Shortly after 10AM on Monday morning, the top four trending U.S. topics on Twitter were — in descending order — “Penn State,” “#PSU,” “NCAA” and “Mark Emmert.”
And rightfully so. One hour earlier, NCAA president Mark Emmert announced that Penn State would be penalized with a $60 million sanction, a four-year football postseason ban and a vacation of all wins dating to 1998.
The vacated wins mean that Joe Paterno is no longer the all-time wins leader among FBS football coaches. Paterno held the record (409) at the time of his death in January but will now be credited with 298 victories — fifth on the FBS all-time list.
Penn State must also reduce 10 initial and 20 total scholarships each year for a four-year period.
“In the Penn State case, the results were perverse and unconscionable,” Emmert said. “No price the NCAA can levy will repair the damage inflicted by Jerry Sandusky on his victims.”
Current Penn State players are allowed to transfer and play immediately at other schools. In addition, the athletic program as a whole will be put on five-year probation and must work with an athletic-integrity monitor of the NCAA’s choosing.
[ESPN]
