The Lions' Pride

Very good article, the backlash is certainly gaining momentum.

I'm glad that people are pushing for reform in the NCAA, but I think this will have little bearing on the state PSU is in right now. The damage has already been done with the scholarship reductions. By the time this all plays out the sanctions will probably be almost over if not completely over. Maybe Corbet can succeed in either getting the $60 million back or keeping it in PA, but beyond that I think we're stuck with the sanctions.

I think the best scenario would be Emmert stepping down from the pressure this summer and his successor coming in and lifting the sanctions on us, but I'm not holding my breath for that.

the hope is for it to go to court and settlement for reduction on sanctions rather than going through court.

This is a great article. It's also great that NY Times and Bloomberg are writing about this.

I love the ending...

Once you start stripping away the senseless rules and regulations, the association’s multimillion-dollar compliance empire quickly crumbles. What’s left? An organization that hangs nets, keeps records and puts on a postseason basketball tournament that anyone would leap at the chance to run -- and for a smaller profit margin.

Maybe the best NCAA is a nonexistent NCAA.

How true is that?

At this point I'd be happy with a year or 2 being knocked off the sanctions. That would go a long long way to helping PSU recovery more quickly. I think realistically that is the best we all can hope for. Doesn't mean I'm voting for Corbett though.

Unfortunately you are correct about the sanctions. Hell just stating facts gets us accused of supporting child abuse.

Emmert's support could erode if the media keeps criticizing them and lawsuits get their dirty laundry aired.

I'm interested in seeing what they do to Miami. If they play hard ball will Miami fight back? That could be a key to Emmert's standing, IMO.

There will be no reduction in any form, IMO. This thing will be tied up in the court system for years. By the time it gets resolved, we will be at or near the end of the sanctions. Our best hope is that bob an staff stay through the sanctions, and a cpl of years after to get the program back where it belongs. Gonna be rough going for the next few

+1000 Exactly

In reference to post:

The best chance for relief for PSU is Corbett's lawsuit. Emmert stepping down etc would likely have no impact for PSU. However a) the worse the NCAA looks, the more ammo the State's attorneys have for the lawsuit, and b) I hate those f*ers so much that I take tremendous happiness in every tiny wound inflicted on them, and on him in particular. I could handle the sanctions far better if I knew Emmert and those pr$cks who stood with him had been smashed by the karma train.

Best thing to make that happen is Curley, Shutz, and Spannier go to tria, found not guilty, and the pressure is then on Louis Freeh to explain his absolute findings.

The ncaa then gets smashed for basically basing their penalties on a false narritive.

But in the end the ncaa will just hold up the consent decree and laugh and laugh and laugh.

In the end no matter what happened or who said what or what said who, we were screwed because the powers that be botched the process worse than hodges did on punt returns!

But it won't matter, Erickson will retire with his new found money, surma is set for life, same with frazier. who really gives a shit what happens to Peetz.......

They got their way, served their vendettas, sold their souls, and will never be held accountable.

I disagree that Emmert being thrown out on his ass would have no effect on the PSU sanctions. Emmert orchestrated the sanctions. besides the lawsuit Emmert losing his job is our best chance of getting them lifted. They were his baby and i could see a new president backing off of then for good behavior and time served to get rid of the massive headache that the NCAA feeling because of the pressure Corbett is putting on them.

from what I gather...

The NCAA was in term oil after the USC/Bush case really highlighted the problems they have with enforcement. By the time they got involved bush was in the NFL and was under no obligation to talk with the NCAA. likewise for other parties like the agent and his family. The NCAA couldn't force anyone to talk and it took years before they could pull everything together and make a ruling. Another issue was highlighted in that coaches can bend rules to get ahead by taking calculated risks and turning a blind eye (the sargent Schultz defense). They know the NCAA has trouble investigating and in the case where it looks like they are going to come down hard, the coach simply packs up and takes a promotion to an NFL gig.

There was a NCAA meeting I believe earlier on in 2011 (maybe 2010) where Emmert said that things needed to change and they had to find a way to stop coaches from taking calculated risks and intentionally breaking rules. I think at the time much of the NCAA membership was "all in" on cleaning it up and saw Emmert as the guy to do it.

We know where this goes from here... the investigation methods get shady, unethical, and possibly even illegal and he went outside protocol to enter a completely new realm of punishing an athletic program for possible criminal acts completely unrelated to amateurism or fair play.

Today, I think the membership is mixed. Some still think that college athletics was down a dangerous path and that Emmert is still the guy to clean it up. They see the turbulence and criticism as a necessary part of the cleansing process. If they can ride it out, the NCAA will come out the other side in a better position with more power. I think there is an increasing number of affiliates that are questioning what they signed up for with this new campaign though. the USC coach law suit and SUNY Buffalo suit were almost expected backlash from tightening the reigns and flexing the NCAA's unchecked power. However, I think the Miami case on the heels of slamming penn state really turned the tide and raised some eyebrows.

There is a PR battle going on outside the NCAA, but I think there is one going on inside as well. We've already seen at least a couple NCAA members circling the wagons and questioning the motives and purpose of the NCAA.... IMO, this is why they can't afford to go through discovery in the PA case. PA will dig through all the investigations and although the primary purpose is to build a case for their suit, I have no doubt that if something else turns up that can be used against them it will come out. I'm not sure how many more hits Emmert can take....

I just love though how NCAA can pick and choose what they want to enforce.......North Carolina - Academic Scandal for years with student athletes - welllll - we will just look the other way.