The Power 5 Are Off And Running

((HT: ESPN))

The top five college athletics conferences are one step closer to having their own autonomous behavior when it comes to what it would take to run their athletic programs.

By a near-unanimous vote, the Board of Directors has approved the idea to allow themselves to decide on how much money they want to give above and beyond their scholarship dollars as "cost-of-attendance stipends," as well as increased insurance benefits for players, staff sizes for sports on campus, loosening recruiting rules and determining just how much hours can be spent on individual sports- considered practice time- which they're looking to expand and monitor internally.

Here's Joe Schad discussing with David Lloyd


The "no" vote would have to carry more than 75 schools, but the schools in the Power 5 could vote to secede from the NCAA on their own if a vote like that was to pass.

So, the haves will have more control over themselves and the have nots will be left to fight for themselves.

Again...

NCAA Settles Concussion Lawsuit, Admits No Wrongdoing

((HT: ABC 7 Chicago))

But all the settlement really does is create a fund for baseline testing to see if any college athlete who feels they may have had consistent after-effects of possible concussions really can call the concussion(s) as the cause.

It's a $70-million investment that covers participants in seven sports- both male and female.

The NCAA is also going to implement a single policy for letting athletes back in the game as a survey taken by the NCAA in 2010 disclosed that as many as half of the trainers on site allowed athletes back in their respective games.

10 individual lawsuits were consolidated into one heard in Chicago and the NCAA admits no wrongdoing in the case.

Mike and Mike discuss
((HT: ESPN))


"I wouldn't say these changes solve the safety problems, but they do reduce the risks," Joseph Siprut, the plaintiff's attorney, said. "It's changed college sports forever."

"Changes were necessary to preserve the talent well of kids that feeds the game of football. Absent these kinds of changes, the sport will die."

Minor League Baseball Team to host Mark Emmert Fan Appreciation Night

((ht: collegefootballtalk.com))

Bwhahahaha! This is fantastic....

The Lake County Captains, the Class A Minor League affiliate for the nearby Cleveland Indians have come up with a wickedly smart promotion that some may not get, but if you know your college sports, you definitely will.

The Captains will hold Mark Emmert Appreciation night on July 2nd.

Yes, that's NCAA President Mark Emmert...

The Captains came up with the idea after Emmert, while testifying in the Ed O'Bannon college athlete trademark case said "We know that in the U.S, minor league sports aren't very successful either for the fan support or for the fan experience.

A link to the Captains press release: RIGHT HERE

Here are your rules:

--All fans who do nothing but stay until the 3rd inning, get credit towards a future game of their choice.
--In honor of the new ruling allowing student-athletes to eat food whenever they want it, 4 college students at the game will get "All-you-can-eat" wristbands and tickets to a future game.
--During the game, fans can move from their ticketed seat location to another seat, subject to a one inning waiting period...if they want a different view.
--Copies of the book "Undue Process--The NCAA's Injustice For All" will be given to lucky attendees.
--Other prizes include: "One and Done" player basketball cards and copies of college football and basketball video games.
--Participants involved in the in-game promotions will NOT be rewarded for their efforts, instead, they will have the satisfaction of just having a chance to participate
--Fans who wear a "Generic" college jersey that may...or may not correspond to a famous athlete who may...or may not attend the same college will be greeted by a Captains Booster who will give them a $100 handshake
--And...the team says they considered offering free tickets to any local student-athlete for the game, but due to regulations, they'll have to show a student I.D to receive a $2 discount.

This folks, is subtle, somewhat passive-aggressive and very sarcastic humor at it's finest. Whomever the Lake County Captains P.R folks are, they should be applauded for this.

Bravo!

Mark Emmert Defenses The Indefensible

((HT: ESPN))

It appears that Mark Emmert, the head of the NCAA, decided to go go Bristol this morning to do some kind of media tour dressed in Casual Friday fashion...

And, as the gentleman that has to defend the presidential stances of the NCAA, he has to tow the party line- no matter how silly the presidential party line is...

Like this run on the new meal standing even invoking Shabazz Napier by name


The #askemmert hashtag the "Mike and Mike" show used made for some interesting fodder...
Search the Twitter machine on your own for amusement- it would take us too long to post the great questions...
But Awful Announcing has a great recap
As does Deadspin...

