Miller: The Big Ten's B1G Dilemma: What to Do With Penn State?
- Thread starter JonDMiller
- Start date
eyekwah
Well-Known Member
At the moment the tendency of many people is to pile on the sad situation at Penn State. You have at least four bodies that have an interest; the courts of Pennsylvania, the state legislature, the NCAA and the Big Ten Conference. Of those the one that will impose the most punishment is the courts. It will cost a lot of money to settle the claims.
Secondly it was not Penn State, but employees of Penn State that participated in the failure to control the athletic department, particularly three administrators. Those are the three that have yet to face punishment. To go after Joe Paterno is a waste of time. The man is dead, he is unable to defend himself.
What should the NCAA do? I don't think it can do much if anything. If there were rampant violations related to recruiting, paying players, academic cheating to maintain eligibility, etc then it has a role. Right now the NCAA has more than it can handle to maintain integrity in athletics.
What should the Big Ten do? Obviously members of the Big Ten are embarrassed by their association with the Penn State football program. To our knowledge it is the only PSU athletic program involved with the scandal. If the Big Ten members decide that a member should be punished then the punishment should be confined to where it is appropriate, the football program. Expanding beyond football is punishment of those guilty of nothing.
What should the punishment be? Anything that negatively impacts the proceeds from football program interferes with the ability to pay the victims. And isn't that the first concern? The Big Ten members best options are restrictions on post season play and scholarship reductions in the football program. This allows PSU to pay the victim claims and punishes the program that created the problem.
Secondly it was not Penn State, but employees of Penn State that participated in the failure to control the athletic department, particularly three administrators. Those are the three that have yet to face punishment. To go after Joe Paterno is a waste of time. The man is dead, he is unable to defend himself.
What should the NCAA do? I don't think it can do much if anything. If there were rampant violations related to recruiting, paying players, academic cheating to maintain eligibility, etc then it has a role. Right now the NCAA has more than it can handle to maintain integrity in athletics.
What should the Big Ten do? Obviously members of the Big Ten are embarrassed by their association with the Penn State football program. To our knowledge it is the only PSU athletic program involved with the scandal. If the Big Ten members decide that a member should be punished then the punishment should be confined to where it is appropriate, the football program. Expanding beyond football is punishment of those guilty of nothing.
What should the punishment be? Anything that negatively impacts the proceeds from football program interferes with the ability to pay the victims. And isn't that the first concern? The Big Ten members best options are restrictions on post season play and scholarship reductions in the football program. This allows PSU to pay the victim claims and punishes the program that created the problem.
HawkeyesWin
Well-Known Member
When the "employees " are the president, AD, VP of finance, head FB coach acting in an official capacity for the "benefit" of the organization, it really is the institution that did wrong. Don't act like this is some rouge individual at PSU.
If "harming those not involved" is your concern, then why do you support a bowl ban? Doesn't that "harm those not involved "?
BILLBUCKNER
Well-Known Member
The only appropriate penalty is the death penalty. Every action that the leadership at PSU took was to coverup the most hideous of crimes to protect their image of the football program. Imagine what else they allowed or did to get an 'unfair competitive advantage'. The big10 must kick PSU out of the league.
HawkMD2007
Well-Known Member
- Penn State should be removed from the Big 10.
- The NCAA should impose the most severe sanctions possible to at least the football program.
- Penn State should be financially responsible for all victims (even those still to come forward).
- The NCAA should impose the most severe sanctions possible to at least the football program.
- Penn State should be financially responsible for all victims (even those still to come forward).
ColoradoHAWKEYE
Well-Known Member
I think the big ten will sit back and wait out what others hand down in form of punishments. Take the temperature at that time, and then react. They want to remain from of position of strength without diminishing their own product...but if that product is somehow still diminishing them, they will cut ties.
Herkyalert
Banned
Penn State is a realtive new-comer to the the Big Ten. I say they should be the first to go.
Our conference doesn't need to be associated with a school that protects a child rapist.
Our conference doesn't need to be associated with a school that protects a child rapist.
