Monday, July 23, 2012

Once again, the NCAA punishes the wrong people

Don't get me wrong, Penn State needed some sort of punishment.  But outside of the $60M fine, how much actually punishes the institution, and how much punishes the current coaches and players?

What people have to remember is that universities, like businesses, evolve - almost to the point where you can consider them a separate entity.  The Penn State of 2012 is not the same as the Penn State of, say, 1912.  At some point, you can look at a university and say it is completely different, because you have a new set of individuals inhabiting the place.  The student body mostly regenerates every 4-5 years, and eventually, all administrators must leave as well.  The football team that takes the field this fall only shares the name and some of the players of past Penn State teams.

The culpable parties in this horrible series of incidents are all gone from Penn State, either through termination, death, or both.  I would have a much different feeling if Paterno was still alive and employed.

So now the NCAA is punishing a new group of students and coaches for the sins of the previous regime.  And the punishment is long lasting.  There is an entire class of Penn State that will not see even the possibility of a bowl game.

And then there's the NCAA's favorite of vacating wins.  As I've said in previous posts, what's the point?  Retroactively vacating wins does not help any of the other teams Penn State was playing against.  In this case, it might not even be appropriate.  While Paterno and company were trying to shield the football program and "protect" it at all costs, they were not cheating.  However, the vacated wins punishment is probably more symbolic than anything.

Still, all of this is an extra shackle on the university, which is trying to distance itself from this ugly incident.  However, it cannot even begin moving forward for four years, and it will probably take longer to get the program back into shape.

Yes, punishment was necessary.  But I believe the proper people should be punished.  Bill O'Brien and his players are not the proper people.

In the end, though, the punishment has been handed out, and accepted by Penn State, so nothing can be changed for them.  But perhaps, some sense can be granted upon the NCAA for future cases.

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