And when stuff like this gets re-tweeted, you know it was another bad idea:

From Jay Bilas: NCAA President says athletes are "taking seats from a paying student." Wow.
ESPN actually put this out on their own: "If I can hire someone to play football for me why would I hire an 18 year old? Why not someone who plays in the CFL?" Emmert on unions

Here's the interview in full with Golic and Sedano

Someone DID tell Emmert he didn't have to do this, right...???

Daily Show Chases NCAA

((HT: Comedy Central))

As well they should...

The Daily Show
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Indecision Political Humor,The Daily Show on Facebook

Why would they ever do such a thing...???

Shabazz Napier Tells NCAA To Suck It

((HT: Lost Lettermen/JWeber238 via Instagram))

This is a reporter's worst nightmare... an athlete during a celebration who wants to tell you something...

Just ask Shabazz Napier


What he's referring to is the ban given to UConn by the NCAA for their low APR grades...

And the irony given that Mark Emmert was the one handing out the trophy is not lost on folks...

NLRB: Northwestern Football Players Allowed to Unionize (UPDATE: NCAA Disagrees)

That sound you heard may be the college sports landscape shaking.

Early Wednesday afternoon, the National Labor Relations Board Office in Chicago agreed with a petition filed by football players, at Northwestern University including QB Kain Colter,
to form a union.

The NLRB ruling gives those players collective bargaining rights and as employees of the school opens the door to them getting paid. The reasoning behind the ruling is fairly cut and dried: (a) They are compensated for their services (scholarships), (b) have supervisors (coaches), (c) must abide by rules and regulations and (d) are held to different standards then normal students in that they can lose their scholarships for violating any set rules and/or standards and (e) must abide by the set rules by agreeing to them to maintain their scholarships

A link to the ruling from ESPN.com is RIGHT HERE

For now, the ruling only applies to student athletes at private schools, but it does open the door for public schools to make the same petition to their state labor boards.

The players filed the petition based on pretty good reasoning: They wanted fully guaranteed scholarships, improved medical protections for injured players and a fund to help them continue their education after they exhaust their scholarships.

For their part, the school (Northwestern) has stated they will appeal to the National NRLB Office in Washington, D.C.

This is a pretty important ruling for several reasons:

1) It opens the door for College Football and Basketball players to become paid employees.This is going to happen. Soon. And it will further split the College Sports landscape. Only the top 50-60 Division I schools can afford to do this.

2) The NCAA is going to lose some money. Between the Ed O'Bannon lawsuit and a few other pending legal challenges, the group is in trouble. They (the NCAA) have been profiting from players and their likenesses for years. That is likely to stop.

3) Even if Northwestern's appeal overturns the decision, there will be more attempts at doing this. Now that someone has made a ruling in the players favor, look for more teams to file petitions on the regional, state and national level. They will win again at some point.

Stay tuned folks, College Sports as you and I know it are beginning to change. It's not going to happen overnight, but this is another in a long series of steps that are going to do it.

1645 UPDATE: The NCAA has responded and, naturally, they're not liking what the courts are saying...

“While not a party to the proceeding, the NCAA is disappointed that the NLRB Region 13 determined the Northwestern football team may vote to be considered university employees. We strongly disagree with the notion that student-athletes are employees.

We frequently hear from student-athletes, across all sports, that they participate to enhance their overall college experience and for the love of their sport, not to be paid.

Over the last three years, our member colleges and universities have worked to re-evaluate the current rules. While improvements need to be made, we do not need to completely throw away a system that has helped literally millions of students over the past decade alone attend college. We want student athletes – 99 percent of whom will never make it to the professional leagues – focused on what matters most – finding success in the classroom, on the field and in life.”

Bonnie Bernstein discusses with Kristi Dosh
((HT: Campus Insiders))

The End is Near: Power Schools Likely To Break Away

((ht: yahoosports.com))

The end is near. The BCS may be dead, but it's future will be frighteningly similar.

Why? Because what we told you was going to happen in July is about to come to fruition. The NCAA, at it's annual meetings this week has all but decreed the Big 5 Conferences (ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 12 and SEC) are about to break off into their own division.

And no, we don't know what they are going to call it....yet.

The NCAA's annual convention has been taking place all week in San Diego. And rough polling by Yahoo Sports indicate that when NCAA president Mark Emmert, presents a proposal to the full group to approve the move, it will pass.