PSU is a state institution of higher learning. The long above post makes it seem like football is the only revenue source.
Apart from that, the board was also heavily indicted in that report. That is the governing body of the entire institution. They created a culture of non compliance by operating as a rubber stamping crew and failing to keep academics as the primary focus of the university.
But, I think the throw the bums out of the conference or give them the death penalty argument is going too far. They need a chance to change the culture.
Here is what the B1G should do.
1) Two year bowl and TV ban, including conference revenue splits.
2) Strip Joe of any victories after 1998. This is when the cover-up began.
3) Require disbanding Paternoville and a moratorium on future such encampments on all member institutions. Sends the wrong message regarding the appropriate hierarchy related to academics and sports.
Apart from that, the board was also heavily indicted in that report. That is the governing body of the entire institution. They created a culture of non compliance by operating as a rubber stamping crew and failing to keep academics as the primary focus of the university.
But, I think the throw the bums out of the conference or give them the death penalty argument is going too far. They need a chance to change the culture.
Here is what the B1G should do.
1) Two year bowl and TV ban, including conference revenue splits.
2) Strip Joe of any victories after 1998. This is when the cover-up began.
3) Require disbanding Paternoville and a moratorium on future such encampments on all member institutions. Sends the wrong message regarding the appropriate hierarchy related to academics and sports.
Quote from Jon's piece: "The Freeh report stated that Penn State has no centralized office, officer or committee to oversee institutional compliance as it relates to laws and legislation."
That's SEC level shiz, folks.
It is the EXACT definition of LOIC.
Therefore they should be removed from the B1G by the B1G immediately and the ncaa should kill that football program for a minimum of 14 yrs. The same length of time their corruption ran.
Jim Delany & the other 11 B1G presidents are cowards if they do nothing.
That's SEC level shiz, folks.
It is the EXACT definition of LOIC.
Therefore they should be removed from the B1G by the B1G immediately and the ncaa should kill that football program for a minimum of 14 yrs. The same length of time their corruption ran.
Jim Delany & the other 11 B1G presidents are cowards if they do nothing.
hawkeyebob62
Well-Known Member
While I STILL disagree that PSU should dump or suspend their football program, I have no problem with NCAA sanctions of some kind. But as far as B1G goes, I am perfectly happy with dumping them, perfectly happy with keeping them.
We have to remember, NO school is perfect, and most schools have had SOME issues.
To wit, just since PSU joined the B1G:
--Player death at NW (during practice, possible underlying issue OR possible staff issue)
--UM practices issue
--OSU and "tattoo you", plus other allegations too numerous to mention
--UW and MSU thinking "suspension" is a type of bridge, not what is done to players accused of serious crimes
--Iowa and the PP "negotiated redshirt as punishment", and the rape/sexual assault occurence by football players who left or were dismissed from the program
In the case of Iowa, we really CAN say that allowing PP to remain with the team and not face punishment had negative consequences, as he was arrested again on a stalking/harrassment type deal, whereupon he uttered he was not the girls "mandingo". That, alone, should have embarrassed each and every Hawkeye fan. Yet, the b-ball coach remained after BOTH those incidents. The football program, OTOH, has a pretty good handle on punishment.
In short, let's drop the moral superiority. And let's not try and "rank" crimes or sins. ALL are not "good".
But...if the B1G votes to get rid of PSU, it DOES send the message that the B1G will not tolerate things like this in the future. But the question will still remain at where, exactly, the line is drawn.
Jon's piece mentions the Iowa scandal of 1930 and a $4000 slush fund. Sounds small, but was it small in 1930, especially on the heels of economic events that transpired in 1929?
We have to remember, NO school is perfect, and most schools have had SOME issues.
