Penn State Scandal and Fallout

[Eye Candy]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20120711/D9VUI9A00.html

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - The team brought in by Penn State to investigate "the facts and circumstances of the actions" at the university surrounding molestation of boys by former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky will release its highly anticipated report this week, with the school's reputation and future direction hanging in the balance.

The university trustees who paid for the probe, led by former FBI agent and federal judge Louis Freeh, will pore through it on Thursday to see what it says about university employees, recommendations for policy changes and even their own knowledge about rumors Sandusky had abused children on campus.

Penn State alumni, college football fans and the family of Sandusky's former boss Joe Paterno will look to see if it sheds new light on Paterno's actions, particularly after a graduate assistant complained to him in 2001 about Sandusky showering in a team locker room with a boy.

School administrators Gary Schultz and Tim Curley, awaiting trial on charges they lied to the Sandusky grand jury and didn't properly report child abuse, will find out whether Freeh's investigators uncovered anything that might help - or hinder - their criminal defense. And former Penn State president Graham Spanier, who has not been charged with any crime, could discover whether emails or other records disclose more about his role.

In announcing that the report will go online at 9 a.m. Thursday, July 12th, Freeh took pains to say no one outside his team will get copies beforehand, including the trustees. Investigators will hold a news conference that morning in Philadelphia. That day, trustees will start a two-day meeting in Scranton where they can respond to the report.

"I think we'll find that this thing revolves so tightly around coach Paterno, and I would hope the Freeh report is much broader than that and addresses the university as a whole - and how this culture was handled or mishandled correctly - and comes to some closure on that," trustee Ryan McCombie said Tuesday.

"The people who loved Joe Paterno will still love him when this is over," McCombie said. "The people who disliked him may feel they have ammunition to continue to dislike him."

Paterno died of cancer in January, but his family issued a statement late Tuesday saying leaks have made them question the fairness of the Freeh group's process. They defended the Hall of Fame coach, saying he did not know Sandusky was a child molester and did not prevent a proper investigation.

Sandusky, 68, was convicted of 45 counts of child sexual abuse last month and awaits sentencing. Prosecutors described how Sandusky culled the most vulnerable children from his charity for at-risk youth and used gifts and his access to Penn State facilities to abuse them over a 15-year span.

The Paterno family took aim at a February 2001 email by Curley, recently reported by CNN, saying he had a change of heart about reporting the shower incident to authorities after speaking with Paterno. Penn State has disclosed that Freeh's probe turned up emails among top officials that have been given to prosecutors.

"When the facts come out, it will be clear that Joe Paterno never gave Tim Curley any instructions to protect Sandusky or limit any investigation of his actions," the Paterno family's statement read.

Spanier's lawyers on Tuesday broke a months-long silence to deny suggestions that he participated in a cover-up with the image of Penn State and its powerful and lucrative football program at stake. They said Spanier was never informed that Sandusky may have been abusing children.

"At no time in the more than 16 years of his presidency at Penn State was Dr. Spanier told of an incident involving Jerry Sandusky that described child abuse, sexual misconduct or criminality of any kind, and he reiterated that during his interview with Louis Freeh and his colleagues," said attorneys Peter Vaira and Elizabeth Ainslie.

Spanier's comments last week to the Freeh group echoed his testimony before a state grand jury that neither Curley nor Schultz informed him of the sexual nature of what graduate assistant Mike McQueary saw.

CNN reported an email showed Spanier was "supportive" of a decision by Curley and Schultz not to report the incident. Spanier warned, however, that they might "become vulnerable for not having reported it," CNN said.

Spanier's lawyers said the emails were "distorting the public record and creating a false picture."

Both Spanier and Paterno were ousted by school trustees a few days after Sandusky's arrest in November.

[Lemmy Lugosi]

[Moviefan1203]

I'm more interested to see if the NCAA decides to step in.

[R3P0]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

I'm more interested to see if the NCAA decides to step in.

