Penn State takes down Joe Paterno statue

[pzimm7778]

Those penalties were weak.
The reactions of those students crying during the press conference was flat out embarrassing.
Joe Pa is dead and by taking away 111 wins don't mean anything to him since he took 409 to the grave. They can't reverse that and tell him he lost 111 of those wins. Had he been alive would have been a different story....

4 years isn't that bad considering that probably Penn St was going to have a bad football team anyway.

To you I ask, what would you like them to have done? The death penalty would have accomplished the same thing this is. Students are going to leave. They cant achieve anything. No title of any kind, no bowl appearance of any kind. Meanwhile they have to field a team that's going to suck. So that means everyone gets to witness the final legacy of Paterno and that crew at PSU. The wins being vacated, again what do you want them to do? Dig him up and put his dead carcass in prison?

I just don't understand what people who think this is weak want. If it had been me it would have been the death penalty administered 3-4 years from now as a final nail in the coffin of what's coming. But even without it, what else do you want?

[Lingofan97]

The reactions of those students crying during the press conference was flat out embarrassing.

4 years isn't that bad considering that probably Penn St was going to have a bad football team anyway.

The students that were there were in Summer School anyway, and some of the reactions by the girls looked very fake. And regarding how bad the football team may be with the new coach, there's a good chance no matter what, sanctions or no sanctions that the 2012 Penn State football team would have more loses than wins.

One student even said this morning "If we get 10 win it won't matter because we're banned from Bowls" Yeah, good luck getting ten wins before 2015 with the way players are transferring.

Weird to think that the next win this Fall will be the first Penn State win since 1997

[pzimm7778]

The students that were there were in Summer School anyway, and some of the reactions by the girls looked very fake. And regarding how bad the football team may be with the new coach, there's a good chance no matter what, sanctions or no sanctions that the 2012 Penn State football team would have more loses than wins.

One student even said this morning "If we get 10 win it won't matter because we're banned from Bowls" Yeah, good luck getting ten wins before 2015 with the way players are transferring.

Weird to think that the next win this Fall will be the first Penn State win since 1997

It doesnt make any difference what they were there for nor whether it appeared fake. I do not presume to know whether it was fake or not. Nor should you or anyone else. The cluelessness of them being upset is worrisome. I'm not sure what they were expecting either, a $200 parking violation fine?

[Lingofan97]

It doesnt make any difference what they were there for nor whether it appeared fake. I do not presume to know whether it was fake or not. Nor should you or anyone else. The cluelessness of them being upset is worrisome. I'm not sure what they were expecting either, a $200 parking violation fine?

They're Penn State students. They probably want Bowl games, championships, and the way things were in 2010 and early 2011 just like any other student that has an interest in sports at any other major university (Ohio State, Alabama, USC, Notre Dame etc.)

[espnews26]

To you I ask, what would you like them to have done? T

Well since this was about money and football since Day One, I would have done the DEATH PENALTY for at least 2 years. By not playing, they would not have gotten the revenue from TV/Radio, concessions and other sponsors.

I would have fined them at least $100 Million. The Bowl and TV moneys really add up. Not to mention the sponsors.

I would enact a post season/bowl ban of AT LEAST 5 years. This scandal dragged out for 13 years and by hiding it, they played 13 years with bowl opportunities and the money. There are more opportunities to make money out of these bowls now then there were in 1998. Internet has boomed along with the Twitter and other sites. They could make a pretty penny broadcasting the game over the Internet not to mention all those cyber ads for the game and don't forget about the inflated TV rights.

Since the team would be deemed useless after the Death Penalty, I would have kicked them out of the Big Ten. Extra revenue would not happen if they are not part of a conference. Being independent means you have to find teams that are willing to play you. Subdivision schools will probably play you and if they beat you, then you become a joke. I don't think a TV Network would pay to broadcast your games like NBC goes with Notre Dame.

Vacated wins are STUPID. Nobody will care if a team lose wins down the road because they will always remember that they won at the given time. For example, if I were to say that the Orange Bowl game Penn St. played against Florida St. (back on January 06), a classic game by the way (3 OTs) won by Penn St. If someone were to say, "Yeah but, now it's a loss" I would respond, "But they won it then". Vacated proves nothing. I'm sure they have to give back that shiny Orange Bowl trophy but, they still won at the given time.

