The NCAA hits Penn State football with $60 million fine, vacates Paterno’s wins from 1998-2011 as part of its sanctions as a result of the school’s child abuse scandal.

NCAA President Mark Emmert
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Other sanctions include a four-year ban on bowl games, and the loss of 20 scholarships per year over four years.

NCAA President Mark Emmert, calling the Penn State scandal “an unprecedented, painful” chapter in college sports, announced the staggering sanctions Monday at a news conference in Indianapolis.

Though the NCAA stopped short of imposing the “death penalty” — shutting down the Nittany Lions’ program completely — the punishment is still crippling for a team that is trying to start over with a new coach and a new outlook.

In addition, student athletes can immediately transfer to another school without penalty or remain at Penn State and not be required to participate in the football program as long as they maintain a certain grade point average.

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The NCAA says Penn State perpetuated a “football first” culture that must change. “I think every major college and university needs to do a gut check” on the balance between athletics and academics, Oregon State president Ed Ray says.

The Paterno wins are vacated from 1998 as that is the first case of abuse by Jerry Sandusky reported to school administration. 111 wins are taken from Paterno’s record dropping him to #12 on the all time win list. Florida State coach Bobby Bowdin once again holds the title for the most wins by a head football coach.

The $60million is equivalent to the average gross annual revenue of the football program. They will go into an endowment for external programs preventing child sexual abuse or assisting victims and may not be used to fund such programs at the university.

The NCAA was expected to “corrective and punitive” sanctions against the university in the wake of a devastating report that asserted top university officials buried child sex abuse allegations against a retired assistant coach more than a decade ago.

The NCAA will develop “an athletic integrity agreement” with the Big Ten and Penn State to ensure changes are made in the Penn State program, said Emmert.

Class of ’89 player Gary Gilliam expressed his support for the program after the sanctions were announced. “I’m not going anywhere, Penn State forever!” he tweeted.


NCAA STATEMENT

“The NCAA imposed a $60 million sanction on the university, which is equivalent to the average gross annual revenue of the football program.

These funds must be paid into an endowment for external programs preventing child sexual abuse or assisting victims and may not be used to fund such programs at the university.

The sanctions also include a four-year football postseason ban and a vacation of all wins from 1998 through 2011. The career record of former head football coach Joe Paterno will reflect these vacated records. Penn State must also reduce 10 initial and 20 total scholarships each year for a four-year period.

In addition, the NCAA reserves the right to impose additional sanctions on involved individuals at the conclusion of any criminal proceedings.”

 

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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