Days after news survived that Joe Paterno, his son and the higher ups at the University of Pennsylvania had indeed cover up the Jerry Sandusky child abuse scandal; everything that can go wrong is going wrong for the football program as well as the University itself.

First, the school’s higher ups are pondering taking down the 900-pound statue of Joe Paterno from in front of the Penn State stadium; a final decision is expected in the few days.  The idea was that the legendary coach was a “man” and not a “god” as we think he his.

Now, the NCAA is thinking about giving Penn State the “Death Penalty”, (it is a ban given to a NCAA team that requires the said program to sit out an year of competition), for the school’s part of the cover up.  If passed, the school; regardless of the repercussions the follow the decision, would be the second school after Southern Methodist University in 1986 to be given the penalty.  That time, it was for recruiting violations.

But it is right?

But, let’s ask this, if Penn State deserves this, why didn’t the University of Miami Hurricanes?  Why did they slip through the cracks?  Aren’t their program just as noticeable as the Nitty Lions program?

The reason I ask is this; the system is messed up enough that with what happen in Miami with Nevin Shaprio and his part of funding the athletic and football programs with $2 million dollars of illegal benefits to 72 current and former players between 2002 and 2010.  72!  And only a few slaps on the wrist with player suspensions.  No death penalty.

USC is another example.  When Reggie Bush was the all-star, all-american running back for the University, had received improper benefits along with his family from boosters.  The NCAA thought about the death penalty with this incident as well as with the University of Miami incident.  Everyone knew that he was receiving these benefits.  Pete Carrol, teammates, etc.  All whom still deny that they didn’t know about anything.  But, similar punishment was given out.  No Heisman trophy for Reggie and the college lost scholarships and bowl games.

The USC incident is probably the best example in similarity to Penn State.  Everyone knew what had happen to this one person, higher ups on down, but no one would come forward and acknowledge that it happen.

Let me go back to my question; what makes Penn State different?

Do I believe that they deserve the Death Penalty.  You know it.  What they did for the past 30+ years of acknowledge that this was happening without saying anything is not right in any moral standard.

Why not step up sooner?  Was it because Sandusky is one of your coaches?

Come on! If this wasn’t Penn State, this would’ve hit the fan in a heart beat a long time ago.

Crap they deserve to be giving the punishment.  Kick them out for five, ten or more years.  Let them go without a statue, let them pay for their athletes after they get re-instated.  Don’t hold back on them.

If I was the NCAA, I would make up for letting USC, and the University of Miami go scott free.  This is more of a reason to give a team the Death Penalty than they did with SMU in the 1980s.  That incident would be PG-rated compare to this.

There is too much darkness over the program right now not to punish them for this.  Three strikes and your out as I see it.  They hid a unacceptable incident (Strike 1), they didn’t step forward and reported it immediately (Strike 2) and they let Sandusky keep his job regardless of knowing this truth (Strike 3).

At the end of the day, you just got the throw the book down and say enough is enough NCAA; you can’t just slap a minor punishment on this, ignore it, and move on.

sources:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-penn-state-death-penalty-20120717,0,3948281.story

http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/18/us/pennsylvania-paterno-sculptor/index.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_Hurricanes_football#2002.E2.80.932010:_Shapiro_scandal

http://www.forbes.com/sites/prishe/2011/08/17/university-of-miami-must-receive-college-football-death-penalty/