I was as shocked as most people in reading the Freeh report.The steps Penn State took to avoid bad publicity were unprecedented. And it is clear that they football program ahead of the safety of children, and that is unconscionable.
As far as we know, there has not been another college football program that has put football ahead of the safety of our most vulnerable citizens. Although it is epidemic that many colleges have made their football programs very important, if not the most important program on campus. The NCAA has a chance to send a very strong message. Now is the opportunity to tell the sports world that student comes before athlete. That education comes first.
There is no precedent for this. No school has ever before been guilty of so heinous of a crime. The NCAA could slap Penn State on the hand, and then watch an epidemic arise, or nip it in the bud. The danger is that other schools will act to cover up heinous crimes. Let's hope, however, that there is nothing this serious going on at other colleges. If so, it may quickly come to light. But the NCAA must act to ensure that this will never happen again.
The so called "Death Penalty" is deserved, but look at what happened to SMU. The SMU penalty was serious and they never recovered. I would be afraid to recommend the "Death Penalty" because of what SMU football is 30 years later. If Penn State wants to be part of the football world after they have been made a proper example of, the way should be open for them to do so. Jerry Sandusky is in jail, and likely will remain there for the rest of his natural life. Joe Paterno is dead. The others involved in the cover-up will likely face criminal charges. And there will be civil lawsuits.
My solution is that the "Death Penalty" should be imposed upon the Penn State football program for longer than one season. This should last for at least 5 seasons so that all of the football players currently on the program will have to transfer to other schools. They should be allowed to play for the 2012 season, because it is too late for their opponents to find replacements in their schedule at this juncture. But the coaching staff should work to find scholarship opportunities for all underclassmen on scholarship this year. There should be no walk-ons for this season. There should not be a bowl game, and Penn State will not have any of their games broadcast on Television. Penn State should forfeit any TV money they receive in a Big 10 contract to a program that rehabilitates victims of child abuse.
After the "Death Penalty" is served, if the Penn State football program is reinstated, it is at the Football Championship Subdivision level for at least 10 years. This sounds harsh, but this is the merciful part of the plan. This will give the Penn State program a realistic chance at rebuilding the program. The same should have been done for SMU, who came back at the highest level of football and was not able to compete. After the 5 years without football and the 10 years at the lower division, then Penn State can petition to be reclassified at the FBS level, just like any other program.
Now for one more condition of the punishment, but this is not for the NCAA to decide, but the Big 10. Penn State should be dropped from the Big 10 and be required to have their non-football sports join either a non-football conference, like the Atlantic 10, or an FCS-level conference like the CAA.
Again, this will sent a message to the rest of college football to be open. If any member of the staff commits any sort of heinous crime, they should be allow for normal prosecution and not stand in the way of justice. They should deal with the negative publicity. That will be temporary. A punishment like this may be permanent.
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