Penn State to regain scholarships

[charlie and algernon]

Source: ESPN.com

The NCAA said Tuesday that it will reduce the unprecedented sanctions against Penn State's football program by gradually restoring scholarships starting next season. Officials did not rule out future modifications, such as reducing the four-year postseason ban.

The announcement comes 14 months after NCAA president Mark Emmert levied the historic penalties in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal. Penn State had faced a cap of 65 scholarships starting in 2014, but instead will have 75 scholarships in 2014, 80 in 2015 and the full allotment of 85 in 2016.

"The executive committee's decision to restore football scholarship opportunities for more student-athletes at Penn State is an important recognition of the university's progress -- and one I know it was pleased to make," Emmert said.

The scholarship reduction was widely believed to be the most significant sanction. Penn State vacated wins from 1998 to 2011, was hit with a $60 million fine, and banned from the postseason from 2012 to 2015.


Read more: http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9716482/ncaa-reduce-penalties-penn-state-regarding-jerry-sandusky-child-sexual-abuse-matter

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

1. What a shock

When you're Penn State, you get that kind of special treatment.

[skepticscott]

2. The NCAA is the most sniveling, gutless organization imaginable

They pretend to think long and hard about the appropriate sanctions, and then, a year later, decide that it should all change. Hand down severe sanctions to look tough when the attention is on them, and then back off like cowards when the heat is off.

[taught_me_patience]

3. So now their penalty is less severe than what USC got!?!?!

I guess molesting boys is less severe than players taking money from wannabe agents in NCAA world.

[Posteritatis]

5. That's not even really a guess, considering how rabid Penn State's defenders have been. (nt)

[iandhr]

4. This is why I always prefer pro-sports.

At least there people are completely honest about the fact that its all about money.

[skepticscott]

6. Well, in pro sports, it's also about the drugs

Just ask Roger Clemons or Lance Armstrong.

[chelsea0011]

7. Penn State is a cash cow for the NCAA. Not allowing scholarships for a number of years

would crush Penn State for many years. Relaxing these scholarship penalties early is good for Penn State and good for NCAA and bad policy. they should be a shamed but we are talking about the NCAA so they could care less as long as the money rolls in.

[CANDO]

8. OMG! Here we go again!

The NCAA punishes everyone at Penn State NOT involved with molesting boys, and the vigilantes rejoice. Now, the NCAA sees how punishing everyone NOT involved in molesting boys as possibly an overreach(my speculation), except for keeping the $60 million, and the vigilantes wring their collective hands and wonder aloud how the innocent bystanders can get off so easy. They got off easy, I guess... the innocent bastards. How dare they root for Penn State, and therefore be guilty by association?!!!

[Posteritatis]

9. Can't punish an institution without punishing the institution. Cope. (nt)

[CANDO]

10. Thanks! That didn't take long.

Unfortunately, anyone and everyone NOT a child molester in any way, shape, or form should never have been a target of a money grubbing witch hunt(by the NCAA). It was a criminal matter, with probably less than five people with direct culpability beyond the molester himself(Sandusky,Schultz, Curley, Paterno, Spanier). What gets me the most is the smug, self righteous, pious, (&^%#$%& who stand back and carp and have mental delusions that millions of people KNEW Sandusky was raping boys and approved of it and shielded it. NO, we did not. And my only attachment to PSU has been a casual fan that attended all of 3 games in my life.

[cpwm17]

11. I have to agree with you

It's collective punishment for a crime committed by a small group of people. What's the point?

[Dreamer Tatum]

12. Are you nuts? It's the perfect storm of DU outrage.

College football + NCAA + white men covering things up + white man doing awful things + money + boosters...my god. It's almost perfect fodder.

[cpwm17]

14. Yes, it's hatred based on negative stereotypes

There are several recent infamous alleged crimes where some of these stereotypes played a part in the accusations.

This was a horrible crime committed at Penn State, and Joe Paterno: what a disgrace. But we're all individuals. Collective guilt is B/S.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

13. Can't let a powerhouse school die like this. NCAA needs them to make money

Money trumps principles, even though I've noticed many people and organizations related to football tend to not have principles to begin with.

And this is a former football coach talking.

[Botany]

15. PSU should never had been allowed to play football for years

With them it was always the dollars, always the fuckin' dollars."
Nicky Santoro Casino 1995

[davidpdx]

16. I'd bet that the rest of the sanctions will be lifted next year

and possibly even a cut in the fine. The penalties end up being toothless if NCAA goes back on what they hand out.