We heard the rumors on Sunday that the NCAA was going to hit Penn State with unprecedented sanctions during Monday's press conference. Now we know exactly what that means, as NCAA president Mark Emmert has announced the penalties.
According to the official report released by the NCAA on Monday morning, Penn State has been hit with a $60 million fine, four-year postseason ban, loss of 20 scholarships per season over the next four years and vacation of all wins from the previous 14 seasons.
Another key point to this penalty against the university is that student-athletes will be allowed to transfer from Penn State without being forced to sit out a year.
Any entering or returning football student-athlete will be allowed to immediately transfer and will be eligible to immediately compete at the transfer institution, provided he is otherwise eligible. Any football student-athlete who wants to remain at the University may retain his athletic grant-in-aid, as long as he meets and maintains applicable academic requirements, regardless of whether he competes on the football team.
After the sanctions were announced, Penn State acting athletic director David Joyner and football coach Bill O'Brien released statements (via Penn State Athletics website).
Here is a portion of Joyner's statement:
As we move forward, today's student athletes have a challenging road ahead. But they will do the right thing, as they have always done. I am confident all of our head coaches will come together to make the change necessary to drive our university forward. Penn State will continue to fully support its established athletic programs, which provide opportunities for over 800 student athletes.
And this from O'Brien:
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.
The NCAA isn't calling this a death penalty, but Penn State is not going to be able to compete on a level close to anyone else in college football for a long, long time.
According to the official report released by the NCAA on Monday morning, Penn State has been hit with a $60 million fine, four-year postseason ban, loss of 20 scholarships per season over the next four years and vacation of all wins from the previous 14 seasons.
Another key point to this penalty against the university is that student-athletes will be allowed to transfer from Penn State without being forced to sit out a year.
Any entering or returning football student-athlete will be allowed to immediately transfer and will be eligible to immediately compete at the transfer institution, provided he is otherwise eligible. Any football student-athlete who wants to remain at the University may retain his athletic grant-in-aid, as long as he meets and maintains applicable academic requirements, regardless of whether he competes on the football team.
After the sanctions were announced, Penn State acting athletic director David Joyner and football coach Bill O'Brien released statements (via Penn State Athletics website).
Here is a portion of Joyner's statement:
As we move forward, today's student athletes have a challenging road ahead. But they will do the right thing, as they have always done. I am confident all of our head coaches will come together to make the change necessary to drive our university forward. Penn State will continue to fully support its established athletic programs, which provide opportunities for over 800 student athletes.
And this from O'Brien:
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.
The NCAA isn't calling this a death penalty, but Penn State is not going to be able to compete on a level close to anyone else in college football for a long, long time.