The Hammer Falls, Part One: The Statue Comes Down, but the NCAA Probably Won't

I think we are going to get the cardinal example of the permeation of the cult of football -- Our Holy Obsession With Football -- tomorrow morning at 9 AM EDT in Indianapolis, IN.

One day after Penn State, under threat of violence (and let's be clear, minus that threat of violence, the statue does not come down!), took down Joe Paterno's statue, the NCAA and President Mark Emmert will, in an unprecedented action, levy penalties against the Penn State program.

Unfortunately, and in a move which I believe will prompt discussions of a breakaway from the organization (the end of the "consent of the governed", if you will...), it appears that reports indicate that Penn State will, in fact, escape the Death Penalty.

One Tweeter has actually proposed that Penn State will accept all penalties, and this ended up a plea deal on the part of the two sides.


"Penn State will NOT appeal the NCAA's decision, I've been told. Speed of decision and lack of contention points to a deal betw NCAA and PSU."

I have but two comments for that:

1) If this is true, FUCK THE NCAA.

2) If this is true, then Penn State Football is officially Too Big To Fail and the NCAA needs to announce the immediate removal of the Death Penalty by-laws from it's rules.  If the NCAA cannot, in the light of the Sandusky convictions and the Freeh Report, kill this football program (if not expel the entire university from the sanctioning body!), then it has no right to impose that penalty on any other program, at any level, for any offense.

Period.

This is the most heinous crime a sports franchise has ever committed in the history of the United States of America.  This dwarfs Bounty-Gate.

To allow this University, especially with the conduct of the community over several incidents regarding the exposition of what Joe Paterno and Jerry Sandusky were allowed to do there, to continue to field a football team is the most irresponsible and stupid decision they could make, and I hope that certain parties (other student bodies, etc.) take actions to make this a very uncomfortable situation).

Yes, even vigilante justice if we have to go there.

 Let's face it: Without out-of-state threats against the statue, Penn State does not act to remove it.  The Cult of Joe and Jerry literally took a page right out of the Catholic Church.

And it looks like the NCAA will allow The Show To Go On.

It may be up to the sponsors, the other schools, and outside entities to stop this baloney.