Pennsylvania Gov. sues NCAA over sanctions

[Jerry Punch]

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8802975/pennsylvania-gov-tom-corbett-wants-toss-ncaa-sanctions-penn-state-nittany-lions" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Despite what Everett thinks, I would expect the Montana governor to do the same thing if it levied any kind of sanctions against UM. I think what the NCAA did to Penn State is so far out of line and so disgusting that they themselves should be sued for abusing the legal process.

Outside of pulling scholarships and a few post-season bans, I don't think the NCAA has any extra authority to do whatever it wants to a football program. So, believe it or not, I would be railing against the NCAA with every other Griz fan if they pulled something half as egrigeous as they did here.

 

[CatzWillRise]

I think the families of the victims should sue PSU. It is a state-funded institution afterall.

 

[bozely]

Wow, already forgotten? This institution actively covered up for a man who committed dozens of acts of pedophilia and rape. He destroyed the lives of these children and football was so important to the college that they looked the other way. They deserve this, and I hope the Governor gets the book thrown at him. As for UM, nobody knows what the results will be, so don't make a judgement call yet.

 

[Jerry Punch]

How does the NCAA have the authority to force a tax-payer funded institution to pay for programs outside of the state of Pennslyvania? I'm not saying that Penn State shouldn't pay, but the NCAA has absolutely no authority to force them to do it. There are other avenues for justice to be pursued that don't involve college athletics.

 

[bozely]

How does the NCAA have the authority to force a tax-payer funded institution to pay for programs outside of the state of Pennslyvania? I'm not saying that Penn State shouldn't pay, but the NCAA has absolutely no authority to force them to do it. There are other avenues for justice to be pursued that don't involve college athletics.

Force them down to NAIA?

 

[Jerry Punch]

You're putting the burden of those mistakes on tax payers in Pennsylvania, solely because the NCAA said it was so. Where in the Pennsylvania constitution or the US Constitution does it say that the NCAA can levy a tax on the people? Nowhere.

 

[CatzWillRise]

You're putting the burden of those mistakes on tax payers in Pennsylvania, solely because the NCAA said it was so. Where in the Pennsylvania constitution or the US Constitution does it say that the NCAA can levy a tax on the people? Nowhere.

Actually the opposite. No taxpayer money will be used in the fine, but plenty of taxpayer money will be used to fund this lawsuit...

 

[EverettGriz]

No taxpayer money will be used in the fine

Not trying to argue, CWR, but what makes you think that? By its nature, isn't all money from a state university necessarily tax-payer money?

 

[br fan]

You're putting the burden of those mistakes on tax payers in Pennsylvania, solely because the NCAA said it was so. Where in the Pennsylvania constitution or the US Constitution does it say that the NCAA can levy a tax on the people? Nowhere.

Actually the opposite. No taxpayer money will be used in the fine, but plenty of taxpayer money will be used to fund this lawsuit...

I'm not sure how you can say that. All money earned by Penn State, just like all money earned by by UM or MSU, ultimately belongs to the state, i.e., the taxpayers. The NCAA levied a $60m fine against state monies, and said they are going to spend 75% of it outside the State of Pennsylvania. I think we're ultimately going to see that the NCAA far exceeded their authority by trying to do this.

 

[Jerry Punch]

No taxpayer money will be used in the fine

Not trying to argue, CWR, but what makes you think that? By its nature, isn't all money from a state university necessarily tax-payer money?

Yes. That's what drives me nuts. How can the NCAA just tell a state agency what they're going to do? What happens if they don't? Are they going to send in federal NCAA troops? No. The whole thing is a sham.

 

[CatzWillRise]

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/07/penn_state_will_tap_into_athle.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Impossible to really tell where the money is coming from, but PSU has "promised" no taxpayer money will be used. But in reality obviously some of it will be taken from the taxpayer.

This lawsuit is nothing but a PR move for PSU to save some face, and to get the governor some votes for re-election.

 

[CatzWillRise]

The irony of this whole thing is that Corbett was the attorney general when the AG took over the original Sandusky case in 2009, which many people think there was a lot of evidence against Sandusky then. But no charges were brought for 3 more years...

Also, Corbett is quoted as saying earlier this year:

"The appalling actions of a few people have brought us once again into the national spotlight. We have taken a monster off the streets and while we will never be able to repair the injury done to these children, we must repair the damage to this university. Part of that corrective process is to accept the serious penalties imposed by the NCAA on Penn State University and its football program."

And lastly, he waited to do this until the football season was over because "didn't want to file during football season to take away from the team's momentum." Is it not this kind of thinking and culture that got PSU in trouble in the first place, a football-first attitude?

For shame, governor.