Read an explanation from Yahoo Sports writer Pat Forde RIGHT HERE

We first told you this might happen back in July. Read that story RIGHT HERE

What does this mean to you?

A lot.

First off, it eliminates the chance anyone outside of these conferences ever playing for College Football's national title on the highest level. Although realistically, there was little chance anyone from the MAC, AAC or other smaller D-1 (FCS) schools were ever going to do that.

Second, part of the proposal will essentially allow the power schools to break from NCAA regulations and pay players, something the smaller schools without TV money can't afford to do, but the big guys can.

If you thought the end of the BCS and beginning of the playoff system was going to change the College Football landscape, you ain't seen nothin' yet.This is a doozy.

Because it has yet to be put in place, there are multiple ways it can play out, but here's what we think will happen. The "Power Schools" will get their own division. They'll play, for the most part each other, with the Top 4 teams going to the playoff. The other schools, will filter down through the bowl system.

The "Others", well, they'll have their own division, we're guessing something similar to the FBS or old 1-AA. However, we don't necessarily know if they'll do a playoff like the FBS does. The FBS has been hemorraging schools over the past decade and we wonder if the remaining schools will filter down to Division II.

That may not happen, but folks, we're telling you now, this is a game changer. It's most definitely a case of the "Rich Getting Richer" and unless you are a fan of a "Power Conference" school, you are shit out of luck. Everyone else will be regulated to the Regional Sports Networks of the world. (Hope you have them). The Big Boys will be your games on the major networks, unless you happen to be chosen to be a sacrificial lamb for a big school looking for an easy win.

We are following this issue closely, and will keep you updated on how it progresses.

The NCAA Bails Out of the Jersey Selling Business: Thank Jay Bilas

Oh, this is rich.

On the heels of the Johnny Manziel pay-for-sign scandal, a strong "below-the-radar" discussion has been brewing.

That discussion: How can the NCAA which profits off the sale of jersey's with College Players names on them, penalize athletes for the sale of signed jersey's of there own.

Or to put it another way. It's been okay for the NCAA to make money at the players expense, but the players never see a penny of it.

Or yet another argument: The NCAA bowed down in a Twitter war.

The NCAA is in the midst of some serious legal challenges, primarily from a group of former and current athletes who are challenging the premise that they can't profit from anything with their likeness, but the NCAA can.

And on Thursday, the NCAA continued their acts of contrition. President Mark Emmert admitting that; "We are going to exit that kind of business immediately. I certainly understand how people can see that as hypocritical".

Ya think?  

Go to http://t.co/qpH4tNnIpH, type in "Manziel" in upper right search box, hit enter. This comes up. pic.twitter.com/N7KNvXIu24
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) August 6, 2013

This discussion got brought to the forefront, due in large part to a series of Tweets on Monday by

NCAA basketball analyst Jay Bilas.

Bilas tweeted out several images from the "ShopNCAASports.com" website, all containing jerseys with Johnny Manziel's name on them.

He also Tweeted this:

Go to http://t.co/qpH4tNnIpH and type "NCAA Executive Committee" in upper right search box, hit enter. This comes up. pic.twitter.com/7mwaNKO3TA
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) August 6, 2013

Read this SI.com article, which will explain a lot RIGHT HERE

Folks. Don't kid yourselves. There's been a lot of discussion over the past few weeks that the "Power Conferences" are going to break off and form their own group. The reason given is they want more control over the inconsistent NCAA rules enforcement. And they want to give their players a stipend, something the smaller Division I schools can't afford.

And we agree with some of that.

But. That is decidedly NOT the reason the split is likely to happen in January. No. The reason is two-fold.

(1) TV Money: The power conferences realize if they form their own league and play each other all the time, they stand to make a fortune. And not a small fortune. TV (ESPN, FOX Sports and others) will kill for those rights. And those of you who don't support a school in a power conference. Well, there's always regional sports nets.

(2) Lawsuit protection: The NCAA is petrified they are going to lose the suit brought on by former UCLA basketball player Ed O'Bannon and a slew of others. And trust us, they are going to lose. And it will cost them a LOT of money.

So don't kid yourselves, the NCAA didn't all of a sudden have this "revelation" they shouldn't be profiting off of kids who can't profit for themselves. No, they are trying to protect themselves for the soon to come end of a long, lengthy and what is likely to be costly lawsuit.

