Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/450893
family called the settlement "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 prema- turely and irresponsibly in the unprece- dented sanctions the NCAA imposed on the University, the players, coaches and the community," the statement read. "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." Corman called the settlement "a full repeal of something that should have never happened to begin with." The settlement was ratified by Penn State's board of trustees later in the after- noon. Under the terms of the new agree- ment, the university is to give $42 million to the state of Pennsylvania to provide services to victims of child sexual abuse. In addition, Penn State will spend $18 million to create an endowment aimed at combating abuse through research, edu- cation and public service initiatives. The settlement was lauded by Penn State officials, with board chairman Keith Masser describing it as "good for Pennsylvania and the University." How- ever, many in the Penn State fan com- munity were left with mixed feelings. Although the wins were restored, ensur- ing that future record books will reflect reality, the NCAA did not concede any wrongdoing in its handling of the case. As the NCAA noted in its official statement, "Penn State acknowledges the NCAA's legitimate and good faith interest and concern regarding the Jerry Sandusky matter." In other words, the NCAA reaffirmed its position that it acted properly in sanctioning Penn State and that it had the authority to do so. However, Corman said the NCAA's willingness to discon- tinue the consent decree was an admis- sion that it had overreached. "If you felt that this was a provable case, you don't come to an agreement to repeal the consent decree," he said. "Their actions say that. They're not go- ing to say that verbally. They're not go- ing to say that in their press releases. But clearly, by the actions of this agreement, they understood that." The settlement of Corman's suit does not bring an end to legal sparring over the fallout from the Sandusky scandal. The Paterno estate has filed a separate suit, and while the NCAA said it will "aggressively defend" itself in that case, the family is pressing on. In their statement following the Corman set- tlement, the Paternos vowed to "con- tinue the job of uncovering the full truth in this case." – NATE BAUER No question Paterno should have been more diligent in passing along a report on Sandusky. But it's not like he didn't pass it along. He did. The hatemongers – those so jealous of Paterno's record that they can't see straight when looking at it – would have us believe Paterno was taking the victims by the hand and leading them to San- dusky. That gross distortion is the shame many people will have to carry with them in the days ahead, not that they'll acknowledge it or even realize it. They should know they're not half the man Joe Paterno was. BOB SMIZIK POST-GAZETTE.COM People lied here, either to Penn State or to one another. The NCAA, known for be- ing slow, finalized the Penn State penalties only 11 days after the Freeh report went public. The climate might have demanded action, but prudence would have been a better approach. Or avoidance, as difficult as that would have been. ADAM RITTENBERG ESPN.COM The real news is the NCAA avoided a potential trial — which would further have em- barrassed the organization and been expensive — on the legality of the consent degree signed by Penn State amid the Sandusky scandal. KEVIN GORMAN TRIBLIVE.COM The NCAA's decision to vacate 112 wins was always one of the most curious as- pects of the Penn State sanctions. Why was Penn State punished for games played nearly a decade after Jerry Sandusky had left the program? What massive competi- tive advantage did Penn State gain over that time that required the NCAA to remove those wins? BEN JONES STATECOLLEGE.COM Sandusky's victims deserve the acknowledgement that they were let down by the system long before, and clearly after, Sandusky assaulted them on Penn State's campus. While there has been a much more public fight over victories and sanc- tions, the fight for the truth should also extend to any state departments that worked with Sandusky, as well as The Second Mile, the nonprofit organization billed to deliver help for at-risk children. Truth doesn't start or stop at 409 wins. Truth extends to the core of a horrifying problem that, somehow, has not been reached in more than three years. DONNIE COLLINS THETIMES-TRIBUNE.COM W H A T T H E Y ' R E S A Y I N G