NCAA Announces They Will Restore Previously Vacated 112 Penn State Football Wins Making Joe Paterno Again the Winningest Coach in Major College Football History

MOVE OVER BOBBY BOWDEN, JOE PA IS BACK TO BEING THE WINNINGEST FOOTBALL COACH IN MAJOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL HISTORY …

Joe Paterno, the late head coach of the Penn St. Nittany Lions, is back to being the winningest coach in major college football history. The NCAA announced on Friday that they would restore 112 wins by the school’s football team that were wiped out in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child molestation sex scandal. The deal still must be approved by the NCAA board and the Penn State board, but that is probably pretty much of a done deal. This  would return Joe Paterno’s record to 409-136-3. Wow, this is big. The NCAA just blinked. They are basically admitting they overstepped their authority in the sanctions following the Sandusky scandal.  By restoring the wins, Joe Paterno will move back to the top of college football’s all-time Division I, major college wins:

1. Joe Paterno (409)
2. Bobby Bowden (377)
3. Paul “Bear” Bryant (323)
4. Glenn Scobey Warner (319)

I wonder how long it will be before PSU brings back Joe Pa’s the statue?

The NCAA on Friday announced a proposed agreement that would restore 112 wins by the school’s football team that were wiped out during the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal and would put the late Joe Paterno back as the winningest coach in major college football history.

College sports’ governing body announced the proposed deal weeks before a scheduled trial in state court on the legality of the 2012 consent decree it would replace.

The new deal would direct a $60 million fine to address child abuse be spent within Pennsylvania and would resolve the lawsuit.

The deal still must be approved by the NCAA board and the Penn State board. Penn State trustees’ chairman Keith Masser told The Associated Press that board members were having a private discussion early Friday afternoon about the lawsuit.

The announcement follows the NCAA’s decision last year to reinstate the school’s full complement of football scholarships and let Penn State participate in post-season play, and comes just days after a federal judge declined to rule on the consent decree’s constitutionality. The proposed settlement does not discuss the validity of the original consent decree.

Watch live: Corman announcement on lawsuit over Penn State sanctions.

Today is a great victory for everyone who has fought for the truth in the Sandusky tragedy. The repeal of the consent decree and the return of the wins to the University and Joe Paterno confirm that the NCAA and the Board of Trustees acted prematurely and irresponsibly in the unprecedented sanctions the NCAA imposed on the University, the players, coaches and the community.

This case should always have been about the pursuit of the truth, not the unjust vilification of the culture of a great institution and the scapegoating of coaches, players and administrators who were never given a chance to defend themselves.

For nearly three years, everyone associated with Penn State has had to bear the mark of shame placed upon the institution by the NCAA. It was a grievously wrong action, precipitated by panic, rather than a thoughtful and careful examination of the facts.

Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman is holding a 1 p.m. news conference to make a major announcement in the ongoing litigation involving the NCAA and Penn State University concerning the validity of the 2012 Consent Decree that resulted in sanctions against Penn State.

Corman’s lawsuit has turned into a case testing the validity of the penalties contained in the consent decree that resulted in a $60 million fine, a bowl ban, scholarship reduction and the vacation of 112 victories earned by the football team between 1998 and 2011.

The pivot points for any new settlement of this case, which is currently scheduled for trial in Commonwealth Court next month, would be full restoration of the wins, final disposition of the fine proceeds, and some closure on the divisive issue of whether the NCAA properly intervened in the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

UPDATE I: Statement from The Paterno family:

Today is a great victory for everyone who has fought for the truth in the Sandusky tragedy. The repeal of the consent decree and the return of the wins to the University and Joe Paterno confirm that the NCAA and the Board of Trustees acted prematurely and irresponsibly in the unprecedented sanctions the NCAA imposed on the University, the players, coaches and the community.

This case should always have been about the pursuit of the truth, not the unjust vilification of the culture of a great institution and the scapegoating of coaches, players and administrators who were never given a chance to defend themselves.

For nearly three years, everyone associated with Penn State has had to bear the mark of shame placed upon the institution by the NCAA. It was a grievously wrong action, precipitated by panic, rather than a thoughtful and careful examination of the facts.

Fortunately, through the tenacious efforts of Senator Jake Corman and Treasurer Rob McCord, a large measure of the wrong has been righted.  This is a major victory in our continued pursuit of justice for Penn State. The victims deserve the truth as do those who have been smeared by the deeply flawed Freeh report, which served as the basis of the actions by the Board Trustees and Penn State.

