Penn State suffers but escapes death penalty, Big Ten expulsion

Penn State University will lose $73 million in fines, massive scholarship reductions, a four-year bowl ban and every football win since 1998 for the athletics department's role in covering up a child sex abuse scandal by a former assistant coach. But it could have lost much more.

Discussions were held by the NCAA to consider banning Penn State's football program for one or more years. Concurrently, Big Ten officials weighed the possibilities of expelling Penn State from the Big Ten. The school received a reprieve for both judgments and will play football next year in the Big Ten. But its reputation is soiled and its ability to compete is severely damaged.

"We're hoping that out of this we will get better, that everybody will take a lesson," Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany said. "I think part of the problem in this situation was both for the program and with leadership that spoke to the issue concentration of power. What is concentration of power? I guess it's a combination of strong personality, lots of success, some celebrity, it comes together in a way that challenges the control of the sports programs, undermines the controls that are in place to make sure that institutional values are dominant and not subordinate to intercollegiate athletics. Oftentimes the lines aren't clear enough."

Former Penn State football assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was convicted last month on 45 acts of sexually abusing children, some of which occurred at the Penn State football facility. An internal investigation headed by former FBI Director Louis Freeh found several athletics and university officials ranging from football coach Joe Paterno to President Graham Spanier were complicit in allowing the abuse continue by not reporting the actions to police and stonewalling any investigation.

Former Athletics Director Tim Curley and former university police chief Gary Schultz were indicted on perjury charges related to the case.

The findings led to unprecedented penalties for the athletics department and university. The NCAA fined Penn State $60 million, which will go toward preventing child sexual abuse. The football program will be allowed only 15 scholarships each year for four years with a cap of 65 beginning in 2013 through 2018. Every football player is allowed to leave and immediately compete for other schools. The football program will not participate in the postseason for four seasons.

Paterno previously held the Division I record for football wins, but 111 were vacated by the ruling. The NCAA also placed the school on probation for five years.

"Our goal is not to just to be punitive, but to make sure the university establishes an athletic culture and daily mindset in which football will never again be placed ahead of educating, nurturing, and protecting young people," NCAA President Mark Emmert said.

Penn State President Rodney Erickson issued a statement that the school will accept the penalties without appeal.

"It is important to know we are entering a new chapter at Penn State and making necessary changes," Erickson said. "We must create a culture in which people are not afraid to speak up, management is not compartmentalized, all are expected to demonstrate the highest ethical standards, and the operating philosophy is open, collegial, and collaborative."

The Big Ten also censured Penn State, placed the school on probation for five years and banned the football program from competing for the Big Ten Championship Game for four seasons. Penn State's bowl revenue spanning four seasons, estimated at about $13 million, will be donated to charity.

There was not a movement to expel Penn State from the Big Ten, but Sally Mason, Iowa President and Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellors Chair Sally Mason said, "everything was on the table. Everything was discussed."

"There's no doubt what happened at Penn State is bad for Penn State, and it's reflected by all of our members," Delany said. "That's why you see the collective action taken today by our board."

Delany described the discussions as lengthy, broad and significant and waited for the NCAA ruling before settling on appropriate penalties. Along with expulsion, league officials weighed a television ban.

"We looked at what wasn't done and we understood television was not impacted," Delany said. "We thought all things taken together was sufficient. Television and the playing of actual games along with other privileges of membership should not be impacted."

Some questioned the NCAA's authority to penalize Penn State because no clear violations were committed. On its website, the NCAA announced it was compelled to act because "it became obvious that the leadership failures at Penn State over an extended period of time directly violated Association bylaws and the NCAA Constitution relating to control over the athletic department, integrity and ethical conduct."

"Not only does the NCAA have the authority to act in this case, but it also has the responsibility to say such egregious behavior is not only against our bylaws and the constitution but also against value system and basic human decency," said Ed Ray, Oregon State president and executive committee chairman.

NCAA officials decided against the death penalty because of unintended consequences it would have on Penn State's other sports. Emmert also declared Penn State's $60 million penalty should not come by cutting Olympic sports.

According to a

Penn State financial report obtained by The Gazette through state open-records law, Penn State generated $116 million in fiscal year 2011. The football program is directly responsible for more than $58.89 million while nearly $38 million was non-specific revenue, which came from contributions, royalties/sponsorships and investment/endowments. Indirectly, most of that revenue is football-related.