State of Pennsylvania Files Anti-Trust Lawsuit Against NCAA

[superman7515]

Pennsylvania Governor To Detail NCAA Lawsuit In News Conference At Penn State (http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/02/16301483-pennsylvania-governor-to-detail-ncaa-lawsuit-in-news-conference-at-penn-state?lite)


Gov. Tom Corbett scheduled a news conference for Wednesday to announce the filing of a federal lawsuit against the NCAA over stiff sanctions imposed against Penn State in the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

The news conference announcing the filing in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg was set to be held at the university's State College campus.

A person associated with the university and knowledgeable about the matter told The Associated Press that it is an antitrust action. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the lawsuit hasn't been filed.

The university agreed in July to the sanctions, which 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.

[Bisonoline]

Pennsylvania Governor To Detail NCAA Lawsuit In News Conference At Penn State (http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/02/16301483-pennsylvania-governor-to-detail-ncaa-lawsuit-in-news-conference-at-penn-state?lite)

I hope they kick the ncaa azz.

[Hammerhead]

They can join the NAIA if they don't like the NCAA.

[superman7515]

I hope they kick the ncaa azz.

Careful what you wish for. The last time someone kicked the NCAA's azz in court over football, it eventually led to the FBS money grabs for tv contracts that have conferences realigining and dissolving and re-materializing every other day.

[clenz]

I hope they kick the ncaa azz.

Nothing will come of this. Psu is a ncaa member and agreed to the punishment.


Publicity move by the people behind the suit.

If they dont like the ncaa coming down like that they are free to go naia or unaccredited

Sent from the nexus of the universe

[Bisonoline]

Nothing will come of this. Psu is a ncaa member and agreed to the punishment.


Publicity move by the people behind the suit.

If they dont like the ncaa coming down like that they are free to go naia or unaccredited

Sent from the nexus of the universe

I realize that but I hate the NCAA.

[robsnotes4u]

I agree it will not go anywhere, look at the drug out fight to keep the Sioux name, which ended in an NCAA win. They are all powerful.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Mr. C]

I agree it will not go anywhere, look at the drug out fight to keep the Sioux name, which ended in an NCAA win. They are all powerful.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

The NCAA has lost plenty of suits over the years. Jerry Tarkanian socked it to them pretty good and the NCAA had to eventually give him a multi-millon-dollar settlement.

[darell1976]

I agree it will not go anywhere, look at the drug out fight to keep the Sioux name, which ended in an NCAA win. They are all powerful.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

And a lot of people said UND is a member of the NCAA they can leave if they don't want to follow the NCAA rules. The NCAA will win this. PSU just has to suck it up and play by their rules.

[Bisonoline]

And a lot of people said UND is a member of the NCAA they can leave if they don't want to follow the NCAA rules. The NCAA will win this. PSU just has to suck it up and play by their rules.

In this case the NCAA didnt follow its own rules.

[ngineer]

I see this mostly as a PR stunt by Corbett who is way down in the polls and running for re-election in a year and a half. He has been lambasted for months about his alleged complicity in not pursuing Sandusky aggressively while he was Attorney General and running for Governor. Can't go after the PSU demi-gods and get elected, so it is argued he made his pact with the devil and let Sandusky roam for another year or two. Only after elected Governor does the Grand Jury get empaneled...a slow process in itself. While I agree that the NCAA went overboard in its punishment, the school, as a member, made a knowing deal. Oh yes, and the Governor is on the Board of Trustees. PA is a political travesty.

[bluehenbillk]

I see this mostly as a PR stunt by Corbett who is way down in the polls and running for re-election in a year and a half. He has been lambasted for months about his alleged complicity in not pursuing Sandusky aggressively while he was Attorney General and running for Governor. Can't go after the PSU demi-gods and get elected, so it is argued he made his pact with the devil and let Sandusky roam for another year or two. Only after elected Governor does the Grand Jury get empaneled...a slow process in itself. While I agree that the NCAA went overboard in its punishment, the school, as a member, made a knowing deal. Oh yes, and the Governor is on the Board of Trustees. PA is a political travesty.

Agreed - a pure political move by an unpopular Governor.

[HailSzczur]

As a resident of PA I am embarrassed and extremely pissed off by this. You cannot tell me that the governor has nothing better to do than to go suing the NCAA because the harmed PSU's precious football program. Corbett is trying to save his *** here, but it won't work. It all goes back to the backwards mentality up in State College that football is the most important thing and that students, alumni, and PA residents are some how "entitled" to football, but not just any football, good football, as if it is some god given right protected by the 1st Amendment. As a resident, I am upset to see my taxes going to pay for a lawyers to fight this stupid battle. I'm upset to see our government wasting time that could be better spent getting stuff done

[MR. CHICKEN]

CORBETT.....FUMBLED DUH ROCK...LONG AGO....AS AG...WHO FAILED TA..FOLLAH UP ON COMPLAINTS....AGIN'...DUH...NITTANY ABUSER...AWQ!

