The record books will again show Joe Paterno as the winningest coach in division 1 college football history. As part of a proposed settlement agreement, the NCAA has agreed to restore 111 victories to Penn State’s record books. The NCAA had vacated those victories in 2012 as part of the punishment for the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal.
The proposed settlement comes just weeks before a trial is to begin in Pennsylvania state court regarding the legality of the consent decree signed by Penn State and the NCAA in 2012. Under the new proposal, Penn State would still agree to the $60 million fine it had previously agreed to, and that money would be spent within the state to address child abuse issues.
The original consent decree was the result of NCAA punishment placed upon Penn State when Sandusky, a retired PSU assistant football coach, was accused of sexually abusing boys, in some cases, within the school’s athletic facilities. Following an investigation by state and federal officials, and following Sandusky’s conviction in court, the NCAA hired former FBI Director Louis Freeh to handle college football’s portion of the case.
The result of the Freeh Report was the NCAA eliminating all Penn State wins from 1998, when police first investigated Sandusky, through 2011, Paterno’s final season after more than six decades with the program. The school was also hit with a reduction of 40 scholarships over four years and a four year post season ban. Players on the Penn State roster at the time of the imposed sanctions were free to leave the program and transfer to another school without having to sit out the usual one season. Several plays fled the school, thus further diminishing the football program.
Paterno died in 2012, not long after stepping down as head coach. His family, along with several state officials, have long contended that the Freeh Report upon which the penalties were based, was full of inaccuracies. Freeh himself acknowledged that he did not do his own investigation, but relied on the filings from the criminal investigation.
The lawsuit challenging the validity of the consent decree was filed by the surviving Paterno family members and former assistant coaches early in 2014. In recent months, several internal NCAA emails have been entered into evidence for the pending lawsuit. One such email called the original proposal of the penalties, “a bluff,” and said the NCAA asserting such jurisdiction was, “a stretch.” Another said the NCAA believed it could force Penn State to accept the consent decree if the school believed it might otherwise have its football program eliminated. In September the NCAA unilaterally ended Penn State’s postseason ban and scholarship reductions earlier than scheduled.
Paterno’s record at Penn State will now be 409-136-3 in 44 years as head coach, making him the winningest coach in major college football.
Sandusky, now 70 years old, was convicted in 2012 of 45 counts of child abuse and molestation and is serving a sentence of 30-60 years in prison. Former Penn State Vice President Gary Shultz and former Athletic Director Tim Curley have trials pending. Both are charged with having knowledge of allegations against Sandusky, but covering them up to protect the football program and the university.
Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to follow me on Twitter – @TonyBruin. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport and @LWOSworld – and “liking” our Facebook page.
Have you tuned into Last Word On Sports Radio? LWOS is pleased to bring you 24/7 sports radio to your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. What are you waiting for?
