With Joe Paterno's wins restored by the NCAA today (thanks to Jake Corman and Rob McCord), our writers reflected on their past three years from the perspective of a freshman and senior.
Penn Staters for Responsible Stewardship, a pro-Paterno group that has organized alumni over recent years in an attempt to change Penn State governance and right purported wrongs related to the Sandusky scandal, opposed today's settlement news that restored Penn State's 112 vacated wins and replaces the 2012 consent decree that the group has lobbied so hard against.
The NCAA announced that it has reached a settlement in the lawsuit filed by State Senator Jake Corman and Treasurer Rob McMord. The consent decree, and thus the sanctions, have been replaced with a new agreement. The 112 vacated wins have been restored and Joe Paterno once again has 409 wins. The NCAA also agreed to keep the $60 million fine within the state of Pennsylvania to benefit victims of child sexual abuse.
The Commonwealth's case against Graham Spanier, Tim Curley, and Gary Schultz had its first major filing in months today, as Judge Todd Hoover denied the trio's request to dismiss their charges, ruling that then-attorney Cynthia Baldwin gave proper legal counsel during the men's grand jury testimony.
State Senator Jake Corman's case with the NCAA received some breathing room Tuesday from Federal Court. U.S. Middle Court Judge Yvette Kane ruled against the NCAA's argument that the Endowment Act, which challenges the consent decree signed by Penn State, violated the U.S. Constitution. Kane refused to throw out the state law requiring the NCAA's $60 million fine on Penn State to stay in the state of Pennsylvania.
The controversial NCAA sanctions against Penn State, at long last, could soon be eliminated entirely. According to a Philadelphia Inquirer report, which sources people familiar with the discussions, the NCAA, state officials, and Penn State are in discussion for a plea bargain of sorts that would result in Joe Paterno's 111 vacated wins being restored to the record books.