Unfortunately they needed to give a loud and clear messages to all colleges - this was very fair - now that we have learned the punishment, can we please now work on what happened to the DA years ago - He was the one that originally was informed of Sandusky's activites and said there wasn't enough evidence - I believe he was paid off to dissapear or was taken care of. He knew what was coming and I am sure aware of a coverup -

There is inconsistency among what is going on legally, what the NCAA decided, and what the mob screams after being fed by a media frenzy that is producing headlines that are not accurate. In America -- the land where people are supposedly innocent until proven guilty -- this is the most amazing case of mob behavior at its worst, almost an example of a primitive lust for blood (metaphorically)... and by the way, I don't give a rip about football at Penn State or anywhere else.

I voted for "no, these sanctions should have been tougher." But it's showing that there 3 votes on this poll, none on the option I selected. Please check that the poll is working correctly.

I believe the sancations against the football team are way out of line, those players had absolutely nothing to do with what sandusky did, the ncaa has too much power to make these recommendtions against a football team who did not violate any children. those records should continue to stand.

Yes, punishment against the university should be harsh but the students should NOT be penalized. Taking away scholarships and not letting the players be involved in any post season games is unfair to them....The real people involved in this mess should be the ones punished for their actions (or lack there of).

The innocent will suffer. What wrong was done by players, PSU's student body and local businesses that DEPEND on a vital football program? Totally unrelated to the Sandusky crimes.

Punish the individual perpetrators, not the university.

PSU got no unfair advantage, as in all other sanctions in NCAA history. The NCAA sanctimonious stance is not unlike the Inquisitions of the middle ages.

Shame on the NCAA.

What ever happened to "due process"? Vic Meitner

My issue is everyone is forgetting about the victims. It's all about the punishment Penn State receives. Football at Penn State will survive. The shame is all anyone cares about is the program. Penn State is so much more than a football team. Anyone who depends Paterno etc should have to face those victims and see how they feel about it. All these supporters would feel differently if it had been their child, friend, family or neighbor molested in the locker room by Sandusky.

It's a shame about the student athletes, past and present, that will suffer thanks to the knee-jerk behavior of the NCAA.

The school should be punished and not the current students. The board of trustees and Gov. Corbett didn't do anything back in 1998. What punishment are they getting.

Everyone is worried about the poor players and the university. The university covered up the acts of an animal all to protect the football program. They should have gotten the death penalty. The football players that are worth anything will transfer and the others should as well. The whole program should be suspended.

The employees responsible have either already been punished, died, or are awaiting trial. This only will punish high school seniors who what to excel in that program, and had nothing to do with the crimes/laxity of the former Penn State employees.

They punished the program and not the players. This is a statment above everything else -- that the cult of personality that runs these athletic programs and runs these schools will no longer be tolerated. One head coach...one athletic director...one school president should not have the power to cover-up a crime. This was not a knee-jerk reaction. This was the NCAA's way of saying that the events that were uncovered in the independent investigation and follow-up report will not be tolerated. I commend them for swift justice.

Ditto

I agree with the person who asked the question about the original DA, who got the case and disappeared? Also I am concerned about the fact that people have demonized a man that is dead and aren't focusing on the man who commited these crimes. Jerry Sandusky abused these children , unfortunately Joe Paterno isn't here to answer all of these questions and why aren't we just as outraged with the police who did nothing about these allegations? I too like a previous poster have no interst in college football but I do have a interest in justice and what I feel is right and somhow what has been done here just doesn't seem right.

Please, please, please do not vacate the Penn State wins. The thousands of students who performed on the field, who cheered in the stands, and the loyal alumni who sustain the program are not guilty of any wrong doing. They are the faithful heroes of Penn State and deserve no tarnish from the tragedy wrought by the leadership of the institution. Please reinstate the wins and acknowledge the effort of each individual who contributed to those wins.