Emmert: NCAA Change is a Coming

((ht: indystar.com))

The constant drumbeat is slowly reaching a crescendo. It appears last years Galactic Realignment is only the 1st step in what appears to be a monumental change in the way College Sports...or at least the major ones, are conducted.

And that audible sigh you heard came from the "Big 5" Conference commissioners who are leading the charge.

In an interview with the Indianapolis Star, NCAA president Mark Emmert went on the record, telling the paper, along with others to "Save the Date" of Jan 16 and 17 for a significant announcement on the future.

And it's already being speculated that future will split off the ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac 12, SEC and maybe one or two others will break off from Division 1, and give them their own sandbox to play in.

And we couldn't agree with that idea more.

Read the IndyStar interview RIGHT HERE

We (The OSG) along with many others have gone on record with proposals and reasons as to why this should/has to happen.

This is what we think (for what its worth) should happen.

1st Check our story in March broaching this very subject RIGHT HERE

Allow me to re-state the key points:

Division 1 Football has to change. Yes, SI.com and the other big sports sites continue to talk about the conferences complaining about the NCAA enforcement and rules creating the problem. The so-called "Big 5" want to compensate their football and possibly basketball athletes. And most of them can afford it.

But the Sun-Belt and MAC teams of the world can't.

And really, let's not kid ourselves, it's about money. Think about the amount of money ESPN/FOX and/or others will pay for the rights to do "Big 5" games. You'll never see any other school on anything other than regional networks.

And that unfortunately is the truth of the matter. Most of the smaller Division 1 schools can't compete with the Alabama's and Ohio State's of the world. They never will.

Imagine for a minute you attend Miami (Ohio) or Georgia Southern or Idaho. Yes, congratulations, you are a Division 1 team. But you will NEVER get to play for the national championship. And don't give me this whole March Madness, on any given day thing. Basketball is different.

In football, nobody from the Sun-Belt, MAC, Conference USA, WAC or any other small division 1 conference will EVER win an NCAA title under the current system.

EVER!

So yeah, as much as we loathe the alleged "Non-Profit" University's of the world, they are making a killing and trying to pay bills they can't pay right now by squeezing TV money to pay for the new mega-practice facilities. No school outside the Big 5 can afford to compete with them on that front. And they'll never get a TV contract big enough to do it.

No, we'd rather see the Sun-Belt champ have a shot at a bigger title. Getting away from the SEC's of the world will be the only way that happens. So what if it's played on the CBSSports Network instead of CBS or on ESPN 2 instead of ESPN. It doesn't matter. At least it will be competitive.

Big XII Commish Explodes All Over NCAA

It's Big 12/10 Media Day today and before Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy poo-poohed the idea that the hurry-up offense was bad for college football, league commissioner Bob Bowlsby put a flamethrower to everything associated with the NCAA offices in Indianapolis...

Dennis Dodd and Mark Schlabach are in attendance and didn't even get their second tour of the breakfast buffet before Bowlsby blew everyone to pieces...

Some samples...

From Dodd:

Bowlsby told media in his state of union address that it is virtually impossible to pass meaningful legislation and hinted a separate division – a so-called Division 4 – is possible for the top football-playing schools. He added there is “unanimity” among his fellow FBS commissioners, saying leaving the NCAA and setting up a new organization is not likely “except as a last resort.”

“I think we all have a sense that transformative change has to happen,” Bowlsby said.

Dodd also says that Bowlsby isn't a fan of the current enforcement landscape:

"I don’t know that meaningful enforcement can take place with the leadership that we have."

Bowlsby is intimating that we could have an FCA situation all over again where the most influential are playing each other and everyone else is, well, everyone else and on their own...

Like the I-AA schism when that happened as well... but Bowlsby is also saying that some kind of secession is a last resort.

CBS Sports Jeremy Fowler caught up with another big-conference commish, the ACC's John Swofford, about the Bowlsby thoughts:

"I think that's a possibility that we'll have to see play out,” Swofford said. “I don't know of anybody who's out there right now beating the drum to walk away from the NCAA. I think the desire is to find solutions within the framework of the existing organization if at all possible.”

State Of PA Taking NCAA To Court Over Penn State

The Governor of the state of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, is planing on coming forth with a lawsuit against the NCAA for their actions against Penn State University that included the huge eight figure fine, extensive bowl ban, vacated wins under Joe Paterno as head football coach, and scholarship reductions.

