NCAA ruling shows power of words

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July 27, 2012

NCAA ruling shows power of words

Anonymous Daily Star The Daily Star Sat Sep 22, 2012, 03:34 PM EDT

The NCAA's recent ruling on Penn State is a classic example of the power of words.

In what it called "a stark wake-up call to everyone involved in college sports," The National Collegiate Athletic Association announced Monday that Penn State University would pay a $60 million fine, lose 20 football scholarships and be banned from postseason play for four years.

But what may have the longest-lasting impact on the college's legacy is the organization's decision to nullify 14 seasons of victories coached by the late Joe Paterno.

There was much talk leading up to this announcement about the so-called "death penalty," which bans an institution from competing in a particular sport altogether.

The NCAA has doled out this punishment five times, and in each case, it lasted for one or two years. But each of these pale in comparison to the sexual abuse of boys by former Penn State coaching assistant Jerry Sandusky.

So it's not surprising that the NCAA was considering a four-year death penalty. Which means that the sanctions imposed on Penn State represent a compromise.

Of course, not everyone is happy with the NCAA's decision. Some _ notably, Paterno's family _ have argued that the sanctions go too far, singling out the coach for what happened under his watch and rewriting history to appease those crying for justice.

It is, after all, only words. The team still actually won those games. Players went out on the field and scored more points than their opponents.

But if the NCAA says those victories are no good, then Paterno will no longer be regarded _ officially, at least _ as the winningest coach in college football.

And to suggest that Paterno's legacy should be allowed to remain unvarnished is to rewrite history in another way _ a way that shows grave disrespect to Sandusky's victims.

Others say the sanctions don't go far enough, arguing that the NCAA should have gone ahead with the four-year death penalty.

But if a good compromise is one in which no party is satisfied, then the NCAA has done its job well.

This decision hits the right notes. Devoting the $60 million fine toward helping victims of abuse is more than just a gesture _ it has the capacity to do actual good.

Barring the team from postseason play for four years will help ensure, as NCAA President Mark Emmert said, "football will never again be placed ahead of educating, nurturing and protecting young people." But it stops short of wiping out the secondary economy that has developed in State College, Pa., surrounding the storied franchise.

And stripping Paterno of his legacy ensures that history will not forget the terrible things that were allowed to go on under his watch.