When Ohio St. was under investigation for their Tattoo and Memorabilia scandal, they were allowed to play in their big money bowl because it "would be unfair to the other team". DUMB explanation by the NCAA. Ohio St. won that game and that win was later vacated. I don't see a real uproar on the Ohio St. side because even though it is now vacated, they still won the game at the time.

As for the statue, would have been torn down right away. Although, I am shocked that nobody came near the statue and took pictures with it while the statue would hold up outrageous signs. I'm sure Twitter or Facebooks would have picked up the numerous pictures by now.

[Lingofan97]

Well since this was about money and football since Day One, I would have done the DEATH PENALTY for at least 2 years. By not playing, they would not have gotten the revenue from TV/Radio, concessions and other sponsors.

I could tell in some way your against Penn State. And if you're not, then you're just trying to do what should or should not be done. The death penalty was not needed since a lot of staff in the Penn State football administration was not involved, and as said in the NCAA news conference this morning was not necessary for a Penn State death penalty.

[pzimm7778]

They're Penn State students. They probably want Bowl games, championships, and the way things were in 2010 and early 2011 just like any other student that has an interest in sports at any other major university (Ohio State, Alabama, USC, Notre Dame etc.)

It's still cluelessness because they show a lack of understanding of the magnitude of what happened.

[pzimm7778]

Well since this was about money and football since Day One, I would have done the DEATH PENALTY for at least 2 years. By not playing, they would not have gotten the revenue from TV/Radio, concessions and other sponsors.

I would have fined them at least $100 Million. The Bowl and TV moneys really add up. Not to mention the sponsors.

I would enact a post season/bowl ban of AT LEAST 5 years. This scandal dragged out for 13 years and by hiding it, they played 13 years with bowl opportunities and the money. There are more opportunities to make money out of these bowls now then there were in 1998. Internet has boomed along with the Twitter and other sites. They could make a pretty penny broadcasting the game over the Internet not to mention all those cyber ads for the game and don't forget about the inflated TV rights.

Since the team would be deemed useless after the Death Penalty, I would have kicked them out of the Big Ten. Extra revenue would not happen if they are not part of a conference. Being independent means you have to find teams that are willing to play you. Subdivision schools will probably play you and if they beat you, then you become a joke. I don't think a TV Network would pay to broadcast your games like NBC goes with Notre Dame.

Vacated wins are STUPID. Nobody will care if a team lose wins down the road because they will always remember that they won at the given time. For example, if I were to say that the Orange Bowl game Penn St. played against Florida St. (back on January 06), a classic game by the way (3 OTs) won by Penn St. If someone were to say, "Yeah but, now it's a loss" I would respond, "But they won it then". Vacated proves nothing. I'm sure they have to give back that shiny Orange Bowl trophy but, they still won at the given time.

When Ohio St. was under investigation for their Tattoo and Memorabilia scandal, they were allowed to play in their big money bowl because it "would be unfair to the other team". DUMB explanation by the NCAA. Ohio St. won that game and that win was later vacated. I don't see a real uproar on the Ohio St. side because even though it is now vacated, they still won the game at the time.

As for the statue, would have been torn down right away. Although, I am shocked that nobody came near the statue and took pictures with it while the statue would hold up outrageous signs. I'm sure Twitter or Facebooks would have picked up the numerous pictures by now.

I agree with Lingo. It seems like it doesn't matter what happened you were going to hate it and claim it wasn't harsh enough. So, perhaps you do have an ax to grind with PSU. The punishment was harsh and it's obvious you don't understand some things.

A.) The NCAA can't kick someone out of the Big 10. Only the Big 10 can decide that and it would have probably been met with a huge lawsuit by PSU had they done so. One PSU would probably have won. Plus, Penn State was an independent until 1993. So, you think they had problems finding opponents then? Wanna give them a whole lot more revenue? Let them go independent. Then they share nothing with anyone on their end. Yeah, way to show them.

B.) I don't know about radio but they won't get TV revenue because if I understand correctly that's divided within the conference and they aren't seeing a dime of that I believe for 4 years. There's a reason other universities are jumping to the other conferences. More money, not better competition. If it was just about the school then Texas A&M and others could have made millions where they were.