[Franks Tanks]

As a resident of PA I am embarrassed and extremely pissed off by this. You cannot tell me that the governor has nothing better to do than to go suing the NCAA because the harmed PSU's precious football program. Corbett is trying to save his *** here, but it won't work. It all goes back to the backwards mentality up in State College that football is the most important thing and that students, alumni, and PA residents are some how "entitled" to football, but not just any football, good football, as if it is some god given right protected by the 1st Amendment. As a resident, I am upset to see my taxes going to pay for a lawyers to fight this stupid battle. I'm upset to see our government wasting time that could be better spent getting stuff done

Can you please explain why that is the case? Did you just hear that on ESPN and accept that it was true?

PSU fans are 1000x more well adjusted than SEC and Ohio State fans. (generally)

[WataugaDave]

Can you please explain why that is the case? Did you just hear that on ESPN and accept that it was true?

It's not about the fans. The sanctions weren't put in place because of them. It's the administration. They're the ones who allowed Sandusky to continue unabated to protect the program's reputation.

[superman7515]

I heard an interview with one of the PSU Board of Trustees yesterday evening and they apparently were not told anything of the lawsuit until they read in the paper that it was coming up this week. When the governor's office finally did call them to talk, they did so the day before the suit was filed and told them they were only suing to have all of the money spent in Pennsylvania, the next day it shows up that it is an antitrust suit and the state is trying to get the whole thing voided. According to the trustee, they were kept in the dark and then lied to about the whole thing and were never contacted about it.

[MplsBison]

The NCAA had nothing to do with this. It was a criminal matter.

It'd be absolutely no different than if Craig Bohl went out tonight and robbed a bank, then the NCAA decided it would bar NDSU from the I-AA playoffs for the next 10 years as punishment.

[bluehenbillk]

Did you guys gear the latest?

That's right, there is no latest. After Corbett's dog & pony press conference this story won't make may headlines until maybe after PSU's penalties are served out.

Nothing to see here, everybody move on please......

[superman7515]

Well since you asked about the latest info...

Penn State Student Leaders Support NCAA Lawsuit (http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2013/01/07/corbett_lawsuit_student_leaders_.aspx)


Penn State student leaders are standing behind Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett’s recent lawsuit to lift the NCAA sanctions imposed against the university.

Corbett held a press conference on Jan. 2 and explained that the National Collegiate Athletic Association's sanctions on the football program, which include a $60 million fine and a four-year postseason ban, would be economically damaging and unfair to the university as a whole. He announced that the state of Pennsylvania would file an antitrust lawsuit later that day.

Several student representatives attended the press conference and reacted positively to Corbett’s decision, despite the university’s response to continue complying with the sanctions.

University Park Undergraduate Association President Courtney Lennartz said the sanctions against the university and the football program are unfair because they are affecting the wrong people.

“The sanctions are falling on current Penn State students by not allowing the university to recruit and taking away scholarships,” Lennartz (senior-health policy and administration) said. “It impacts more than just the football team.”....

[MplsBison]

The students are correct.

I also made the correct argument: it's a criminal matter, the NCAA has nothing to do with it.

Should the NSF also be sanctioning Penn State's research faculty? Nonsense.

[ngineer]

Well since you asked about the latest info...

Penn State Student Leaders Support NCAA Lawsuit (http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2013/01/07/corbett_lawsuit_student_leaders_.aspx)

Yes the sanctions are draconian, but the University agreed to them. The STATE has no dog in this fight. The taxpayers should not be paying for such a boondoggle. The "students" are not harmed. No one has hurt their outstanding education. Their noses are cut short because they can't exude their hubris for four years. The football players have been overly punished. But still, the STATE government has no fight here. Lack of standing in my opinion.

[WataugaDave]

The NCAA had nothing to do with this. It was a criminal matter.

It'd be absolutely no different than if Craig Bohl went out tonight and robbed a bank, then the NCAA decided it would bar NDSU from the I-AA playoffs for the next 10 years as punishment.

What if NDSU covered it up. In fact, say they covered up the fact that Craig Bohl robbed dozens of banks over a span of several YEARS. What then? But even that doesn't work as a comparison. Because Penn State let it happen on their property, and the victims may never recover.

