Been listening to a lot of sports talk today and obviously today, along with the last few months, the PSU scandal has been at the forefront. Everyone has an opinion and most seem to come down on the side of hammering the University and/or the football program. I have no dog in the fight and certainly no allegiance to Sandusky U. But, I am kind of torn over what, if anything should happen.
On one hand, I simply don't see this as an NCAA matter. When the NCAA gets involved, it usually stems from a program trying to get a leg up on everyone else, whether it be paying players, fixing grades, Phi Mu coke whores for recruits or any other illegal benefit. While I think everyone involved in the scandal, from Sandusky all the way up to the Pres. and anyone else involved, should be ripped a new one both criminally and civilly, I can't see shutting down the program or hitting it with sanctions because of criminal acts that had nothing to do with gaining an advantage or providing illegal benefits in any way.
However....the other side of me sees where it could be exactly that. You've basically covered up horrible criminal activity in order to save the program any embarrassment and try to keep your football program at least at status quo level. I believe it's the nature and severity of the acts and ommissions that has everyone up in arms. If Sandusky had a problem with theft or defrauding investors etc. and Paterno and company tried to cover it up, would we be talking about this? But buggering little boys is off the charts wrong...so here we are.
I don't have an answer. I think I fall on the side of keeping the NCAA out of it and letting the criminal and civil systems handle everything. But you won't get an argument from me if they do come in and drop the hammer. Thoughts?