C.) As I said the onset, your complaint of at least $100 Million I find dubious. I truly believe had they fined them $100 Million, even $200 Million you'd still say they got off.

D.) What's more money in bowl games now got to do with anything? They can't go to one. For that matter they can't play in the Big Ten title game either because they banned them from that after the NCAA announced their punishment.

E.) Vacated doesn't mean loss. It means they don't count. Paterno's record does not now reflect 100+ more losses.

F.) I have no idea why Ohio State has anything to do with this. As a non cfb follower them, tattoos, and all mean nothing to me and pales by comparison to what was done here.

G.) Somewhat on the same page with B. They get no revenue from Internet streaming. It's done through the Big Ten.

I love this. PSU fanboys on one side, people with axes to grind on the other. Both irrational.

[M2nFarisFan]

I'm surprised espnews doesn't want it to be mandatory to do your business on Sue Paterno's lawn if you want to go to Penn State (or as some people like to call it, the U. of PA. :P ) They'll pay the $100 million....they have $1.8 billion in cash endowments. And the alumni association's been pouring money in like never before....much to the chagrin of many who troll upon the interwebz.

I spend most of my time in the Pittsburgh media market, and the media hates Penn State more than anyone. Even they said Emmert's actions were worse than a two-year hiatus. Chances are it will be a decade before football is allowed to flourish again. And you can bet your bottom dollar the only people who will pay that fine are the students. Rod Erickson's not taking a pay cut. Neither are the tenured professors, or the proctors, or support staff, or secretaries, or even the janitors. It's all going to come out of anyone who has, is, or will spend time in Happy Valley. And I think that's pretty much unfair, considering those who spent blood, tears, toil, and sweat there to get good grades and get a good job and the such are paying for Sandusky to have his perverse ways.

(Aside: Will this be the catalyst for the college bubble to burst? Stay tuned on that one. Methinks no.)

[Lingofan97]

It's still cluelessness because they show a lack of understanding of the magnitude of what happened.

True. The students are still living in the past, like around November when this first broke and the football season went on.

[M2nFarisFan]

It's still cluelessness because they show a lack of understanding of the magnitude of what happened.

*makes timeout symbol with hands* Wait a minute here. Elaborate on exactly what I show about a lack of understanding. I think Penn State students understand better than anybody what happened....it's the sports media and the basement trolls/armchair legal experts who post "Pedophile State" things on every video and post on YouTube that lack understanding.

Trust me, the media is handling this situation poorly....as they always do. They are the same people who turned Scott Peterson and Casey Anthony into overnight celebrities. If you really want the truth, do yourselves a favor and read Freeh's report. Cut the commentary and stuff....then you will find what you are looking for.

There are many, many people who want to drag Penn State through the mud. I can't tell you how many times I've had to defend myself for something someone I didn't know did 13 years ago. You might as well equivocate it to being a member of the Catholic church or working for Amway or Enron.....guilty by association. The thing that sets it apart is the fact that Penn State, for all intensive purposes, made a lot of people VERY rich. It shouldn't surprise you that the scandal elevated because of the $$$.

I often used to hear that people hated the Steelers and Penguins because they were media darlings. Well, let's put it this way: Penn State had Fowler, Herbstreit, and Corso there every year I spent up there - regardless of how the team did. Just having 110,000 people in a stadium cheering at 115 decibels made ESPN and ABC a LOT of money. Football was created in Pennsylvania, and Beaver Stadium was the shrine. Joe Paterno was the Pope. Put that way, you can understand why the media jumped all over it. Everyone likes David slaying Goliath.

And let's face it....there are a lot of bitter people out there. There's an entire sect of people who paid loans and can't get jobs, so they smear their verbal defecation on Penn State, because it is a premier school. There are people out there who couldn't get in and are struggling through community and for-profit colleges who would love to pick on someone who thought Penn State was the key to a better life. I can say I got my job because my boss had his superiors who were Penn Staters....so it worked for me.

[TheNewNeko]

As extra punishment, Penn State may never again play a bowl game on New Year's Day (or Monday the 2nd) in any year in which the Flyers play in the Winter Classic. In addition, throughout their bowl-less years, all home games against non-conference teams must be played Tuesdays at midnight.