Why would the NCAA step in what NCAA rule did they violate? Dont get me wrong im not advocating what happened, but at this time its a federal thing only not NCAA

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by R3P0

Why would the NCAA step in what NCAA rule did they violate? Dont get me wrong im not advocating what happened, but at this time its a federal thing only not NCAA

Source - http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoot...propriate-time

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The NCAA says that it will decide on whether to take action at the "appropriate time" in connection with its inquiry into Penn State and the child sexual abuse scandal that led to the ouster of Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno.

Findings from Penn State's internal investigation into the case of ex-defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky are due Thursday. The NCAA says it has already been collecting information from the probe led by former FBI director Louis Freeh.

The NCAA says Penn State will have to formally respond to questions from NCAA President Mark Emmert, even after Freeh unveils his findings.

The governing body says it won't interfere with other ongoing inquiries into the matter, and will determine if additional action is necessary. They offered no specific timeline.

They're obviously considering action. I'd imagine a coverup within the school/program would be grounds for loss of institutional control.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by R3P0

Why would the NCAA step in what NCAA rule did they violate? Dont get me wrong im not advocating what happened, but at this time its a federal thing only not NCAA

Because if schools(all ncaa affiliated programs) realize enabling breaking the law at the expense of advancing the football team or any sports team, would result in even more catastrophic damage then this fallout has already brought, it may make people think even more.

Right now you get in more "football" trouble for enabling the sale of jerseys, or helping fly parents around to games, then possibly hiding extreme child abuse from as recent as the 90s, and possibly since the 70s!

I agree there is no direct correlation, but neither is the sale of jerseys, it isn't like roids, nobody is gaining an on the field advantage from Pryor getting a tattoo and cash for a jersey.

The only reason this team isn't axed is because its a revenue GIANT. remember the Duke lacrosse team that didn't do anything wrong other than throw a party? Well they lost the season, and were a conviction away from having the team disbanded. Oh and the women who made those accusations... Stabbed her boyfriend too death in 2011, and is sitting in jail... Nice.

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

They're obviously considering action. I'd imagine a coverup within the school/program would be grounds for loss of institutional control.

They should.

Only people I feel bad for is the CURRENT players, all the former players I hear try to pull "well some good happened" all good gets voided with something like that going on, the day after the CNN report came out Lavar Arrington was putting out blogs and tweets "I don't think Joe knew anything" . I sure don't feel bad for him.

[Storer50]

Originally Posted by R3P0

Why would the NCAA step in what NCAA rule did they violate? Dont get me wrong im not advocating what happened, but at this time its a federal thing only not NCAA

Violation of the clery act

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

[fatediesel]

Joe Paterno and Penn State come off terribly in the just-released report by Louis Freeh:

The report concluded that Paterno, president Graham Spanier, athletic director Tim Curley and vice president Gary Schultz "failed to protect against a child sexual predator harming children for over a decade."

"In order to avoid the consequences of bad publicity, the most powerful leaders at the university -- Spanier, Schultz, Paterno and Curley -- repeatedly concealed critical facts relating to Sandusky's child abuse," the report said.

The report says that evidence shows Paterno, Spanier, Schultz and Curley did know of a 1998 investigation into Sandusky and that Paterno "failed to take any action."

The report added that Paterno and university leaders allowed Sandusky to retire in 1999, "not as a suspected child predator, but as a valued member of the Penn State football legacy, with future 'visibility' at Penn State," allowing him to groom victims.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...ildren-welfare

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

Joe Paterno and Penn State come off terribly in the just-released report by Louis Freeh:



http://espn.go.com/college-football/...ildren-welfare

lol the thing nobody seems to be talking about. If you'd cover it up from 98 on what else were you doing in the 60s,70s,80s when media coverage wasn't nearly like it is today.

I hope everyone else who knew and is alive finds themselves in a jail cell with Sandusky, and I'd even include people at UMD or other schools who might have found out while trying to hire him as a coach, they are equally liable if they knew and disregarded it.