I feel so badly for the students. They did not cause this mess and should not be penalized for actions taken by the big boys at Penn State. I just hope the big boys get what's coming to them - they collectively killed JoePa....

the NCAA overstepped its ability to act and I for one do not believe for one moment that Joe Paterno had any knowledge or partook of any action to interfere with any investigations......he did not withhold information and was straightforward with everybody ..........he remains a great man!!!!!

If all the MEN who were aware of the allegatioins against Sandusky handled it from the beginning by going to child welfare and the off campus police there would have been a scandle but it would have cleared up quickly. These MEN choose to keep it quiet. If they had done the right thing from the beginning we wouldn't be talking about this now and PSU would be rolling along as usual.

Why are the players being punished? That doesn't seem fair.

The players were not responsible for the actions (or lack of) the PSU coaches and admin. It would seem they are paying a price. But I was just thinking, I wonder if any of them knew what was going on. Anyway, it's done. My daughter is a 2001 grad, but she wasn't there for the mega football program, JUST a really great education.

Everyone is looking at this like the players are being punished. I do not see it that way, the players have an opportunity to transfer or play at Penn State. Penn State still has a football program, and they will be back in bowl games soon. This is an opportunity for Penn State to start a new football program and build that program's reputation. Things will go back to a state of normal for PSU, unlike the victims who will never be able to go back and fix what happened to them. So PSU take your reprecussions with dignity and stop crying about losing wins and bowl games, it just lends to the point that the culture of penn state is solely focused on football (and protecting it) instead of the good of the community. Had Joe or any of the others come forward in 1998 they would have been hero's and saved so many children from the unimaginable, yet they didn't...all for what? To protect a football program...a football program.

No the players are being punished. Just making more victims. Just because of someone's assumptions.

To the people who keep saying that the players are being punished please tell me HOW they are being punished. Please.

Some of these players have been planning to play football at PSU way before this scandal came out. Some won't get to play because scholarships have been cut. Some will have to switch gears and find another program. (And there are others, no doubt, that will accept them) And just what is the incentive to play? No chance for a bowl game for incoming freshman. Smaller crowds to cheer them on. But the biggest reason is ...IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT!!! It is also not the fault of the former players who are now part of a legacy of losses from 1998 till present. They played those games with no knowledge of dirty deeds. That's it. I'm done. We agree to disagree.

I think what the NCAA imposed now added many, many children to the victims list. It's typical mob mentality to try and destroy the whole school and the many other good things they accomplish, such as Thon and other fundraisers that have helped the community. Shouldn't everyone remember who the real criminal is and concentrate on that and only the people that are absolutely responsible for the cover-up. There are many Penn State haters that would love to see the college crash. What they should now do is reach out to as many alumni and students as well and come up with ideas to counteract the bowl games, such as come up with their own tradition that draws out the fans and gains momentum. They can also try and build up their other teams, such as basketball and stand up for all the other good things about the school, such as their academics and other things accomplished. Remember, the kids didn't commit any crimes! And neither did the present coaches!

@Jamie "What they should now do is reach out to as many alumni and students as well and come up with ideas to counteract the bowl games, such as come up with their own tradition that draws out the fans and gains momentum. They can also try and build up their other teams, such as basketball and stand up for all the other good things about the school, such as their academics and other things accomplished" This is the kind of thing that the NCAA hopes would happen with their sanctions... The NCAA is not trying to destroy the school...The current players on the team keep their scholarships and will continue to get a free education at Penn State...even if they never pick up a football again...As someone who has worked in college athletics for nearly 30 years (not at PSU or any of their rival schools) - A good education is MORE important than a bowl game in my book...Penn State will weather the storm...just wait and see.

Why hasn't the NCAA done anything about Syracuse? Maybe it is because ESPN was involved. The coach committing the atrocities was a current coach, not a retired coach. on a team with 5 coaches not on a team with 30 coaches.

Tis is a very serious offense and needs to be harshly dealt with. If it is not we could here it come up elsewhere...The coverup is the worst part.

this whole thing was about children being hurt. so some feel that the solution is to hurt more children with sanctions including our worthless president. i have 2 children at this wonderful school who are feeling depressed. its just not right.