And the female cheerleaders have to perform naked and sing a song about how Sandusky took away their uniform money. Yep, that'll suffice.

[pzimm7778]

*makes timeout symbol with hands* Wait a minute here. Elaborate on exactly what I show about a lack of understanding. I think Penn State students understand better than anybody what happened....it's the sports media and the basement trolls/armchair legal experts who post "Pedophile State" things on every video and post on YouTube that lack understanding.

Trust me, the media is handling this situation poorly....as they always do. They are the same people who turned Scott Peterson and Casey Anthony into overnight celebrities. If you really want the truth, do yourselves a favor and read Freeh's report. Cut the commentary and stuff....then you will find what you are looking for.

There are many, many people who want to drag Penn State through the mud. I can't tell you how many times I've had to defend myself for something someone I didn't know did 13 years ago. You might as well equivocate it to being a member of the Catholic church or working for Amway or Enron.....guilty by association. The thing that sets it apart is the fact that Penn State, for all intensive purposes, made a lot of people VERY rich. It shouldn't surprise you that the scandal elevated because of the $$$.

I often used to hear that people hated the Steelers and Penguins because they were media darlings. Well, let's put it this way: Penn State had Fowler, Herbstreit, and Corso there every year I spent up there - regardless of how the team did. Just having 110,000 people in a stadium cheering at 115 decibels made ESPN and ABC a LOT of money. Football was created in Pennsylvania, and Beaver Stadium was the shrine. Joe Paterno was the Pope. Put that way, you can understand why the media jumped all over it. Everyone likes David slaying Goliath.

And let's face it....there are a lot of bitter people out there. There's an entire sect of people who paid loans and can't get jobs, so they smear their verbal defecation on Penn State, because it is a premier school. There are people out there who couldn't get in and are struggling through community and for-profit colleges who would love to pick on someone who thought Penn State was the key to a better life. I can say I got my job because my boss had his superiors who were Penn Staters....so it worked for me.

Ok, first of all I cannot and will not speak to haters, armchair legal experts, the media, or anything else. I don't care one way or the other about Penn State or any other University I haven't attended, don't attend, or am planning to attend. I am sorry of you have had to defend yourself. I am sure you got a good education there. You shouldn't have to apologize for that. However, you cannot deny the University all the way to the top covered this up. Not everyone. Not the professor who teaches engineering 101, but there was a concerted effort to conceal this that started with the football program and went all the way to the president. So as far as this painting you all with one broad stroke, no I don't do that.

Now to the students. No, apparently they do not understand the magnitude of this. Rioting when Paterno was fired was the first clue they had no idea. The second that I saw was yesterday when they were so distraught over the sanctions. You can not like it, but the idea they got hosed is ridiculous. First off, everyone sitting there can still get the same education they came for. Second, the football program was directly involved in the cover up. What did you think was going to happen?

I didn't read this entire thread so I don't really know where you fall on this. But if you or anyone is defending Paterno I cannot get with that. Whatever "good" he may have done he was involved in covering up and allowing a pedophile to continue to harm kids. There is no defense, no excuse, and no acceptance of that. If Penn State wanted to completely ignore history the way WWE has with Chris Benoit, I'd be fine with that. I am neither an alumni, fanboy, or hater. I see this for what it is. A heinous act. You personally should not have to defend yourself. The University? Sorry. They did something horrible. Because it went all the way to the President, that's how it's going to be for a long, long time.

I will say this, and something like this is a prime example of why I think College football has the largest quotient of moron fans of any sport. Most of the fans didnt go to the school yet they love one like it's their best friend and hate the schools rivals. So, a lot of these defenders and haters have no interest in the school beyond their own personal bias which they'd have no matter what. It is so annoying seeing people want to throwdown over college sports. It's also annoying to see fans deriding players and students of other schools because "they don't like them" when those students are playing a game UNPAID beyond a scholarship trying to get an education to better their lives. Irritates me beyond belief.

[Lingofan97]

It's weird seeing the area outside Beaver Stadium with no statue. I tried to Google what it looked like before just to bring back images in my mind, but there are thousands of pictures on Google taken and posted within the past few days.

[TheNewNeko]

Ideal Punishment

Old Man from "You Don't Know Jack" has some great ideas for what to do with the execs of Penn State.