Sex Abuse Scandal Rocks Penn State

[mooby]

djnemo, I had a feeling you would show up once the dust settled down in this thread, and to be clear, I don't have anything against most of the students that go to Penn State. Granted, I don't agree with the ones who are still supporting Paterno post-Freeh report, and I don't agree with his family, who are clearly only doing this to try and protect what remains of his tarnished legacy, but I don't have any desire to have their funding cut or for Penn State to get the academic death penalty.

I do think the football program should receive the death penalty though, and it's primarily based upon the fact that the man responsible for 3 decades of on-field success enabled a child molester for at least 10 years, and potentially more. I feel that nullifies any success they had on the field, and I think by allowing the football team to continue to exist will only invite more disruption and will serve to keep a volatile situation continuing long after the fact. I understand that doing so could potentially hurt all those players on the team today who haven't had anything to do with this, but unfortunately this is bigger than them and if they want to continue to play, they should have the option to transfer to another school and have the one-year dq waived. Every game they play as the Penn State football team could serve as a scene for a potential riot, with thousands of dissenters showing up to voice their opposition.

By giving the football program the death penalty, the NCAA would be serving an effective warning that if the country continues to put coaches and football programs up on a god-like pedestal, they would continue to let the opportunity for lies, deceit, and extreme misconduct like what happened at Penn State continue uninterrupted. I understand if you disagree completely, but a situation of this magnitude has to be dealt with appropriately. It wasn't just the fact that Jerry Sandusky did irreparable damage to these kids, it was also the fact that Spanier, Schultz, Curley, and Paterno put the reputation of their nationally renowned football program ahead of the welfare of the kids he harmed. For that, I think their nationally renowned football program shouldn't continue to exist.

I also understand much of what I just said isn't what your post is about, but I felt the need to clarify my opinion on this one.