Penn State, the NCAA, and the aftermath... [View all]

[davsand]

The NCAA ruling clearly rattled some cages at Penn State. Some of the natives are unhappy as is discussed here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014177342

"The alumni group said Penn State and the NCAA have taken actions seemingly by reading only the summary of conclusions, not the full content, and have failed to question the report's evidentiary basis or lack thereof..."

The comments at the news story are illuminating (as are the sidebar articles shown on the same page, BTW) story and comments here:

http://www.abc27.com/story/19121297/penn-state-alumni-group-critical-of-ncaa-sanctions-freeh-report

"Conviction without a court appearance just punishes the innocent players- more victims but now created by an overzealous NCAA instead of a court convicted individual. Start the fund to file injunctions or whatever it takes to tame the NCAA. They (NCAA) also need to follow the law not make their own as they go. Time will tell of this wasn't really a "witch hunt". "

Sounds like some of the Penn State crew still doesn't "get" what happened. They blame the report, they blame the media, they blame the NCAA. The one thing I have yet to see discussed anyplace is the fact that the NCAA really had no choice about taking action. Section 19.01.2 of the NCAA bylaws was broken by many at Penn State and the NCAA had no alternative but to take action, it reads:

"individuals employed by or associated with member institutions for the administration, the conduct or the coaching of intercollegiate athletics are, in the final analysis, teachers of young people. Their responsibility is an affirmative one, and they must do more than avoid improper conduct or questionable acts. Their own moral values must be so certain and positive that those younger and more pliable will be influenced by a fine example. Much more is expected of them than of the less critically placed citizen."


Did Penn State and their fans really learn anything in all of this??



Laura