Heath Evans: Penn State Needs To Be Shut Down

[Proudiddy]

I posted this in the CFB section, but sunbunny suggested I re-post it here, so here you go:

I've always enjoyed Evan's commentary and perspective on anything I've seen or heard him on. The guy is really smart and has his head and heart in the right place.

That being said, I couldn't agree more with his take on this situation.

http://www.jimrome.com/junglehighlig...465575/1538019

The bullet points:

• Says PSU's football program should be shut down and players should be allowed to transfer immediately with no penalty
  
• Says there's no way possible that other coaches there didn't know what was going on. For teams to be successful, coaches have to know each other and what is going on at all times. There's no way they didn't see these kids and know of or suspect anything inappropriate.
  
• Agreed with my opinion that even having this interim coach taking over is absurd because he's been there for quite a long time as well, played there, and coached under Sandusky.
  
• Talks about how the NCAA has given the death penalty for much more absurd things.
  
• Mentions Reggie Bush isn't even allowed on USC's campus because of the NCAA's rulings on his case, but PSU is allowed to go on and handle this themselves?
  
• Says the NCAA should stop waving the white flag, step in, and shut down the program.
  

Couldn't agree more.

[Paintballr]

NCAA would be to scared to do that. It's more of a business now than it was before the SMU shutdown. One thing for sure the players should not be punished. It's all about money man and Penn State is a big name.

One thing I don't understand is why paterno was fired and the person who told him that he saw it happen still employed. He is just as responsible.

[Niner National]

If the allegations that Sandusky was also pimping children to rich donors is true, I think that will be the tipping point that gets the school expelled from the NCAA.

[Davidson Deac II]

Don't agree with the Reggie Bush comparison, primarily because that took years to come to fruition.

They need to do a full investigation, find out all the horrible details and then decide what they are going to do, and not jump the gun on anything. As bad as this thing is, it still needs to be investigated fully before and decisions on permanent punishment can be made.

And fwiw, the NCAA's job is the enforce rules on such things as recruiting. I am not certain if it has the ability to impose sanctions based on felony criminal conduct. At least I don't remember them doing so regarding conduct of the senior staff of an institution. Usually, they let law enforcement handle that. I doubt they can just shut them down because they want to. They would have to prove that Penn State violated some rule.

I did read on another site about proper moral conduct rules for the NCAA, but its incredibly vague, not sure it can be enforced.

Now the NCAA might change its rules after this, but I doubt they would be apply it after the fact.

Penn State will be getting more punishment out of this than the NCAA could ever dish out. Criminal prosecutions, Civil Lawsuits, and the Feds are launching a probe as well. They are going to be diced and sliced by the time this is over with.

[rodeo]

From what I've seen of him on NFLN I've found Heath Evans to be a grade A moron.

[Proudiddy]

Don't agree with the Reggie Bush comparison, primarily because that took years to come to fruition.

They need to do a full investigation, find out all the horrible details and then decide what they are going to do, and not jump the gun on anything. As bad as this thing is, it still needs to be investigated fully before and decisions on permanent punishment can be made.

And fwiw, the NCAA's job is the enforce rules on such things as recruiting. I am not certain if it has the ability to impose sanctions based on felony criminal conduct. At least I don't remember them doing so regarding conduct of the senior staff of an institution. Usually, they let law enforcement handle that.

Well, they love throwing around the "lack of institutional control" regarding payments and benefits, etc. I mean, what do they call this. Yes, the NCAA specializes in their laws and regulations and do not overstep their boundaries into state/federal laws, but this still falls under the NCAA's umbrella.

Heinous crimes were being committed using the school and it's facilities as a conduit.

I see your points DD and agree with you as far as letting the authorities do their investigation and move on from there... But, if the NCAA is worried about image, how do you allow a program to continue to operate knowing what has been done there and the lives that have been permanently ruined as a result?

How do players feel when using those facilities. That program, those facilities, that town, all of it has been tainted by the actions and lack of actions by those that allowed this to happen.

I'm sure the NCAA is worried about their bottom line and PSU is a money maker, but that shouldn't matter when you're evaluating how so many people's lives have been destroyed in all of this and again, the school was essentially a child molesting headquarters... I just don't know how they can pretend this never happened and move forward.

[Chaos]

Agreed that the NCAA will need to step aside and let law enforcement handle things first. The football program playing games and remaining intact is the absolute least of the problems facing that university right now. The NCAA will likely step in when appropriate and deal with any related violations and sanctions, but as previously mentioned, this is criminal and that is top priority.

As for football - it wouldn't surprise me if this team didn't win another game this season. Truthfully, it's going to get ugly when they play their first road game next weekend at Ohio State. Then they travel to Wisconsin after that. Those fans will show no mercy whatsoever.

[Squirrel]

This isnt a NCAA issue so they shouldnt be "shutdown".

[JPPT1974]

NCAA did their job. Now it is time for law enforcement. To do theirs and get justice for these young men and families. But sadly, the damage is done!

[Kevin Greene]

This isnt a NCAA issue so they shouldnt be "shutdown".

AD and coaching staff knew this was going on.

A 1000 times worse tham knowledge of tattoos in Ohio or free rent in SoCal.

Drop the fugging hammer on PSU.

[Davidson Deac II]

AD and coaching staff knew this was going on.

A 1000 times worse tham knowledge of tattoos in Ohio or free rent in SoCal.

Drop the fugging hammer on PSU.

But there are NCAA rules that prohibit football players receiving those things. As far as I can tell, there aren't any NCAA rules that require coaches/ad's etc... to report criminal activity to the police. I am sure the NCAA would love to hammer Penn State for this, but I don't think the NCAA is able to just arbitrarily punish Penn State because they want to. There has to be an actual NCAA rule that was broken.

Besides, by the time the Lawsuits are over, Penn State might not be able to afford to field a football team.

[Matt Foley]

I think Penn State football is the tip of the iceberg. I think a lot of rich pervs are going to be exposed and this will stretch its tentacles into all kinds of other places. Politics. Successful businesses. Etc.

[4Corners]

This isnt a NCAA issue so they shouldnt be "shutdown".

why? because there was no money exchanging hands?

[pstall]

umm, this happened ON Penn State's campus. Current and former coach/players were involved or knew.

I would say it's DEF an NCCA problem.

You can't compartmentalize the letter of the law and get caught up in technicalities and miss the sensational destruction that has happened here.

The leaders of an educational institution put their jobs and image and this false notion of higher learning and being about the kids to do the COMPLETE OPPOSITE.

That alone deserves some down time from sports and a reflection on all that went down as well as a time to heal and to get their priorities on straight. Sports is the LAST thing Penn St needs to be worried about right now.