Through our pending litigation, we intend to continue the job of uncovering the full truth in this case.

UPDATE II: Here’s the release from the NCAA:

NCAA reaches proposed settlement in Corman lawsuit
Agreement allows fine money to be distributed

January 16, 2015 12:58pm

Programs serving child sexual abuse survivors will now receive millions of dollars as part of the NCAA’s proposed settlement with Pennsylvania state officials. This lawsuit stemmed from the NCAA’s sanctions against Penn State University for its role in allowing serial child sexual abuse to occur on its campus.

The proposed settlement agreement with the NCAA, university and state officials, among other things, restores Penn State’s vacated wins from 1998 through 2011.

Subject to board approval from Penn State and the NCAA, the new agreement between the NCAA and Penn State, replacing the 2012 consent decree between the parties, provides the following:

Penn State agrees to commit a total of $60 million to activities and programs for the prevention of child sexual abuse and the treatment of victims of child sexual abuse.
Penn State acknowledges the NCAA’s legitimate and good faith interest and concern regarding the Jerry Sandusky matter.

Penn State and the NCAA will enter into a new Athletics Integrity Agreement that (with concurrence of the Big Ten) includes best practices with which the university is committed to comply and that provides for the university to continue to retain the services of Sen. George Mitchell and his firm to support the university’s activities under the Athletics Integrity Agreement and in the areas of compliance, ethics and integrity.
In July 2012, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors and Executive Committee issued unprecedented sanctions for Penn State’s role in enabling child sexual abuse to occur on campus. In addition to the $60 million fine and vacation of wins, these penalties included a four-year postseason ban, scholarship reductions, five-year probation and a waiver of transfer rules. The NCAA Executive Committee restored postseason access and the full complement of scholarships in 2014, based on the recommendation from Athletics Integrity Monitor Sen. George Mitchell in response to the university’s progress.

“I am pleased to learn that financial resources to help child sexual abuse survivors will soon become available,” said Sen. George J. Mitchell. “I remain impressed with Penn State’s progress to date and look forward to its many reforms and improvements continuing to take root.”

“Continuing this litigation would further delay the distribution of funds to child sexual abuse survivors for years, undermining the very intent of the fine,” said Harris Pastides, University of South Carolina president and member of the NCAA Board of Governors. “While others will focus on the return of wins, our top priority is on protecting, educating and nurturing young people.”

The lawsuit originally asked the judge to restrict the distribution of the $60 million fine to child sexual abuse prevention organizations in Pennsylvania rather than national organizations. The NCAA repeatedly attempted to resolve the dispute regarding the fine, even agreeing to move the funds into a state endowment rather than distribute them nationally as originally intended. The judge denied this motion and expanded the lawsuit to include the NCAA’s authority to act in this matter, which the plaintiffs did not previously question. Penn State initiated the latest settlement discussions in mid-December.

“Today’s agreement with Penn State reaffirms our authority to act,” said Kirk Schulz, Kansas State University president and chair of the NCAA Board of Governors. “The NCAA has a legitimate role when a member’s actions threaten the integrity of college sports. We acted in good faith in addressing the failures and subsequent improvements on Penn State’s campus. We must acknowledge the continued progress of the university while also maintaining our commitment to supporting the survivors of child sexual abuse.”

The NCAA will aggressively defend the Paterno estate’s challenge to the validity of the now-replaced consent decree.

Penn State Settles with 26 Victims in Jerry Sandusky Sexual Abuse Scandal for $59.7 Million

According to Penn State News, the University of Penn State has settled with 26 victims for $49.7 million as  a result of the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal. Officials state that the settlement amounts will not be funded by student tuition, taxpayer funds or donations, but rather by various liability insurance policies. The terms of the settlement include a confidentiality agreement. Sandusky is currently in prison after being found guilty on 45 counts of child sex charges including 25 felonies.

Penn State officials announced today (Oct. 28) that over the past few months the University has reached agreement with 26 of the victims of former assistant football coach Gerald Sandusky. The terms of the settlements, which include a release of all claims against Penn State and other parties, are subject to confidentiality agreements. Of the 26 settlements, 23 are fully signed and three are agreed in principle, with final documentation expected within the next few weeks.

The aggregate dollar amount paid by the University for the 26 settled claims is $59.7 million and will be reflected in the University’s audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2013.

“The Board of Trustees has had as one of its primary objectives to reach settlements in a way that is fair and respects the privacy of the individuals involved,” said Keith Masser, chair of the Board of Trustees. “This is another important milestone in accomplishing that goal. I would like to thank the board’s Legal and Compliance Committee, as well as its Legal Subcommittee for its leadership throughout this process.”

