Penn State penalties were right on target

In my mind this is the biggest sports story of the decade although it really nothing to do with sport.

For over a decade Penn State University and their football program has profited by protecting a pedophile who was exploiting young children. This is a very unique situation. These were not recruitment violations or exploiting Penn State students. The crimes were committed on outsiders and it appears with the knowledge of senior university officials that looked the other way.

This is an entirely unique and unprecedented situation for the NCAA. They clearly reacted appropriately. The punishment was not directed at students or athletes who are completely innocent but at the university administration.

So athletes will be allowed to keep their scholarships or transfer to other schools although that might be difficult to do just a month before school starts. Students will continue to go to school and get an education because that's the core business of universities, not sports. The $60 million fine which will be used to help other child abuse victims is also quite appropriate.

But where I'm a little confused is that the NCAA avoided suspending the Penn State football program though the cumulative sanctions will likely force Penn State to do just that on their own. It is easy to come down hard on Penn State because other than the cult student body and alumni, most people are in shock about what has gone on there. But will things change at other schools? Won't football programs and football coaches continue to have too much clout because they bring in big bucks? For sure. Which means more scandals will take place but hopefully we just go back to the run in the mill recruitment violations.