To wit, just since PSU joined the B1G:
--Player death at NW (during practice, possible underlying issue OR possible staff issue)
--UM practices issue
--OSU and "tattoo you", plus other allegations too numerous to mention
--UW and MSU thinking "suspension" is a type of bridge, not what is done to players accused of serious crimes
--Iowa and the PP "negotiated redshirt as punishment", and the rape/sexual assault occurence by football players who left or were dismissed from the program
In the case of Iowa, we really CAN say that allowing PP to remain with the team and not face punishment had negative consequences, as he was arrested again on a stalking/harrassment type deal, whereupon he uttered he was not the girls "mandingo". That, alone, should have embarrassed each and every Hawkeye fan. Yet, the b-ball coach remained after BOTH those incidents. The football program, OTOH, has a pretty good handle on punishment.
In short, let's drop the moral superiority. And let's not try and "rank" crimes or sins. ALL are not "good".
But...if the B1G votes to get rid of PSU, it DOES send the message that the B1G will not tolerate things like this in the future. But the question will still remain at where, exactly, the line is drawn.
Jon's piece mentions the Iowa scandal of 1930 and a $4000 slush fund. Sounds small, but was it small in 1930, especially on the heels of economic events that transpired in 1929?
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I think it depends on what is the shelf life of this situation. Obviously up until Penn State finishes their first game this will be talked about. But what happens after that.
Penn State wants to settle all civil cases out of court, will avoid the rehashing of everything again. So we will not see civil cases in a public forum. Personally I think the the payments should come from PSU's athletic budget, but then again that would hurt a bunch of kids and coaches who had no part in this. I am sure the football programs would still get its money so probably would not work.
The Big Ten is just going to sit back an gauge where this goes, if the outcry starts to die down, they will do nothing. I think withholding a portion of BTN revenue would be a good idea, but again, probably would end up hurting the wrong people.
It will be interesting to see how the bowl's react to Penn State this next season should PSU qualify. Will the stigma of Pedo State still be strong or will it fade away.
Unfortunately I believe it will fade away by then, and the only significant thing that will happen is that Paterno's statue might be moved to some storage unit. I would be pleasantly surprised if the NCAA and Big Ten actually did something.
One thing I found interesting is when they interviewed Paterno's son. Like most kids would do he defended his father, but the way he did it was more like he was acting as his fathers attorney. Talking about legally his father did everything correctly. He failed to touch on the moral aspect of it. That in itself was probably more damning than any report.
Penn State wants to settle all civil cases out of court, will avoid the rehashing of everything again. So we will not see civil cases in a public forum. Personally I think the the payments should come from PSU's athletic budget, but then again that would hurt a bunch of kids and coaches who had no part in this. I am sure the football programs would still get its money so probably would not work.
The Big Ten is just going to sit back an gauge where this goes, if the outcry starts to die down, they will do nothing. I think withholding a portion of BTN revenue would be a good idea, but again, probably would end up hurting the wrong people.
It will be interesting to see how the bowl's react to Penn State this next season should PSU qualify. Will the stigma of Pedo State still be strong or will it fade away.
Unfortunately I believe it will fade away by then, and the only significant thing that will happen is that Paterno's statue might be moved to some storage unit. I would be pleasantly surprised if the NCAA and Big Ten actually did something.
One thing I found interesting is when they interviewed Paterno's son. Like most kids would do he defended his father, but the way he did it was more like he was acting as his fathers attorney. Talking about legally his father did everything correctly. He failed to touch on the moral aspect of it. That in itself was probably more damning than any report.
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hawkeyebob62
Well-Known Member
As much as we are sickened by what happened, I think we can lay off the Paterno family. IF it comes out they knew, too, then it's a different story.
I really won't be surprised if the B1G votes them out. The other aspect will be bowls. Will they want PSU? And will they pressure the B1G? And what of PSUs other athletic programs?
This isn't over by a long shot.
JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
Early morning. 3yr old up at 3a with bad dreams and I couldnt go back to sleep at I had 6:30a tee time. So wrote this
hawkeyebob62
Well-Known Member
Jon, are you in favor of B1G giving PSU the heave-ho?
It has nothing to do with the family I am sure they did not not know, its the fact the family could not morally defend Joe, and took the legal road to try and defend him, speaks as loudly as a 400 page report.