A press conference is scheduled Wednesday to explain where the state is coming from...

The school, while already having agreed to the implentation of the NCAA sanctions in July, is not a party to the actions of Governor Corbett- but the HQ can fairly assess that they have been kept in the loop on the whole thing.

The suit should challenge the notion of the NCAA as a governing and enforcement body, and will have to answer to the thought that elected officials inside the state of Pennsylvania wanted the fines against the university to stay at home.

Currently, the fines are being distributed on a national basis for preventing child abuse. Both sides are not addressing this idea publicly...

At the same time, the case brought forth by Mike McQueary against the university is still scheduled to proceed without any kind of delay. McQueary claims he was wrongly fired by the school.

Here's that update from State College...
((HT: WHP-TV))


Penn State wants the McQueary case postponed until all Sandusky questions are addressed by the courts...

Not happening yet...

Penn St. bookstore thinks the NCAA are commies

Or at least the t-shirts they are selling seem to indicate that Mark Emmert and the NCAA resemble the old Russian Communists.

If you do a Google search for Penn State Student Bookstore, the first place that shows up is TheStudentBookStore.com. And while we can't say that is a store that is owned and/or run by the school since we've not been there, it certainly seems to be sanctioned by those in charge of PSU.

And the store has created a t-shirt to express their displeasure with the NCAA for dropping both the "Hammer" and "The Cicle"  on them.

If you still don't know what we are talking about, take a look at the photo to your right.

We are already growing weary of the whining coming from State College. While we get that they are upset about losing almost everything for 4-years, they need to learn to deal with it. They may not like being neutered in football, but there are factions at the school that still don't get it. Like it or not, your administrators...and your beloved coach did something wrong. And yeah, we know, it isn't fair that you have to suffer the punishment, but how else would such a thing be given out?

Can the NCAA punish Joe Paterno for still thinking he lived in the 1950's before he died? No. Can they punish Jerry Sandusky? No, the law took care of that. Can they punish Graham Spanier, Tim Curley and Gary Schultz...they are trying.

Paterno family. Alumni. Students and dumb asses at the bookstore. Get over yourselves. You are being forced to change your priorities. You need to take that opportunity and learn from it.

And stop trying to appeal to the NCAA.

You can't.

Stop trying to file lawsuits.

You aren't able.

Take your punishment like adults, learn from it. Take a leadership role. Be at the forefront in the prevention of child abuse. Be a leader in making your school the same for everyone. Your football players aren't gods and don't deserve special treatment.

Okay...enough on the horse, we're getting away from the point.

Penn State fallout: Did NCAA do the right thing?

We could make this really short and just say--Yes, but there is more to it.

By now, most of you have read about the sanctions handed down by the NCAA to Penn State over their appeared coverup for Jerry Sandusky.

4-years without a bowl, 4-years with 20 scholarships lost, $60-million ($15 mil a year) and all victories since 1998 vacated, just to name a few.

No, it isn't the "Death Penalty", but it could be. It will be a decade...at least before they could be a potential powerhouse again.

But the questions remain: Was it too much? Was it not enough?

And the answer: It was neither.

Like it, agree with it or not, the NCAA had to do it. Yes, we know it is precedent setting, but the scope of what happened in Happy Valley was too.

No, they could not issue a "Death Penalty".  And though many argued they might as well have, it's not the same thing.

Killing the program doesn't just affect those in the program. It affects EVERYONE in the Big 10. It affects all the other teams on the Nittany Lions schedule. And ultimately, agree or not, the NCAA had to take that into consideration.

What this does do is make Penn State essentially a MAC team. And we don't mean to insult the MAC. For the sake of perspective, it's not the worst thing that could happen to them. Hopefully, it does give PSU some perspective and a bit of look at life on the other side of the BCS. Considering all that appears to have gone on, that may be a welcome--and needed change.

As much as many would like it to be this way, Football does not run the school. The school runs football, and that got lost somewhere in the shuffle. Yes, we know, the SEC is not too dissimilar to that, but when push comes to shove, the academia's will step in and to our knowledge none conspired to keep criminals close to the team...for the good of the team.

Oh, one thing needs to be said: The Paterno family needs to SHUT UP!

