The NCAA May Give Joe Paterno His Wins Back

Will JoePa become the NCAA's winningest coach once again?

Image via USA TODAY Sports / Rich Barnes

In 2012, the NCAA handed down a number of penalties to the Penn State football program following its alleged mishandling of the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal. Overseen by former head coach Joe Paterno, the school allegedly thumbed its nose at testimony of Sandusky's abuses, specifically a direct report from former assistant Mike McQueary to Paterno, detailing an abuse that he had witnessed in the Penn State locker rooms in February of 2001 (the charge against Sandusky concerning McQueary's allegation was later thrown out in court; Sandusky, however, was convicted of 45 other counts concerning sexual abuse). 

A couple years after their decision on the matter, the scandal appears to be water under the bridge for the NCAA. 

After lifting Penn State's four-year bowl ban in September, the NCAA is now reportedly working with the university and Pennsylvania state officials to "reconsider the historic punishment," according to Philly.com


The NCAA, state officials, and Pennsylvania State University are in talks to reconsider the historic punishment imposed on the school stemming from the Jerry Sandusky sex-abuse scandal, a step that could include restoring 111 victories stripped from the late football coach Joe Paterno's record, according to people familiar with the discussions.


Also under consideration is a proposal to have the state and the university use the $60 million fine levied by the NCAA, the major organizing body for college sports, for child protection, said the sources. The sources asked not to be named because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.

The move to reinstate Paterno's wins would restore him as the NCAA's winningest coach of all time. It could also be looked at as nothing other than a disgrace for the NCAA. 

Why? Well, given all the "death penalty" talk swirling around Penn State when the scandal broke, a near-complete revocation of the NCAA's punishments would serve as greater proof than ever of the organization's complete and utter disregard for consistency in its so-called moral code.

But, hey, how about that National Championship Game last night, huh, guys? Ain't college football just the greatest?

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