NCAA and Big Ten Restore Penn State's Bowl Eligibility and Full Scholarships

[CoastAtlantic]

http://espn.go.com/college-football...drops-postseason-ban-penn-state-nittany-lions

Penn State will be eligible for the postseason this year and will see all its scholarships returned next year, after the NCAA agreed Monday afternoon to again reduce sanctions stemming from the Jerry Sandusky child sex-abuse scandal.

Penn State's athletics integrity monitor, former Sen. George Mitchell, recommended both actions in his second annual report that gauges progress made by the university. Minutes after the report was announced, the NCAA said it would follow both recommendations immediately.

"Penn State has made remarkable progress over the past year," said South Carolina president Harris Pastides, a member of the NCAA's board of directors. "The board members and I believe the executive committee's decision is the right one. It allows both the university and the association to continue to move toward a common goal of ensuring that educating, nurturing and protecting young people is a top priority."

The reduction comes one season after the NCAA scaled back the scholarships penalty following a glowing review by Mitchell in his first annual report. Originally, Penn State would have been able to field only 65 scholarship players this season; now that number is at 75.

Before Monday's announcement, Penn State would have had 80 scholarships next season and a full 85 in 2016. It also wouldn't have been eligible for the postseason until 2016. Now, Penn State can play in a bowl this season and will see its scholarship limit return to 85 in time for next season.

Big Ten press release: https://twitter.com/BTNBrentYarina/status/509056837405003776


Something tells me that the stink job the B1G did on Saturday had something to do with it or the Paternos made the NCAA very nervous, having had O'Bannon fall on their heads. Maybe both.

 

[mike012]

Crime does pay. Thats it why doesn't uconn buy players and try to get some momentum and history going. If they are lucky they wont get caught till there in the Acc or BIG and then they would only get the slap on the wrist followed by a pat on the back. You can also just pay big money to a "fall guy" Diaco and Herbst would be fine.

 

[Irishfan]

This is the NCAA throwing a bone to the Big Ten. They have 10 bowl tie ins and it looks like only about 6-7 teams will be bowl eligible (Rutgers is probably one). It's been a tough few weeks for the Big Ten, this will help.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

I see this as the NCAA admitting that while what happened at Penn State was horrendous and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, the NCAA is not a government agency that can persecute crimes and went well beyond is authority to takes millions of dollars from a state intuition.

Now, as to why the NCAA takes less that 24 hours to find a violation against a school who head coach calls a non-prospective athlete to say, hey, I’m from your hometown, great job in Little League, while the same institution can’t figure out of another school that allowed student athletes to take and pass fake classes is a violation after years, is beyond me.

 

[Dooley]

I can't stand the NCAA.

 

[HoopsFan21]

So, what's the NCAA hiding? They typically aren't known for capitulation (and certainly not this fast - these sanctions are barely 2 years old) and will do whatever it takes to hang on to their position. One thing is certain: something in the lawsuits those state senators and the Paternos are bringing seriously spooked them. My guess is they are hoping everyone now drops their lawsuits and just moseys on home, so whatever transpired between Penn State and NCAA never sees the light of day and especially not the inside of a court room.