Penn State Should Get Death Penalty-Fox Sports Article

[ALTideUp]

ATU Prediction Time

It's neither here nor there. The PSU board of trustees is going to suspend their football program. It will probably be 2 years. There. I am on record.

Here's why. Things are really bad right now. And their bragging about the influx of donations actually hurts their public image as a culture that cares more about football than kids. And things are about to get worse. The trials of the two administrators, aided by evidence uncovered by Freeh, will no doubt make worse a situation that you'd think couldn't really get much worse. To all these things add that the NCAA is putting the loaded gun in their hands and saying do the right thing. That is, they will seriously be considered for the death penalty, which will further tarnish their image and delay their recovery. The BOT, with some friendly advice from Harrisburg, will suspend football at PSU.

No way do I see them quitting football on their own. They're a Big Ten team, so they are too self-important to quit.

I bucked the crowd and called the Petrino hiring, and I like my chances on this one. Admittedly, this is a longer shot, but I give myself a 45% chance of being right. They would, of course, have to negotiate with the NCAA that their player could transfer immediately and play immediately if they chose.

[ALTideUp]

Here is the text of PSU's BOT response to the Freeh Report. It has undertones, of "okay, glad that's behind us". Not a good sign for them.

hursday, July 12, 2012
SCRANTON, Pa. -- Today’s comprehensive report is sad and sobering in that it concludes that at the moment of truth, people in positions of authority and responsibility did not put the welfare of children first. The Board of Trustees, as the group that has paramount accountability for overseeing and ensuring the proper functioning and governance of the University, accepts full responsibility for the failures that occurred. The Board, in cooperation with the Administration, will take every action to ensure that events like these never happen again in our university community.
The focus of all of our actions going forward will be on driving a culture of honesty, integrity, responsible leadership and accountability at all levels and within all units of our institution.
Judge Freeh's report concludes that certain people at the University who were in a position to protect children or confront the predator failed to do so. There can be no ambiguity about that. The defenseless victims and their families are at the forefront of our thoughts and prayers. We are deeply sorry for the failure to protect these vulnerable young boys from the pain and anguish they suffered. At the same time, we are filled with admiration for the bravery shown by the young men and their families who came forward to ensure that justice will be done.
While today’s issuance of the Freeh Report provides some level of clarity for our community, it does not undo the pain that the victims of Jerry Sandusky have experienced, and continue to experience. We will continue to offer counseling to Mr. Sandusky’s victims, listen to them and take affirmative steps to address the harm they have suffered.
Beyond our campuses, the University is undertaking a number of actions to help build greater awareness of the societal issue of child sexual abuse. We are partnering with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape {PCAR} and have also created the Center for the Protection of Children at the Hershey Medical Center. Penn State University intends to be a constructive leader in preventing, reporting and responding to such abuse. This is a problem that plagues our nation, and we have a special duty to increase awareness, prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse.
Judge Freeh’s investigation was intended to identify where failures occurred and what changes should be made for the future. As the Freeh report noted, the University has already taken steps to begin addressing some of the shortcomings.
The Board of Trustees acknowledges that it failed to create an environment of accountability and transparency and did not have optimal reporting procedures or committee structures. Beginning in March 2011 and continuing until the publication of the Grand Jury presentment in November 2011, the Board failed to make proper inquiry of President Spanier and others regarding the Sandusky matter. As a result, the Board was unprepared to deal with the events that occurred in November 2011.
The Board has begun taking a more active oversight role and has implemented specific oversight committees, focused on Risk, Audit, Legal, Compliance, Academic Excellence, Governance and Human Resources. Furthermore, the Board is committed to greater transparency and communications with the entire University community.
Additionally, the University Administration has strengthened policies and programs involving minors, child abuse and mandated reporter training; ensuring a process for prompt reporting of abuse and sexual misconduct; hiring a new, full-time Clery Compliance Coordinator and providing Clery Act training for employees; and establishing a position of, and commencing a national search for, a director of University Compliance. Further information can be found at Click here for link.
In the weeks ahead, the University will carefully review and consider each of the report’s recommendations. Tomorrow at its regularly scheduled meeting, the Board of Trustees will consider a series of immediate next steps. President Rodney Erickson has appointed three members of his senior leadership team to coordinate and implement operational changes suggested by the Freeh Report.
As the Freeh Report notes Penn State “is an outstanding institution, nationally renowned for its excellence in academics and research.” Nothing in this report detracts from the many significant accomplishments of our faculty, staff, students and alumni. We also remain proud of the accomplishments of Penn State’s student athletes over many years, and we reaffirm the fundamental premise that academic excellence and athletic achievement are wholly consistent and complementary goals.
With the release of the Freeh Report we are beginning to correct our failures, promote healing and build a stronger tomorrow for Penn State. We are continuing the process of addressing the most painful chapter in the University’s history so that we can heal and move forward.