Nobody expects you to agree with this, but it is no longer your fight. Would we like to have heard what Joe had to say about the Freeh report and everything else? Yes. But we can't. Do we believe Paterno did what he did maliciously? No. But ignorance and hoping things will go away are not a good excuse. And by all indications, that is exactly what he believed.

The family just needs to walk away. Stop whining. Stop complaining. We know you feel wronged, but you are coming across as just wanting to keep Joe as the record holder. Never do you mention why what happened what was wrong. Never do you mention that there is no way he couldn't have known about Sandusky...but you keep whining.

Now, this decision was not perfect. The NCAA and in particular Mark Emmert avoided the 800-pound gorilla in the room and made no mention of Graham Spanier, Tim Curley or Gary Schultz...and that is a mistake.

A big mistake.

And we know the big argument here: Why punish those who are there now?

The answer is simple: That's the way it works. You may not agree with it, you may not like it, but the NCAA can't punish individuals for things after the fact. Their only recourse is the school. And that means the current players and staff. It just works that way. It's unfortunate, but do you have a better idea?

Spanier, Schultz and Curley will have their day in court. And maybe things will come out to exonerate them. But nobody really believes that. The legal system will take care of them. As will Karma.

Like we said at the beginning, the NCAA didn't get this perfect. But they didn't do badly either. They had to step up and do soemthing. And they knew full well not everybody would agree with it. But consider the alternative. If they sat back and did nothing, they lose even worse.

BREAKING: NCAA Drops The Hammer On Penn State, Kinda... (UPDATED w/Erickson and Big 10 Response)

NCAA President Mark Emmert used the equivalent of the "best interest of baseball" clause- defending the Constitution of the organization outright in handing down the penalties in light of the actions of Penn State before, during, and after the Jerry Sandusky scandal enveloped campus.

Here's what they decided...

A fine of $60-million funds to establish and endowment - one year's gross football revenue... even as Darren Rovell reports revenue at $73-million. The fine is payable over a five-year period.

A scholarship reduction of 25 to 15 for 4 years- while allowing students to transfer and compete immediately if they so choose. Athletes who stay in State College will retain athletic grant in aid as long as they choose to stay on campus... and regardless as to whether or not they ultimately choose to stay on as an athlete.

A post-season ban of 4 years

The NCAA vacates all wins from 1998-2011- the records will reflect that. Bobby Bowden is now the FBS leader, Eddie Robinson is the FCS leader, and John Gagliardi is the NCAA leader.

5 years probation and the establishment of an "Academy integrity monitor"

The NCAA also reserves the right to initiate sanctions on individuals after criminal investigation is completed...

The NCAA is also telling Penn State to adopt reforms from Freeh Report, and enter into Athletic Integrity Agreement with the Big 10 and the NCAA

Emmert and Dr. Ed Ray, President of Oregon State and Executive Committe Chair, were available at NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis.

Ray said before Emmert spoke that we all "should focus on the people who let them down." He also said the NCAA has the authority and the responsibility to do what was done today, and the actions of Penn State were "against our value system and basic human decency."

The Executive Committee directed President Emmert to examine, and if appropriate, level punitive and corrective measures. They're taking the criminal investigation and Freeh report into account and the leadership of the school displayed failures that directly violated by-laws and the NCAA Constitution in regard to integrity and ethical conduct.

"It is a stark wake-up call," Ray admitted, "and the idea is to adhere to the fundamental values of respect."

Emmert said that the consent decree, signed by the NCAA and the school, doesn't remove the pain and anguish caused and the sanctions reflect the magnitude of the acts, and "ensure that Penn State rebuild an athletic culture that went horribly awry."

The idea is also to establish a mindset where football is not ahead of an entire school's behavior...

Here's the NCAA release in full...

Emmert told the media assembled that this "unprecedented, painful chapter in collegiate athletics..."

More when we know more... there is a team meeting scheduled for 10AM...

Emmert also admitted that the $60-million is not to come at the expense of the other revenue sports, but not to come from the academic side, either.

1000 UPDATE: Penn State President Rodney Erickson released a statement that says in part...

Against this backdrop, Penn State accepts the penalties and corrective actions announced today by the NCAA. With today’s announcement and the action it requires of us, the University takes a significant step forward.

The NCAA ruling holds the University accountable for the failure of those in power to protect children and insists that all areas of the University community are held to the same high standards of honesty and integrity.