[MplsBison]

Yes the sanctions are draconian, but the University agreed to them. The STATE has no dog in this fight. The taxpayers should not be paying for such a boondoggle. The "students" are not harmed. No one has hurt their outstanding education. Their noses are cut short because they can't exude their hubris for four years. The football players have been overly punished. But still, the STATE government has no fight here. Lack of standing in my opinion.

Of course the state has standing, they pay for the university. Some of that money is given to the athletic dept.

[MplsBison]

What if NDSU covered it up. In fact, say they covered up the fact that Craig Bohl robbed dozens of banks over a span of several YEARS. What then? But even that doesn't work as a comparison. Because Penn State let it happen on their property, and the victims may never recover.

Fine, say Craig Bohl performed a felony assault on NDSU's campus.

Criminal matter. 100%. NCAA has no authority to do anything.

[WataugaDave]

Fine, say Craig Bohl performed a felony assault on NDSU's campus.

Criminal matter. 100%. NCAA has no authority to do anything.

Still doesn't address the cover-up, and the reason for the cover-up being to save the football program's reputation.

[Franks Tanks]

Still doesn't address the cover-up, and the reason for the cover-up being to save the football program's reputation.

That is not the definitive truth.


It was outlined in the Freeh report, and often cited by talking heads, but there is a severe lack of evidence to suggest a cover-up was orchestratred to protect the football program when the program didn't need protecting.

[TheRevSFA]

Agreed - a pure political move by an unpopular Governor.

He might be popular if he pulled the old Budd Dwyer move.

[MplsBison]

Still doesn't address the cover-up, and the reason for the cover-up being to save the football program's reputation.

Fine, say the athletic department somehow was able to prevent the media from reporting the crime (would be impossible with the Fargo PD and the Forum, but just say hypothetically speaking).

Criminal matter. 100%. NCAA has no authority to do anything.

[citdog]

He might be popular if he pulled the old Budd Dwyer move.



http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080127121557/uncyclopedia/images/1/11/Celebrated_jazz_trombonist_Buddy_Dwyer.jpg

[bluehenbillk]

He might be popular if he pulled the old Budd Dwyer move.

Oh man, Budd Dwyer. I was in high school, my junior or senior year when that happened. We had a snow day & schools were let out early. I just made myself some lunch when local news broke in with a special report & showed the uncensored video. Later on that day, for the 5 or 6pm news they just played the audio part versus showing him blow his own head off.

That was great TV.

[ngineer]

Reminded me when Jack Ruby killed Oswald. You couldn't believe what you were seeing.

[MplsBison]

New ESPN article on this topic: http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8890947/congressmen-want-ncaa-restore-penn-state-nittany-lions-scholarships


He is absolutely in the right on this. NCAA has nothing to do with this and their punishments should not be tolerated by the state of PA or Penn State U.

[bluehenbillk]

New ESPN article on this topic: http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8890947/congressmen-want-ncaa-restore-penn-state-nittany-lions-scholarships

He is absolutely in the right on this. NCAA has nothing to do with this and their punishments should not be tolerated by the state of PA or Penn State U.

Well actually he's wrong. If you read the very end of the article you can see how Penn State, following the USC & Ohio State leads skirted around the rules this recruiting season by urging kids to enroll early so they don't count under NCAA-speak as 2013 scholarships.

This article says that the NCAA is taking away scholarships from PSU student-athletes. Name one. Go ahead, name one. Not one kid is getting a scholarship taken away from him, PSU just has fewer to offer now.

All this is plainly is two congressmen up for re-election paying lip service to some of their constituents, nothing more.

If people haven't learned by now there was a HUGE problem at Penn State. There was an article the previous day - here's the link:


http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8882245/penn-state-nitanny-lion-lions-negotiator-says-jerry-sandusky-settlements-close

The amount of $$ that PSU pays there will dwarf the $60M it has to pay the NCAA.

Remember the victims - they're not "student athletes having their scholarships taken away".

Move on, the sanctions happened, deal with it.

[cmaxwellgsu]

New ESPN article on this topic: http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8890947/congressmen-want-ncaa-restore-penn-state-nittany-lions-scholarships


He is absolutely in the right on this. NCAA has nothing to do with this and their punishments should not be tolerated by the state of PA or Penn State U.


You might would have a point if the school hadn't agreed to it, and partially designed it. They could have rolled the dice, and allowed the NCAA to rule. If they didn't agree, they could have appealed or sued. Plea bargains and settlements aren't really up for negotiation after they have been signed.