The PSU BOT's and the NCAA's plan to cripple the Nittany Lion football program failed because they believed Joe Paterno had recruited merely football players
By
Ray Blehar
January 20, 2019, 9:50 AM EST
Ray Blehar
January 20, 2019, 9:50 AM EST
On the Friday after the Freeh Report was released to the public, former Penn State University (PSU) President Rodney Erickson and NCAA President Mark Emmert began collaborating to solve alleged cultural issues with the football program that allegedly enabled Jerry Sandusky's serial sexual victimization of children. By Monday, Erickson had a list of proposed penalties in his hands.
According to the deposition of former PSU Board of Trustees (BOT) chairman Keith Masser, the former PSU president informed him on Tuesday or Wednesday that PSU and the NCAA were negotiating from a list of possible sanctions. Consistent with Masser's deposition, Gene Marsh (who was purportedly representing PSU in the negotiations) also recalled that the list of penalties was delivered to him on Tuesday.
Those lists did not include a death penalty -- and to Masser's recollection, a death penalty could only come as a result of the NCAA conducting its normal investigation process. Masser's recollection was confirmed in emails by former NCAA Executive Committee Chair Ed Ray and NCAA General Counsel Donald Remy.
So why didn't the PSU BOT, who undoubtedly knew that an NCAA investigation would find nothing in the way of violations, opt for a NCAA investigation?
According to the deposition of former PSU Board of Trustees (BOT) chairman Keith Masser, the former PSU president informed him on Tuesday or Wednesday that PSU and the NCAA were negotiating from a list of possible sanctions. Consistent with Masser's deposition, Gene Marsh (who was purportedly representing PSU in the negotiations) also recalled that the list of penalties was delivered to him on Tuesday.
Those lists did not include a death penalty -- and to Masser's recollection, a death penalty could only come as a result of the NCAA conducting its normal investigation process. Masser's recollection was confirmed in emails by former NCAA Executive Committee Chair Ed Ray and NCAA General Counsel Donald Remy.
So why didn't the PSU BOT, who undoubtedly knew that an NCAA investigation would find nothing in the way of violations, opt for a NCAA investigation?