Governor to sue NCAA over Penn state sanctions
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Tom Corbett said Tuesday he plans to sue the NCAA in federal court over stiff sanctions imposed against Penn State University in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal.
The Republican governor scheduled a Wednesday news conference on the Penn State campus in State College to announce the antitrust filing in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg.
The sanctions, which were agreed to by the university in July, included a $60 million fine that would be used nationally to finance child abuse prevention grants. The sanctions also included a four-year bowl game ban for the university's marquee football program, reduced football scholarships and the forfeiture of 112 wins but didn't include a suspension of the football program, the so-called death penalty.
The governor's office announced the news conference late Tuesday afternoon. His spokesman did not respond to repeated calls and emails seeking to confirm a Sports Illustrated story that cited anonymous sources saying a lawsuit was imminent.
Corbett's brief statement did not indicate whether his office coordinated its legal strategy with state Attorney General-elect Kathleen Kane, who is scheduled to be sworn in Jan. 15.
Kane, a Democrat, ran on a vow to investigate why it took state prosecutors nearly three years to charge Sandusky, an assistant under former football coach Joe Paterno. Corbett was the attorney general when that office took over the case in early 2009 and until he became governor in January 2011.
State and congressional lawmakers from Pennsylvania have objected to using the Penn State fine to finance activities in other states. Penn State has already made the first $12 million payment, and an NCAA task force is deciding how it should be spent.
The NCAA, which did not respond to calls seeking comment Tuesday, has said at least a quarter of the money would be spent in Pennsylvania.
Republican U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent called that an "unacceptable and unsatisfactory" response by the NCAA to a request from the state's U.S. House delegation that the whole $60 million be distributed to causes within the state.
Last week, state Sen. Jake Corman, a Republican whose district includes Penn State's main campus, said he plans to seek court action barring any of the first $12 million from being released to groups outside the state.
Sandusky, 68, was convicted in June on charges he sexually abused 10 boys, some on Penn State's campus. He's serving a 30- to 60-year state prison term.
Eight young men testified against him, describing a range of abuse they said went from grooming and manipulation to fondling, oral sex and anal rape when they were boys.
Sandusky did not testify at his trial but has maintained his innocence, acknowledging he showered with boys but insisting he never molested them.
The Republican governor scheduled a Wednesday news conference on the Penn State campus in State College to announce the antitrust filing in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg.
The sanctions, which were agreed to by the university in July, included a $60 million fine that would be used nationally to finance child abuse prevention grants. The sanctions also included a four-year bowl game ban for the university's marquee football program, reduced football scholarships and the forfeiture of 112 wins but didn't include a suspension of the football program, the so-called death penalty.
The governor's office announced the news conference late Tuesday afternoon. His spokesman did not respond to repeated calls and emails seeking to confirm a Sports Illustrated story that cited anonymous sources saying a lawsuit was imminent.
Corbett's brief statement did not indicate whether his office coordinated its legal strategy with state Attorney General-elect Kathleen Kane, who is scheduled to be sworn in Jan. 15.
Kane, a Democrat, ran on a vow to investigate why it took state prosecutors nearly three years to charge Sandusky, an assistant under former football coach Joe Paterno. Corbett was the attorney general when that office took over the case in early 2009 and until he became governor in January 2011.
State and congressional lawmakers from Pennsylvania have objected to using the Penn State fine to finance activities in other states. Penn State has already made the first $12 million payment, and an NCAA task force is deciding how it should be spent.
The NCAA, which did not respond to calls seeking comment Tuesday, has said at least a quarter of the money would be spent in Pennsylvania.
Republican U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent called that an "unacceptable and unsatisfactory" response by the NCAA to a request from the state's U.S. House delegation that the whole $60 million be distributed to causes within the state.
Last week, state Sen. Jake Corman, a Republican whose district includes Penn State's main campus, said he plans to seek court action barring any of the first $12 million from being released to groups outside the state.
Sandusky, 68, was convicted in June on charges he sexually abused 10 boys, some on Penn State's campus. He's serving a 30- to 60-year state prison term.
Eight young men testified against him, describing a range of abuse they said went from grooming and manipulation to fondling, oral sex and anal rape when they were boys.
Sandusky did not testify at his trial but has maintained his innocence, acknowledging he showered with boys but insisting he never molested them.
"The sanctions, which were agreed to by the university in July, included a $60 million fine that would be used nationally to finance child abuse prevention grants."
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The university agreed to the sanctions...."Nationally", which means the governro should probably step back. The directors, chairpeople of boards all allowed Sandusky to continue. They all screwed up, now they got caught, now they need to be held accountable.
I simply cannot believe anyone in their right mind would challenge the penalities and sanctions imposed that the University agreed to. I hope the victims and their families start a Tom Corbett recall campaign. Maybe Corbett and Sandusky are cronies?Â
Personaly I feel this is a criminal offence, so the criminals should be delt with regardless what the school adminstrators did. The Ones who played the games and studied for there future do not deserve to be punished,for what Sundusky did. Punish the ones involved with The actual Crimes, Not the students who already have enough shame on there backs over sundusky and company. The good players won the 112 games ,deserved the bowl games and are outstanding people as a whole. God bless This world,and shame on the NCAA for punishing inocent people. And to Hell with Sundusky And Anybody who covered for him.
Sty out of it Tom. This is not a political issue. The university looke the other way and did nothing to stop sexual assaults on children. That is tacit approval of abhorrent conduct.
 @Rob C 503Â
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The issue is that the money Penn State is getting to pay the fine is from Pennsylvania taxpayers for the purposes for state funding of the school. The effect is that the whole state is paying the NCAA for the wrongdoings of the school, of which is an extension of just a few.
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The request was not to absolve the school of the fine, but if it's going to be taxpayer money, the governor said it should go tot he places the taxpayer lives. Thus having the NCAA use that money IN that state. It is a valid request.
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I honestly think money is a dumb punishment. I think more targeted fines for people or expulsion from being associated with any NCAA sport or school would have been better. Tell individuals to pay fines or never teach, coach, direct or be the president of any school who wants to play in anything associated with the NCAA. That would have been better. Get the people who are responsible rather then blanket punish all nearby.
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 @Repoman  @Rob C 503Â
Totally agree. Â Nail the people involved, big time, but don't penalize the rest.
Fine the man who did the wrong, not the school and the students.
@sortbait You are either completely ignorant or just incapable of understanding the role the university played in destroying numerous young boys' lives.