Should Penn St. Get the Death Penalty

[No Quarter]

There are laws to deal with pedophiles and it looks like Sandusky will be punished.

There are customs and precedents to dismiss people who, for whatever reason, cover up wrong doing. Several includiong Paterno have been dealt with. I doubt the people fired will ever work as college aedministrators, etc,. again.

As I understand it there are laws which permit damages to be recovered from people and I think entities / organizations involved in a cover up. This action is only starting and it looks like Paterno's estate is or should be at risk. Others note that the endowment of the University may be vulnerable.

I don't disagree with any of the things listed that might happen to those involved. But I don't see a reason to shut down the football program. What happened won't reduce the numbers of people who want football tickets or who will watch the game on TV. And it is difficult for me to see a way that th e conference or NCAA have been damaged in a way that a DP would repay.

It does look to me like there is reason to remove all traces of Joe Paterno and others involved from the campus: photographs, statues, whatever, like the images of Stalin were destroyed in the former Soviet Unhion after 1991, but that will be up to alums, students and trustees.

[austinponie]

SMU dealt with Coach Bobby Collins, the AD and the school President - all before the NCAA shut them down...

The former USC head coach skated off to Seattle and Reggie Bush was making millions in the NFL before NCAA sanctions...

Unfortunately, the nature of the beast of most NCAA punishments result in the innocent left holding the bag.

To be fair and consistent (if that's possible), the NCAA should levy harsh penalties against Penn State since the crimes were committed on campus, by a football coach, covered up by the head football coach, athletic director and president, and the cover-up was to preserve the school's reputation and maintain a competitive advantage on the playing field.

Why should Penn State continue to reap financial benefits from football and conference revenue sharing in light of these extraordinary circumstances?

It doesn't make sense, but to be fair to all other schools punished, I say bring the hammer...

[EastStang]

I have been thinking long and hard about this. All those coaches and reporters who voted to give Jo Pa his pity National Championship in 1982 should be locked up with Sandusky as enablers. They fed the beast and the beast was emboldened. Imagine if those reporters had to choose now whether to revote for the 1982 National Champion. Give it to "the best team money could buy" or give it Pedophile State University. That would be an interesting vote.

[Digetydog]

Next spring, I have to drive by Penn State on the way to my cousin's graduation. If that f'ing statue is still up, I am going to take a picture of Joe Paterno will a schlong in his mouth.

[PonyGirl]

Considering the nature of the events that started this whole case, it's hard to believe anyone finds that comment funny.

[Junior]

am i missing something in terms of when the death penalty is applicable? i thought it was only applied in cases of repeated violations when a school had been on probation previously. is my understanding incorrect?

[mrydel]

I have a gut feeling that the Penn State regents will self impose some pretty harsh penalties to try and gain some standing in the upcoming lawsuits.

[crazy horse]

Has anyone else noticed that seemingly every article that discusses the scandal, or suggests shutting down the program, references SMU and the Death Penalty? I don't even want to see my school mentioned in the same sentence with Penn State.

Based on the comments of the PSU supporters I have read, the culture of corruption, placing football above protecting kids, is alive and well. They seem oblivious to the scale and the scope of the crimes committed at and by the university. I noticed that they are remodeling the showers. A coat of paint will not remove this stain.

I think temporarily shutting football down, whether voluntarily or not, would go along way to show that they are committed to correcting the culture and getting their priorities straight. Anything less makes you wonder if they really do get it.

Silver lining for SMU? Maybe we will no longer be referenced every time there is a college scandal. After 25 years, its time to pass the torch to the PSU.

[Digetydog]

Considering the nature of the events that started this whole case, it's hard to believe anyone finds that comment funny.

I am genuinely sorry if my post offended you. It was not my intention to make light of what happened, but to reflect my rate at what happened and my further rage at the response of the PSU community.

As far as I can tell, not a single high ranking PSU official or a single Pennsylvania (state) government official (together, the "PSU Leaders") has called out Paterno for anything. Simply put, it is undeniable that Paterno helped hide Sandusky's actions leading to the brutal rape of at least 8 little boys. Nevertheless, an enormous percentage of the PSU faithful continue to worship Paterno and deny his culpability.

In my mind, that Statue is an abomination and needs to be removed immediately. While it stands, it is a symbol of Paterno's power at Penn State which is why at least 8 little boys were raped. If they leave it up, it should be defaced as often as possible.

If people on this board haven't seen today's NY Times story on how Paterno used PSU as his own piggy bank, this is the link: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/14/sport ... ml?_r=3&hp

[Digetydog]

I have a gut feeling that the Penn State regents will self impose some pretty harsh penalties to try and gain some standing in the upcoming lawsuits.

Honestly, I don't think they have the stones to do it.

[peruna81]

There is no easy fix to a problem that has been years in construction, and years in deception.

Penn State will not get the Death Penalty. You can't write the laws to fit the crime committed after the fact and apply them to the case.

These crimes were on such a scale that the NCAA, in all the wonderful length of the 'rulebook' never dreamed of violations on this scale. It will be a criminal and civil case.

The NCAA will get in on the bloody feast to make the appearance of being 'right and just', but would have to stretch to do much more than a hand slap.

From our small Hilltop, the view will be an endless set of lawsuits against Penn State that will dent their coffers, but only tarnish the program for the short term generations. The long term damage, such as it is, will be in the criminal penalties handed out, and the convenience of blaming the dead coach for any other related 'revelations'.

[mrydel]

I have a gut feeling that the Penn State regents will self impose some pretty harsh penalties to try and gain some standing in the upcoming lawsuits.

Honestly, I don't think they have the stones to do it.

You are probably right but perhaps just this once the right thing will be done. And no, I do not know what the right thing is, but I will know it if it happens.

[alyssa]

"Nuke" Penn State!

"Kill It Before It Dies."

It appears they are receiving record donations so somebody loves 'em.
I heard that they might stop receiving state money.
Maybe the victims will keep Penn State tied up in civil lawsuits for a while.
When Penn State contacts out of conference opponents to schedule games maybe they will say no
or maybe they can demand a whole lot more money to do so but not play at Penn State.
Maybe the Big 10 should kick out Penn State.
I can think of other programs more deserving than Penn State to be in the Big 10.
And so on.......

[Mexmustang]

Someone posted earlier that Penn State needs a "reset button" on football. I thought that was a good way to put the moral debate. No question that football is held higher than both the university and moral decency and the children paid the price.

There needs a "reset" of PSU's priorities and value system. The DP might help instil that consideration. Taking down Joe Pa's statue might be a beginning. There should be no worship of a "king" that stood upon unprotected victims.

If PSU and Miami get the dp, PSU will be back in five years, while it might take Miami ten. Unlike SMU, they won't use it as an excuse for athletic failure for almost two and a half decades.

[AusTxPony]

PYE was the reason that SMU took so long to recover. Really, no other issue was so devastating as the hiring of Pye. He was a worse penalty than the DP. I hope there is a lot of press explaining what SMU did is NOT in the same ballpark as what PSU has done. The NCAA must act if the University and Conference don't. It needs to be HARSH. I no longer take the DMN, where are they on this?