The NCAA also mandates that Penn State become a national leader to help victims of child sexual assault and to promote awareness across our nation. Specifically, the University will pay $12 million a year for the next five years into a special endowment created to fund programs for the detection, prevention and treatment of child abuse. This total of $60 million can never reduce the pain suffered by victims, but will help provide them hope and healing.

Current Penn State head coach Bill O'Brien issued a statement that said:

Today we receive a very harsh penalty from the NCAA and as Head Coach of the Nittany Lions football program, I will do everything in my power to not only comply, but help guide the University forward to become a national leader in ethics, compliance and operational excellence. I knew when I accepted the position that there would be tough times ahead. But I am committed for the long term to Penn State and our student athletes.

I was then and I remain convinced that our student athletes are the best in the country. I could not be more proud to lead this team and these courageous and humble young men into the upcoming 2012 season. Together we are committed to building a better athletic program and university.


Here's the early part of the announcement, thanks to our friends at WHP-TV in Harrisburg...


1100 UPDATE: The Big Ten Conference is piling on with their own sanctions...

The Big Ten is withholding bowl revenue, expected to amount to a $13-million total for the four years of probation. The Big Ten is saying the money will go to "established charitable organizations in Big Ten communities dedicated to the protection of children."

Sally Mason, Chairman of the Big Ten council of Presidents and Chancellors, and Jim Delany, Big 10 Commissioner, held a teleconference where they announced a censure of the school, will be party to the academic integrity agreement with the NCAA, will not allow the team to be in the Big 10 conference title game, and announced the withholding of the bowl revenue.

A public censure of Penn State by the Big Ten means that the school has no say in any part of conference policy.

Mason admitted that discussions on Penn State were all over the place and "everything was on the table and everything was discussed"- including expulsion from the conference.

Commissioner Delany addressed the idea of member schools accepting internal transfers from Penn State and admitted those students "needed to be prioritized" and they needed to have the most freedom and flexibility for those particular students.

Big Ten Network's Mike Hall caught up with Tom Dienhart
More when we know more...

The First Piece...??? Penn State To Be Fined Between $30-60M...???

((HT: CBS Sports))

Looks like the NCAA is going to fine Penn State at least $30 million and, perhaps as much as $60 million- according to CBSSports.com's Brett McMurphy.

The fine will go toward an endowment for children's causes, according to those same "sources."

"This is a fine like no fine before," an industry source told CBSSports.com. McMurphy also he Tweeted that Iowa president tells Des Moines Register Big Ten could add additional punishment to Penn State after NCAA's

The equivalent of piling on...

Jerry Hinnen wrote on CBSSports.com that Penn State's athletic revenue for the 2010-11 year was $116-million. Applying that percentage would be in the 25-50 percent range...

Of their entire athletic revenue stream... and the money could be earmarked for an endowment toward children's causes...

To recap, here's where Mark Emmert is coming from... the "Tavis Smiley" interview...
((HT: PBS/youtube))


More from David Jones in Harrisburg at the Patriot-News...

"...I have been assured they will not be appealed or substantively challenged.

"Penn State is desirous of a positive relationship with the NCAA in the future. I believe the university is also eager to clear the decks of the Sandusky mess with as much dispatch as is possible, especially before fall semester begins. I believe the rationale is that contention would only prolong the period before healing can begin."

More when we may know more...

BREAKING: CBS Report: NCAA to penalize PSU Monday (UPDATED W/Paterno Statement On Statue And No Penn State Appeal...?))

((ht: cbsnews))

We don't know a lot of details, but it appears the NCAA has set an official record for fastest investigation of a school.

CBS News (former Sports) reporter Armen Keteyian reports that NCAA Prez Mark Emmert will announce "Unprecedented" penalties against the school at a Monday morning press conference.

Read that story RIGHT HERE

Again, details are thin, but the NCAA has been looking into Penn State's behavior surrounding what happened with convicted child molester and former assistant Jerry Sandusky. Many have suggested the death penalty, even more suspending the team.

All of that right now, is just speculation.

NCAA President Mark Emmert and the chairman of the executive committee, Ed Ray, will make the announcement Monday morning at 9AM. ESPN's Adam Rittenberg has been told that the sanctions are not yet a joint agreement between the school and the NCAA.

And, surprising no one, whatever comes down from Indianapolis will hit State College pretty hard...


