC, I don’t care that they vacated his Heisman trophy. The memories will stick with us all forever of the great games and plays Reggie Bush made, especially that Heisman year. Also the vacation of wins from the Michigan Fab five was pointless because their greatness will forever be in the front of everyone’s minds that lived to witness them. The reason vacating Penn States wins is just is because Penn State covered up the illegal acts to maintain the greatness that was Penn state football. Careless actions such as these are what is wrong with American and need to be punished.

Penn state traded the innocence of kids for football wins, and for that they deserve to lose. Not only were these punishments just, they may not be heavy enough. Jerry Sandusky will be in prison for life, and that may not even be enough to right the wrongs he committed. America needs to understand that football is nothing compared to the innocence of children, and these penalties hold this true.

I have no opinion on the removal of the statue because it is irrelavent, but I do
 feel for the students and current players at Penn state. But only to a certain extent. The students will still be able to watch great football teams; they will just be beating up on their school. Also the current players have the amnesty to choose any college they want. Not only will this give certain back ups that choose to stay a chance to shine, but this will also give starters a chance to go somewhere and contend for a national title which they wouldn’t have been doing at Penn state anyways.