As reported at USA Today, PSU President Rodney Erickson called the agreements “another step forward in the healing process for those hurt by Mr. Sandusky, and another step forward for Penn State.”

Harrisburg lawyer Ben Andreozzi, who represents nine of the victims, said he was pleased with the settlements.

“Obviously no amount of money can compensate for what these young men have gone through,” he said. “But Penn State has given them the resources — financially and counseling — they need to help them recover.”

Pennsylvania Gov. Plans to Sue the NCAA in Federal Court over Sanctions Imposed against Penn State University in Wake of Sandusky Child Molestation Case

This is a head scratching law suit that the Pennsylvania governor will lose in the battle of public opinion.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett is planning on suing the NCAA in federal court with a lawsuit in response to the sanctions levied against Penn State University in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal. Corbett is supposed to hold a press conference today to announce the law suit and how the state will file the law suit. According to reports, PSU has nothing to do with these lawsuits. The announcement will most like deal with one of the unique sanctions levied by the NCAA. One of the  penalties is the $60 million fine which has become a point of contention in Pennsylvania local politics. Politicians have argued that the money should be used to fight abuse in the state of Pennsylvania, while the NCAA had initially targeted a more national approach for the money. Really folks, this is what you are suing over whether the fines should fight sexual abuse of children in PA or across the country? Poor form folks, really bad form.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett will announce a federal lawsuit against the NCAA tied to the historic sanctions levied against Penn State in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Corbett will hold a press conference on Wednesday morning in State College, Pa., to announce the suit, which will be filed by the state.

Penn State, which has been working in concert with the NCAA since the scandal, is not involved in preparing the suit. It is being handled solely by the state.

Corbett’s office has been vague in regard to the specific aim of the suit, but it appears to be dedicated to the overall sanctions issued by the NCAA in July. Corbett referred to them on Tuesday as “illegal sanctions.”

A wholesale suit against the NCAA by a third party as powerful as the state of Pennsylvania could loom as an important case in testing the ultimate power of the NCAA.

Is this really something that the governor of Pennsylvania really wants to focus the media light on? It was such a heinous act, it just seems rather shallow that a state would only want the monies to go toward their state, rather than country wide. Shallow indeed.

Unhappy Valley: Joe Paterno’s Family Responds to Penn State Penalties and Sanctions over Sandusky Sexual Abuse Crimes … “defamed the legacy and contributions of a great coach and educator”

UNHAPPY VALLEY FOR AT LEAST A DECADE TO FOLLOW … NCAA PUNISHED PENN STATE PAST, [RESENT AND FUTURE.

The family of Joe Paterno responds to the harsh sanctions handed down today by the NCAA in the wake of the heinous and hideous sexual abuse crimes of former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. Among the penalties were $60 million sanction, four year ban on bowl games, loss of scholarships and most peculiar, Penn State vacating all wins from 1998 through 2011. What is a little trite about this punishment is the fact that I fail to see how this properly punishes PSU and makes it better in the future. Granted, the vacating of wins makes Paterno no longer the winniest division I coach in NCAA history and slots former Florida St coach as the new #1. What a way to become number one. That being said, the NCAA said it did not want to punish current players with their sanctions. Well, what about former ones? So all players that took part in Nittany Lion football from 1998 to 2011 didn’t exist?

I realize the crimes that Sandusky did were beyond comprehension, but there just seems to be a bit of vindictiveness in the vacating of games. I can understand the $60 million fine and the money to go to groups that deal with abused and exploited children. I can understand the bowl ban and the loss of scholarships. I more than understand the steps to create a compliance policy and an independent group to oversee PSU. However, if one is going to go out on a limb and make accusations against anyone, including JoePa, they best get all the information from all parties. Just because there was blood in the water and some one needed to take the fall, does not mean you bypass the process. The family of Joe Paterno released a statement.

“Sexual abuse is reprehensible, especially when it involves children, and no one starting with Joe Paterno condones or minimizes it. The horrific acts committed by Jerry Sandusky shock the conscience of every decent human being. How Sandusky was able to get away with his crimes for so long has yet to be fully understood, despite the claims and assertions of the Freeh Report.

“The release of the Freeh Report has triggered an avalanche of vitriol, condemnation and posthumous punishment on Joe Paterno. The NCAA has now become the latest party to accept the report as the final word on the Sandusky scandal. The sanctions announced by the NCAA today defame the legacy and contributions of a great coach and educator without any input from our family or those who knew him best.