Stay tuned, we are guessing a lot more information is coming...soon.

1030 UPDATE: Via Joe Schad and his Twitter, early returns have Penn State losing bowl appearances and scholarships...

That's most certainly, a weak response if true...

1100 UPDATE: "significant loss of scholarships and loss of multiple bowls" are the words now being used... and also the idea that the loss is so severe that the "death penalty" would have been preferable by comparison.

The Paterno family has released a statement regarding the removal of the statue, thanks to pennlive.com:

Here's the first paragraph...

Tearing down the statue of Joe Paterno does not serve the victims of Jerry Sandusky's horrible crimes or help heal the Penn State Community. We believe the only way to help the victims is to uncover the full truth. The Freeh report, though it has been accepted by the media as the definitive conclusion on the Sandusky scandal, is the equivalent of an indictment — a charging document written by a prosecutor — and an incomplete and unofficial one at that.

1300 UPDATE: Through David Jones of the Harrisburg Patriot-News and his Twitter feed:

Penn State will NOT appeal the NCAA's decision, I've been told. Speed of decision and lack of contention points to a deal betw NCAA and PSU.

1445 UPDATE: Charles Robinson over at Yahoo!Sports is using the adjectives "significant" and "staggering" when describing the penalties that are anticipated from NCAA President Mark Emmert...

Robinson says that Emmert is "personally sanctioning" Penn State at the defense of the NCAA itself- a first by the institution. And Robinson has early feedback that the sentence will include "crippling" scholarship losses and a "multiple-year" bowl ban.

Thus, the idea that Penn State might want to take the "death penalty" option over the multiple enforcements.

Someone sends Penn State an aerial message

Mystery of the day in Happy Valley, PA.

Who paid for a banner to be flown over Penn State University Tuesday morning bearing a simple and direct message "Take the Statue Down or We Will".

And no, thusfar, nobody has owned up to paying for the banner to be flown.

Obviously, the message is in reference to the Joe Paterno statue in place at the school. The statue is the topic of some pretty emotional debates among many people, with most calling for the school to take it down and not honor former coach Joe Paterno.

However, the school's Board of Trustees has been rather quiet about the issue, only saying that they will consider the option.

No, we haven't weighed in on this...until now.

The school is crazy if they don't at least put the thing in storage. The outrage and moral reprehension of Paterno's apparent lack of accountability and according to the Freeh report, a wanton ignoring...or selective memory about convicted child molester and former assistant Jerry Sandusky angers just about everyone.

Sure, we know the Board is scared of the reaction, but if they had any grasp of reality, they'd realize they are doing more harm than good by leaving it where it is.

Also, NCAA president Mark Emmert chimed in, a bit, about the after effects of the Freeh report. Emmert 'Heavily' criticized Penn State's behavior and apparent lack of reaction to Sandusky, but stopped short of saying the school would suffer penalties from it.

Listen to Emmert talk to PBS host Tavis Smiley about Penn State:

DEVELOPING: NCAA to investigate Penn State

((ht: Associated Press))

Oh boy. The NCAA has officially informed the administration at Penn State that they will conduct an investigation of what happened in the Jerry Sandusky/child-sex scandal. And they are using the words "Institutional Control".

By now, we are all familiar with the Sandusky scandal where he is charged with some 40 counts of serial child sex abuse.

And it appears, based on the Grand Jury report and other reports, that the abuse may have been preventable. That includes some inferences that Penn State may have deliberately covered it up.

PennLive.com provides a copy of the letter RIGHT HERE

NCAA President Mark Emmert sent a registered letter to the school's interim president Rodney Erickson. In that letter Emmert tells Erickson that the NCAA will not interfere with the ongoing investigations, but will look into the schools response and handling of the issues at hand.

Emmert goes on to quote the potential violations of NCAA bylaws and requests the school to provide information on their response to what was happening. Of particular concern to him is the behaviors and failures of the institution that are spelled out in the Grand Jury report.

He finishes by adding that the schools report on what they did should be submitted to the NCAA no later than December 16th for the organization to then determine the next steps.

This...isn't good. But it was, we suppose, just a matter of time. If found negligent in their response to what was happening, the "Institutional Control" charge could be a very serious one. The NCAA has some leeway in how they administer that, but it could be yet another piece adding to the pile that is the problem the school created.