Should Penn State get the Death Penalty?

**Judoka** · 12-07-2011, 07:41 PM

No, because while what happened is horrible beyond belief it is a law enforcement issue, not an NCAA issue. That being said, I think Penn State should choose to take a season or two off while they get their house in order and priorities straight.

**CyJack13** · 12-07-2011, 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by alarson

Agreed. The main reason that's been thrown out there why they "can't" do it again, is how devastating it was for SMU, and how they never recovered from it. The problem is, it was particularly devastating for them not because of the penalty alone, but because they were nothing without the cheating, so when the cheating went away, they never recovered because the cheating stopped.

A school like OSU, Penn State, Miami, etc, they get it, and yes, itll hurt, and maybe they have trouble being elite, but they still have the fanbase and alumni (and their donors) that can legally contribute enough that they will still rise back towards the top again.

Miami should certainly not be included in the group which has a large fanbase and alumni. They are a small private university, they do not have near the resources of many of the other BCS schools. It's actually fairly similar to SMU in that regard.

**Cyclonus** · 12-07-2011, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by uro cy

Shut down the athletic department for a few years. Let teams currently in season finish their seasons. Players can either stay at PSU and have their scholarship honored buy the university, or transfer without penalty. This goes beyond just football...they have had problems with other sports too.

Will it happen? No...too much money is involved.

This is why it should happen... the NCAA needs to make a decision that isn't based on monetary gain for once...

**hexodat64** · 12-07-2011, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by Rhoadhoused

No they shouldn't because it had nothing to do with competition. There are other more appropriate punishments.

Agreed. The NCAA really doesn't have anything to do with this situation. Sure it was a terrible thing related to the football program but it had no actual impact on Penn State's performance on the field.

**alarson** · 12-07-2011, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by CyJack13

Miami should certainly not be included in the group which has a large fanbase and alumni. They are a small private university, they do not have near the resources of many of the other BCS schools. It's actually fairly similar to SMU in that regard.

You may be right there, i almost didnt include them.

**alarson** · 12-07-2011, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by Rhoadhoused

No they shouldn't because it had nothing to do with competition. There are other more appropriate punishments.

I kind of agree with this, but at the same time, a case can be made that the NCAA should be taking a stand against athletic departments getting in legal trouble in addition to regular ncaa rules. It is bad for college football as a whole when an athletic department gets in the legal hole that Penn State's has. If a university or athletic department is actively covering things up or 'handling things internally', as has become a bad trend at many places, the NCAA should target such things and levy its own penalties.

**CyCrazy** · 12-07-2011, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by Judoka

No, because while what happened is horrible beyond belief it is a law enforcement issue, not an NCAA issue. That being said, I think Penn State should choose to take a season or two off while they get their house in order and priorities straight.

This would essentially be a death penalty for PSU.

**uro cy** · 12-07-2011, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclonus

This is why it should happen... the NCAA needs to make a decision that isn't based on monetary gain for once...

I agree....but again the $$ is the problem.
I could see the NCAA giving the death penalty again someday, but only to a smaller school, with less $$ involved and a less powerful alumni base.

**Clonefan32** · 12-07-2011, 08:14 PM

What happened was criminal but was not an NCAA violation. They should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, but in terms of NCAA violations, nope.

**loki8838** · 12-07-2011, 08:15 PM

They need to make an example out of them so it doesn't happen again.

I think they should give Penn St's wrestling team the death penalty.

**Jambalaya** · 12-07-2011, 08:17 PM

Hasn't Michigan had recruiting and/or rules violations with Rodriguez, yet gets an undeserved BCS bowl bid?

And Ohio St and Pryor--and their ex-coach. Yet they're still coddled?

NowPenn St. ban the Nittany Lions for a couple years. The atrocities can't be forgotten.

**Clonefan32** · 12-07-2011, 08:18 PM

For the sake of argument, what if this was the math department. All the same facts, a tenured professor is Sandusky, department chair is Paterno, it all gets reported to the President, Provost, etc. Would there be complaints that they should get rid of their math department and all math related degrees?

**Klonz** · 12-07-2011, 08:24 PM

I don't know about the death penalty, but there must be severe penalties...

1. Fire everyone in the football program and athletic department and administrative advisors, VPs, etc.., no way they didn't hear any rumors. No pensions, no pay-outs, no settlements, no university/public paid defense attorney fees.

Only people with zero relationships to Penn State anything can be hired back for a decade or more.

2. Serious sanctions on the football program... for the next 10 years... zero TV, zero bowls, etc...

3. Severe financial penalties...

As for Paterno (no more endearing Joe Pa) take down his statue. Remove his name from the stadium and building(s) on campus he donated money to. No pension. No settlements, etc...

Just a few ideas... take it to the brink of the death penalty, but make them take the next 10+ years to recover.

This whole thing is just unbelievable, sickening!