“That the President, the Athletic Director and the Board of Trustees accepted this unprecedented action by the NCAA without requiring a full due process hearing before the Committee on Infractions is an abdication of their responsibilities and a breach of their fiduciary duties to the University and the 500,000 alumni. Punishing past, present and future students of the University because of Sandusky’s crimes does not serve justice. This is not a fair or thoughtful action; it is a panicked response to the public’s understandable revulsion at what Sandusky did.

“The point of due process is to protect against this sort of reflexive action. Joe Paterno was never interviewed by the University or the Freeh Group. His counsel has not been able to interview key witnesses as they are represented by counsel related to ongoing litigation. We have had no access to the records reviewed by the Freeh group. The NCAA never contacted our family or our legal counsel. And the fact that several parties have pending trials that could produce evidence and testimony relevant to this matter has been totally discounted.

“Unfortunately all of these facts have been ignored by the NCAA, the Freeh Group and the University.”

Rush Limbaugh stated it best as to the double-talk coming from NCAA President Emert. How can you sat that you did not want to punish the player that had nothing to do with this scandal when you take away current scholarships, tell them they cannot play in a bowl and forfeit all of Penn States wins from 1998 to 2011. How is this not punishing those that were not responsible?

But when you vacate all of the victories, and then you tell the existing team that they can’t go to a bowl game for four years, and there’s no championship for you, how are you not punishing the people that didn’t have anything to do with it? The $60 million fine is about what they say the Penn State football program generates every year. They’re gonna take that one year of revenue of $60 million and they’re gonna set up basically a charity for abused kids to deal with those who are and to prevent it from ever happening again.

NCAA Drops the Hammer on Penn State … $60 Million Fine, 4 Year Ban on Bowl Games, Vacate All Wins from 1998-2011 (Paterno No Longer Winniest Coach) … Current & Incoming Players Can Leave PSU and Play Immediately

TheNCAA has dropped the hammer on Penn State University and although it was not the death penalty, it might have well have been and might have been worse.

The penalties were severe and due to the unique nature of the Sandusky sexual abuse crimes and the cover up, the NCAA whacked PSU. The sanctions and penalties from NCAA president Mark Emmert are as follows. It was stated they were meant to be corrective and punitive. The sanctions and penalties affect Penn State in the past, present and future.

1. A $60 million sanction, the equivalent of one years revenue of the PSU football team. The funds are be paid into an endowment for external programs preventing child sexual abuse or assisting victims.
2. Four year football postseason ban.
3.  Penn State must vacate wins dating from 1998 to 2011. The career record of former head football coach Joe Paterno will reflect these vacated records. There goes the winniest college football coach record.
4. Penn State must also reduce 10 initial and 20 total scholarships each year for a four-year period.
5. NCAA reserves the right to impose additional sanctions on involved individuals at the conclusion of any criminal proceedings.

CNN had reported that PSU would see fines in excess of $30 million, I’ll say, how about double that.

Emert went on to say that the NCAA recognizes that student-athletes are not responsible for these events and worked to minimize the impact of its sanctions on current and incoming football student-athletes, … “Any entering or returning student-athlete will be allowed to immediately transfer and compete at another school. Further, any football student-athletes who remain at the university may retain their scholarships, regardless of whether they compete on the team.”

Statement from NCAA president Mark Emmert:

In the Penn State case, the results were perverse and unconscionable,” Emmert said.

“No price the NCAA can levy with repair the damage inflicted by Jerry Sandusky on his victims,” he said, reffering to the former Penn State defensive coordinator convicted of 45 counts of child sex abuse last month.

The NCAA’s announcement followed a day after Penn State removed Joe Paterno’s statue outside Beaver Stadium, a decision that came 10 days after a scathing report by former FBI director Louis J. Freeh found that Paterno, with three other top Penn State administrators, had concealed allegations of child sexual abuse made against Sandusky.

UPDATE I: What I find interesting is that the NCAA enacted some of the sanctions that SM referenced yesterday and that was the monetary fine and providing the funds to a non-profit for abused children. Also we mentioned that an independent individual would be placed in charge to monitor what was going on with PSU going forward. That was part of today’s sanctions where compliance officers and groups were put in place to review what Penn State will be doing from this point going forward.

What exactly could punishment through nontraditional methods mean?I am wondering if there will not only be the typical loss of scholarships and bowl appearance, but also revenue form the football program going to non-profit programs for sexually exploited children? Also, will there be a third-party individual be put in place to oversee practices at the university?