For the sins of a few it seems like the majority and innocent will have to suffer in the wake of the NCAA's punishment against Penn State for the Sandusky child sex abuse scandal that took the nation by storm. If you haven't heard, the NCAA has fined the school $60 Million. I'm hoping most of this money will go to the victims. The school has been forfeited its last 14 seasons of their football victories since the late Paterno was involved and helped to cover up Sandusky's crime. The school has also been banned from bowl games for the next four years and will be docked 20 scholarships per year for the next four years.
Coming from a family of high school, college and NFL players, I'm not wholeheartedly in agreement with the last three punishments. I've never been one to believe in the majority being punished for the crimes of a few. Likewise, I don't buy into the phrase the one bad apple spoils the bunch. My line of thinking is that you get rid of the bad apples and keep the good ones. In my opinion, I think these last three punishments aren't hurting the people who were directly involved but the football players and student body.
I know for a fact that if it wasn't for athletic scholarships many of my family members wouldn't have been able to afford college. I understand that Penn State and the NCAA are attempting to wash and cleanse themselves of anything associated with Sandusky's crime and Paterno guilt by silence but it still sucks to see that so many innocent people have been dragged into this. Why can't people just be good?
This is why we have to think before we act people. Your bad decisions and crimes don't just affect you but those around you as well as the victims. We were all put on this Earth for a purpose. Why not make that purpose a positive one? Strive to bring joy, compassion and love into each other's lives. I'm praying for our world becomes a better place because too many of us innocent folk are getting caught in the crossfires of the wicked!
Do you think the majority should suffer for the crimes of a few? And do a few bad apples really spoil the bunch?
I agree with you… I tell my kids all the time that whenever they make a decision good or bad think about who it can affect around them. So many innocent ppl have to suffer from the hands of others wrong doing! Sorta like my tweets earlier this morning I was ranting about not all teachers are bad and there are still a good few out there! It’s truly a sad situation.
ReplyDelete~Great Post… thanks for sharing!
Xoxo
Lynn
Yes, this situation is very sad! I saw your tweets about the teachers and couldn't have agreed more! I will definitely be involved in my kids education and make sure I know their teachers and they know me! When the line of communication is open we can better see problems forming.
DeleteSigh. It's hard because they want to make an example out of this scandal, and I think they should, but to make others pay for the mistakes of a few... sigh. Doesn't seem fair.
ReplyDeleteI'm sighing too. I know that NCAA administrators thought long and hard about this decision. This scandal has rocked a lot of worlds and none of them in a good way!
DeleteWhen my husband told me the possible punishment for this situation (didn't know it was official until I read your post), I was sad for the young men and coaches currently on the team. It's flat-out not fair.
ReplyDeleteShould the school be fined? Absolutely. $60 million may not even be enough. But to punish the current team is where I draw the line. It's time to humanize these NCAA punishments!
I agree that they need to come up with a way to penalize the institution without the students and non-involved staff having to pay for future incidents.
DeleteI agree with you. I don't think the majority should have to suffer. They are punishing past, present, and future team members.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts exactly. And how do you tell those players that all their wins going to be treated as if they never happened? Sad.
DeleteWow I had no idea about the aftermath apart from the statue being removed until I saw your post this morning then the stories all over the news. I'm not sure how I feel especially like you, with several members of my family, including my husband, being NCAA athletes. I definitely want to get my husband's take on this. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! I figured they would get fined and they'd remove that statue but I didn't think they'd go this far. One commentator from ESPN said that this was a way of punishing Paterno for his involvement. Not to be rude, he's dead. They can't punish him. That's in God's hands.
DeleteIt's really sad situation!!
ReplyDeleteIt truly is!
DeleteI don't think it's fair to take scholarships away from future eligible students. People who have had absolutely nothing to do with the scandal. Not allowing the athletes to participate in bowl games...not fair. I understand that they want to make an example out of this situation but it's not okay to take opportunities away from current and future students.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more. Especially when for some kids football is their life line and saving grace. Make an example out those involved and that's it. Penn State as a whole was not involved.
DeleteI agree with you. I haven't following this story closely, but I think it's unfortunate that students and potential football players are being hurt by the actions of their superiors.
ReplyDeleteVery unfortunate. I really wish the NCAA would rethink their decision on the penalties that affect the players. It's going to be bittersweet winning all their games and then not being able to play in any hard earned bowl games.
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