[BAMAWV]

The Penn State response would lead one to believe there was a systemic breakdown and that they now have the necessary guidelines, procedures, and protocols in place to prevent this from happening in the future. LOL. There was no breakdown in the PSU system, just that the PSU program included so many self absorbed cowards that failed to do what almost any other American would have done inheritantly,-- call the law and keep calling until the children were no longer being raped in the middle of the athletic department.

[Marshal Dillon]

The Penn State response would lead one to believe there was a systemic breakdown and that they now have the necessary guidelines, procedures, and protocols in place to prevent this from happening in the future. LOL. There was no breakdown in the PSU system, just that the PSU program included so many self absorbed cowards that failed to do what almost any other American would have done inheritantly,-- call the law and keep calling until the children were no longer being raped in the middle of the athletic department.

Exactly!! The bottom line, no one wanted to cross Paterno. It was better to allow little  boys to be raped than to upset Paterno. Incredible.

[Old Tider]

USA Today this morning says the program should be shut down for at least a year. It reminds that this is worse than SMU's violation that drew the death penalty years ago.

[Marshal Dillon]

USA Today this morning says the program should be shut down for at least a year. It reminds that this is worse than SMU's violation that drew the death penalty years ago.

I hope all the major media start making pressure on Penn State. If ESPN made an announcement not to carry any Penn St. games for two years, wow. Let's see if this keeps building.

[BAMAWV]

USA Today this morning says the program should be shut down for at least a year. It reminds that this is worse than SMU's violation that drew the death penalty years ago.

I hope all the major media start making pressure on Penn State. If ESPN made an announcement not to carry any Penn St. games for two years, wow. Let's see if this keeps building.

LOL. Why stop with football. Just torch the town itself. LOL.  PSU fans are already ashamed to admit they pull for them or went to school there. I've been as vocal as anyone, including MD, but enough is enough. The criminal courts are speaking, the civil courts will speak, and the voice of public opinion is roaring (lions roar).

[2Stater]

The main perpetrator is in prison and one is dead. Punish the others, but why punish the kids on the team? PSU is toast right now, anyway. Who the hell wants to go there now after all this. Just sit back and watch them implode. 

[BAMAWV]

Imagine an assistant PSU coach calling the home of a recruit and hearing, "You are certainly welcome to come see my son and discuss opportunities at Penn St.. But I'll have to ask, due to the pedaphile history of things up there, that you only visit when either my wife or I are present."

[pmull]

USA Today this morning says the program should be shut down for at least a year. It reminds that this is worse than SMU's violation that drew the death penalty years ago.

I hope all the major media start making pressure on Penn State. If ESPN made an announcement not to carry any Penn St. games for two years, wow. Let's see if this keeps building.

LOL. Why stop with football. Just torch the town itself. LOL.  PSU fans are already ashamed to admit they pull for them or went to school there. I've been as vocal as anyone, including MD, but enough is enough. The criminal courts are speaking, the civil courts will speak, and the voice of public opinion is roaring (lions roar).

A guy from Pittsburg called into Finebaum this afternoon and said Penn St could lose their Accreditation over this.  That is much more to worry about than the NCAA.

[ALTideUp]

To be completely technical, those accreditation agencies care about the AD somehow compromising the integrity of the academics. That's not at issue here. On the other hand the NCAA cares about competitive fairness etc. and that is not the issue here. So somehow the PSU admin and AD managed to commit one of the longest, deepest, most heinous failures of institutional control we've ever seen, and yet it falls smack in between the regulatory purview of all the oversight organizations.

