My emphasis added
“Thankful… Confused…. Happy…. Unfulfilled…. Proud…. Inspired…. Frustrated…. Melancholic…. Optimistic…. But, most of all…. Determined.
That's been the gamut of my emotions for the last 24 hours, and logging on to our Facebook group today to see the commentary of everyone else, I'm glad to see I'm in very good company. We've never been one dimensional, and we're sure not going to start today. We really wouldn't want it any other way, would we? After all, if it weren't for Senator Corman's initiative to keep the $60 million in state, we would have nothing at all to celebrate today. For him and Rob McCord (and Judge Covey), I am thankful. They truly over-delivered during their leg of this relay, and we can only hope others will have as much success as the baton continues to be passed. I'm happy for the Paterno Family, the coaches and players whose records deserve the respect and honor they rightly earned. Yet, I'm as confused as everyone else about how a "complete repeal" leaves so many undeserved punishments in place (and how Mark Emmert can get away with acknowledging that, as if he pulled one over on us).
Somehow, I think karma will soon help us understand. We should all be proud of what we've so far accomplished as an upstart, grassroots organization over these years together, and that we're in lockstep when it comes to our continued fight in the pursuit of truth and justice. No one here is settling, packing it in, or dancing in the end zone. I'm truly inspired by our own collective resolve, and that of our "E-9." Our alumni-elected trustees were instrumental in forcing the Consent Decree discussion, and while they may have been stonewalled and boycotted over many, many months, in the end, their position was never ignored...not by a long shot. In fact, it was acted upon with the very creation of this backroom deal (hence "Frustrated"). They contributed such thought and strategy that I'm optimistic the dominos will begin to fall. We must continue to do our part: to remain vocal, to expose Penn State's governance flaws, and to hold those accountable who let us -- and the victims -- down.
To that end, our next order of business will be rounding out the PS4RS slate for the upcoming 2015 alumni trustee elections. Nomination forms (which are not the official voting ballots) are not due until February 25, so right now, when you receive yours by email, there is no rush to return it. Within the week, we will release specific PS4RS direction as to next steps. Until then, there's nothing wrong with toasting to the success of this week's very meaningful step along the way to our ultimate goal: restoration of Penn State's superb reputation, and assurance of truth and transparency in its governance. For the Glory!”
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Again the obfuscation is frustrating. The state "wins" a lawsuit with NCAA through settlement. "The NCAA collapsed", "They went outside of their charter", "This can be considered a total repeal of the CD", etc. But, PSU (who did not join the suit) has to pay for the state's legal fees. Say its a million dollars; when you win a settlement, the other side pays your legal fees (its an integral part of negotiation). Unfortunately, what I see here is a negotiation where BoT leaders said, "we will ram the settlement through, if we can get to keep 12m (of the 60m) for research". We know what that means....
ReplyDeleteOn another note, when you "win so convincingly" , besides NCAA legal fees, what did the NCAA lose? They did not match the 60m, they did not offer to pay state and BoT legal fees, and PSU does not get their share of bowl money over the last three(?) years. Yet, they get to craft their own press releases on how they extracted their pound of flesh from PSU and not admit any fault. How about the fact that part of the settlement is PSU keeps an athletic monitor writing reports to the NCAA?? Wow that should make PSU alumni feel completely vindicated. sheesh, I was hoping after I relaxed and tried to study the facts of the "total rescinding of the CD", that I would see that I was over reacting".
So does the 12m somehow pay the state?
Does the 12m somehow pay BoT legal fees?
Does the 12m go to research professors projects on social issues with child abuse?
So, the absolutely only thing PSU received in this settlement is 12m research money. The losses were not my issue; far from it.
etc, etc.
In addition, is the athletic department still paying for all of this? Or did the BoT finally realize they have culpability here for covering their 11/11 decisions?
Oh, and I suppose Freeh rides off into sunset, the Paterno's keep helping the BoT stay hidden by being easy on them, and Spanier, Curly, Schultz never get to trial.
Ray, someone has to write a book after this.
Bob,
DeleteThanks for your comments. I agree that the only thing that was won in the settlement was the restoration of wins. Aside from that, the words of complete repeal of the consent decree ring hollow if we still have George "Maytag Man" Mitchell sucking money from the University and Mark Emmert bloviating that the NCAA had authority to punish.
Both those men belong in jail for perpetrating a fraud on Penn State through the phony Athletics Integrity Agreement. But the good news (LOL) is that they will put a new AIA in place for PSU (while no other football program in the NCAA has to abide by an AIA). WTF???
I guess in the strictest sense, PSU as a co-defendant has decided to cover the legal fees of its partner co-defendant the NCAA. That is shameful.
Even more shameful is that there is no change to the University making the Athletic Department foot the bill and pay back an interest bearing loan.
Freeh will eventually have to face the music in Spanier's defamation suit -- at a minimum. But the media has been asleep at the wheel in exposing just how many lies Freeh told about his investigation. That story needs to be told.
I'll probably write more than one book about this whole scandal. I don't think it could be covered in just one.
Ray:
DeleteThis settlement was exceptionally well played by the NCAA attorneys. Judge Covey and Sen Corman had their collective hands tied and had to accept it. The NCAA agreed to the 2 issues at the forefront of the case, the fines being distributed in PA and the consent decree being rescinded. Throwing in the reinstatement of the 112 wins was a great strategy. That removed the players from being victims and left the only opposition to the settlement to be easily painted by the media as zealot "JoeBots"
I venture that if the attorney client emails on the strategy were ever released we would see the hand of Judge Freeh (or his firm members) in the mix. The plan effectively keeps the underhanded back room dealings and collusion between the NCAA, PSU-BOT, Judge FREEH, and likely the OAG from further scrutiny and potentially damaging the conspiracy of silence prosecutions.
Thanks for your comment, MIke.
DeleteIt keeps the NCAA and PSU backroom deals out of the spotlight -- for the immediate future.
Maybe. ;-)
I suspect that part of the motivation of Corman and McCord was to get some of that $60 million out of the settlement. If the case went to court and Judge Covey ruled the Consent Decree illegal, the $60 million would have gone back to Penn State. Corman/McCord would have been in the hole about a million dollars in legal costs.
ReplyDeletePenn State can use the $12 million to pay for child abuse research they would have funded anyway. Corman/McCord can use the $48 million for child abuse programs the state would have funded anyway and close some of the $2 billion deficit.
Tim,
DeleteWhy should we trust Penn State to spend $12M on child abuse research?
The first piece of research it should do on child abuse prevention is to look at the history of DPW's failures in not protecting children and recommend improvements in PA.
If they don't do that, then the money is just being spent on an academic exercise that won't help any of PA's kids.
That's sort of what I said. Penn State could simply use that $12 million for something else and say they spent it on child abuse research since they are already doing child abuse research.
ReplyDeleteI think right now the Board of Trustees is not accountable to anyone. Even Corman/McCord left them off the hook with the settlement.
I agree that DPW deserves scrutiny but I doubt that is the kind of research Penn State will be doing because it is too political and not fundamental/academic enough. Here's an example of Penn State child abuse research:
http://news.psu.edu/story/340076/2015/01/09/research/researchers-investigate-long-term-effects-early-abuse
Ray et al., I'm looking forward to the screenplay. I just watched Denzel Washington as The Equalizer. You're right, Ray. He's you. He'll love some of your lines... like "Emmert bloviating..."!
ReplyDelete