[R3P0]

Originally Posted by Storer50

Violation of the clery act

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

Ok now we have a rule they potentially violated, to others im not ignoring you nor am i saying you are wrong in your thought process, however if there is no directly violated rule the NCAA cant act. However if Storer is right and until i see the rule I cannot confirm or deny he is, the NCAA still cannot act on a Federal issue.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by R3P0

until i see the rule I cannot confirm or deny he is, the NCAA still cannot act on a Federal issue.

And I'll again direct you to the suspension of the season for the Duke Lacrosse team (not near the money maker PSU Football is).

I get what you want you want something that says subsection 41.2b of the NCAA bylaws say you can't abuse kids, if that’s found you lose your program. But just because something that clearly defined isn't in the ncaa rules, that doesn't absolve the institution of crimes.

And, you open a bigger can of worms by doing nothing then maybe stretching on Lack of Control/ Clery Act and causing serious sanctions, because you've then created a grey area where crimes can be committed in defense or for the programs advancement.

I'd go a step further and say while not everyone would sell their souls the way these guys did, the money, and power that these programs can create for anyone is the problem and when you put that in the crosshairs along with criminal punishment it might make guys who are less than honest reconsider. Some people will do anything for money and power and protecting legacy, and thats what needs policing.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by supersix4

And I'll again direct you to the suspension of the season for the Duke Lacrosse team (not near the money maker PSU Football is).

The Duke lacrosse team's season was cancelled by the school, not the NCAA. Regardless, there are ways the NCAA can go after Penn State and there's plenty of columnists calling for the team to get the death penalty. However, I can't see that happening to a school as prominent as Penn State.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

The Duke lacrosse team's season was cancelled by the school, not the NCAA. Regardless, there are ways the NCAA can go after Penn State and there's plenty of columnists calling for the team to get the death penalty. However, I can't see that happening to a school as prominent as Penn State.

I know that, but it was for fear of the death penalty, and they hoped to cut off the NCAA in case it got bad. OSU and USC (and everyone for that matter) tried the same thing by trying to come down hard to avoid getting clipped harder by the NCAA.

I agree had this been a beloved rugby coach the program would have been gone, as much as I think it should get what SMU got and maybe wores. They wont.

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by R3P0

Ok now we have a rule they potentially violated, to others im not ignoring you nor am i saying you are wrong in your thought process, however if there is no directly violated rule the NCAA cant act. However if Storer is right and until i see the rule I cannot confirm or deny he is, the NCAA still cannot act on a Federal issue.

The NCAA rulebook has a whole section on Ethics, which is limited not just to students and administrators but other people associated to and around the program.

The NCAA, if they choose to, has a slam dunk in applying these violations to Penn State.

[R3P0]

Originally Posted by supersix4

And I'll again direct you to the suspension of the season for the Duke Lacrosse team (not near the money maker PSU Football is).

I get what you want you want something that says subsection 41.2b of the NCAA bylaws say you can't abuse kids, if that’s found you lose your program. But just because something that clearly defined isn't in the ncaa rules, that doesn't absolve the institution of crimes.

And, you open a bigger can of worms by doing nothing then maybe stretching on Lack of Control/ Clery Act and causing serious sanctions, because you've then created a grey area where crimes can be committed in defense or for the programs advancement.

I'd go a step further and say while not everyone would sell their souls the way these guys did, the money, and power that these programs can create for anyone is the problem and when you put that in the crosshairs along with criminal punishment it might make guys who are less than honest reconsider. Some people will do anything for money and power and protecting legacy, and thats what needs policing.

Actually Super it wouldn't even have to say abuse of kids, just something along the line of if your program is involved in a federal investigation and found guilty the NCAA can act, anything like that. otherwise it must be the school the imposes the penalties similar to the Duke Lacrosse team

[R3P0]

Originally Posted by Terjyn

The NCAA rulebook has a whole section on Ethics, which is limited not just to students and administrators but other people associated to and around the program.

The NCAA, if they choose to, has a slam dunk in applying these violations to Penn State.