[Marshal Dillon]

I have been going back & forth on what are some appropriate actions to occur against Penn State. What about these as a whole:

1)  Have Penn State forfeit all games for the last 2 years, thus depriving Paterno the record for all time wins. This suggestion was mentioned by Finebaum.

2)  All the BOT members resign or be coerced to by the Governor.

3)  A 2 year self-imposed bowl ban.

4)  Destroy the Paterno statue.

5)  Remove the Paterno name from any and all buildings/facilities on Penn State.

6)  A mandatory age 70 retirement for all athletic coaches.


What do you guys think of this? Too much, not enough, or add/delete some things?

 

[XBAMA]

list looks great MD , I made a couple of minor adjustments 

I have been going back & forth on what are some appropriate actions to occur against Penn State. What about these as a whole:

1)  Have Penn State forfeit all games for the last 14 years, thus depriving Paterno the record for all time wins. This suggestion was mentioned by Finebaum.

2)  All the BOT members resign and be caressed  by the Sandusky.
also for 14 years.

3)  A 14 year self-imposed bowl ban.

4)  Destroy the Paterno statue and make Sandusky eat it .

5)  Remove the Paterno name from any and all buildings/facilities on Penn State. rename them with cartoon characters  names , kids choice .

6)  A mandatory age 70 retirement for all athletic coaches.
except in the SEC .


What do you guys think of this? Too much, not enough, or add/delete some things?

 

[ALTideUp]

I have been going back & forth on what are some appropriate actions to occur against Penn State. What about these as a whole:

1)  Have Penn State forfeit all games for the last 2 years, thus depriving Paterno the record for all time wins. This suggestion was mentioned by Finebaum.

2)  All the BOT members resign or be coerced to by the Governor.

3)  A 2 year self-imposed bowl ban.

4)  Destroy the Paterno statue.

5)  Remove the Paterno name from any and all buildings/facilities on Penn State.

6)  A mandatory age 70 retirement for all athletic coaches.


What do you guys think of this? Too much, not enough, or add/delete some things?

 

I like 2, 4, & 5.  2 should have happened months ago. As for 6, no need to impugn older people. Age has nothing to do with what happened.

Here's why I don't like 1, even though some of those wins may not have occurred had Paterno and PSU acted responsibly from the outset, I doubt the effect would have been that dramatic. My bias would be to let that record stand. it's something good that he achieved, just like the good he did for his many players, and the good he did for the University. I do not want to accuse PSU fans about having their heads in the sand about the bad that has happened, and then stick my head in the sand regarding the good that Paterno did.

I don't think the bowl ban is enough, and I continue to favor suspending the program. I have heard Finebaum's arguments against it, and they mostly focus on the lack of any governing rules that would justify that. But here's why I think it has to happen, by the hand of the university, for the good of the university:

Everything I hear from the PSU fans, their homer media, or President, or BOT suggests that they still don't get. They are in denial. They literally need that football program like a meth-head needs crank. Every argument you hear, every angle they take, coincidentally ends with the conclusion that it would be unwise, unfair, ineffective, uncalled for, unjustified, illegal..... to do anything to harm the football program. They still don't get how much harm was caused to preserve the football program's good name. They say they care, but nothing about their approach indicates that they get it. They are going to establish an institute on the prevention of child abuse. That's rich.  Is that hubris or psychosis? Why don't they hire the captains of the exxon valdez and the costa concordia to team teach a course on safe boating.

They literally need to be de-toxed from PSU football. Suspension is really the only thing that is going to get their attention and make them realize that their zeal corrupted the whole community to the extreme. The argument that the wrong doers have been or will be punished, sued etc. is crap. As you yourself implied in another post, MD, this mess could only have occurred in a community where everyone, the fans, bought in. That's why the janitors were terrified, not because of 4 crusty old white guys who couldn't give a crap about the janitors.

And to be fair, if all this happened here, we would be similarly exposed as insanely and irrationally dependent on our football team.

[XBAMA]

PSU's new media relations person ? 






the kids cheer !     




the book ...

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