The open college football head coaching position at PSU looks much less attractive today. Public statements released today make future sanctions against the school look much more likely. The Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellor met this week to discuss several items, including the mess at Penn State University.
The Big Ten office issued the following statement from the COP/C:
The Big Ten Presidents and Chancellors express their sincere concern for any harm done to innocent young victims and their families. Protection of our children is one of society’s most central responsibilities and institutions of higher education should be particularly vigilant. We are committed to examining our own institutions to assure that effective measures are taken to assure the safety of children on our campuses.
The statement continues in mostly legalese with a ton of very big words, so let’s get to the meat and potatoes that you came here to consume. The league will assist the NCAA in their investigation and will be able to impose sanctions.
This statement excerpt shows that sanctions are possible, and “lack on institutional control” may be found:
While it is premature to reach any conclusions regarding civil or criminal liability arising out of these events, there does appear to be sufficient information to raise significant concerns as to whether a concentration of power in a single individual or program may have threatened or eroded institutional control of intercollegiate athletics at Penn State.
I think we know Joe Paterno is that “single individual.” Here are two more bullet points of interest in the COP/C determinations:
· It will request from Penn State University and the NCAA that Big Ten legal counsel be allowed to participate in the investigations or reviews, as the case may be, being conducted by Penn State and the NCAA as pertain to these issues;
· It will reserve the right to impose sanctions, corrective or other disciplinary measures in the event that adverse findings are made in the areas of institutional control, ethical conduct and/or other Conference related matters.
So what’s the timeline on all of this?
The COP/C intends for the review to be completed and for the proposed standards, stress tests and other criteria, along with the proposed enforcement procedures and penalties, to be presented to it for consideration at a special meeting to be held in spring 2012.
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site generating millions of unique visitors. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker, and Fox Sports
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