Yes but the former coach was no longer involved with the program which is why the NCAA cannot act at this point. Do I think the NCAA should act o hell yes because this coverup was at the highest level President, AD, Coach, etc. the problem is with the way the bylaws are written I do not think they can act. Truthfully even tho it would kill the Big 10 id give PSU the death penalty for this crap.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by R3P0

Yes but the former coach was no longer involved with the program which is why the NCAA cannot act at this point. Do I think the NCAA should act o hell yes because this coverup was at the highest level President, AD, Coach, etc. the problem is with the way the bylaws are written I do not think they can act. Truthfully even tho it would kill the Big 10 id give PSU the death penalty for this crap.

I agree, that’s the hard thing now because the key players are out of the loop now you're punishing just for the sake of punishing, but I hope they do something, because that culture will just rebuild itself, now maybe this was a rare animal because of the small town/ extreme length of JoePa's rein, but if nothing happens it simply tells me big money sports will always trump it, even if personal legacies and lives get crushed accordingly.

Originally Posted by R3P0

Actually Super it wouldn't even have to say abuse of kids, just something along the line of if your program is involved in a federal investigation and found guilty the NCAA can act, anything like that.

Gotcha

[R3P0]

Originally Posted by supersix4

I agree, that’s the hard thing now because the key players are out of the loop now you're punishing just for the sake of punishing, but I hope they do something, because that culture will just rebuild itself, now maybe this was a rare animal because of the small town/ extreme length of JoePa's rein, but if nothing happens it simply tells me big money sports will always trump it, even if personal legacies and lives get crushed accordingly.

The issue here is this shit don't just happen with Penn State, if its not bribes or payoffs, its federal child sexual abuse crap, or steroids, or signing with an agent before you can. The NCAA drastically needs to rethink how things are done and what can be done to fix it. I am a firm believer that these kids should get something more then just a free ride especially with how much money these big universities make off them. Granted the free education should be enough but when your talking hundreds of millions of dollars it really isn't. even if the uni gave the kids 400 a month to spend or something so they could concentrate more on school or something idk. The system is the problem not just in this case the school.

Lets say the NCAA does act whats the worst they are going to do 4 bowls, and 20-25 scholarships? yeah that's not really gonna hurt a program like PSU which probably wasn't going to a bowl anyways over the next 2-3 years.

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by R3P0

Yes but the former coach was no longer involved with the program which is why the NCAA cannot act at this point. Do I think the NCAA should act o hell yes because this coverup was at the highest level President, AD, Coach, etc. the problem is with the way the bylaws are written I do not think they can act. Truthfully even tho it would kill the Big 10 id give PSU the death penalty for this crap.

First off you are wrong. Once you count you count as long as you aren't clearly disassociated with the program according to the rulebook.

Originally Posted by Section 13.02.14.1 Duration of Status.

"Once an individual, independent agency, corporate entity or other organization is identified as such a representative, the person, independent agency, corporate entity or other organization retains that identity indefinitely."

If Penn State had told Sandusky to get the hell away from the program, THEN maybe he wouldn't count.

Secondly, the Ethics slam dunk doesn't even need Sandusky. You have all kinds of people in the Penn State organization who blatantly covered up illegal activities. All of which are violations under the ethics rules.

[fatediesel]

Originally Posted by R3P0

The NCAA drastically needs to rethink how things are done and what can be done to fix it. I am a firm believer that these kids should get something more then just a free ride especially with how much money these big universities make off them. Granted the free education should be enough but when your talking hundreds of millions of dollars it really isn't. even if the uni gave the kids 400 a month to spend or something so they could concentrate more on school or something idk. The system is the problem not just in this case the school.

The problem with paying athletes is that legally you have to pay all athletes (men and women), not just the football and men's basketball players that bring in the revenue. Schools in the BCS conferences could afford paying all their athletes (even though most schools use clever accounting to falsely make it look like they're losing money each year) but there's no way teams in the lower conferences or FBS schools, most of whom truly do lose money each year, can afford to pay their athletes.