NCAA Lifts Penn State’s Bowl Ban, Scholarship Reduction
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Justin K. Allen/Getty Images(STATE COLLEGE, Pa.) — The NCAA has announced that Penn State University will be eligible for postseason play this season, and all of their scholarships will be returned next season.
This is the second time sanctions have been reduced towards the university in regard to the Jerry Sandusky scandal.
“Penn State has made remarkable progress over the past year,” said South Carolina president Harris Pastides, a member of the NCAA’s board of directors. “The board members and I believe the executive committee’s decision is the right one. It allows both the university and the association to continue to move toward a common goal of ensuring that educating, nurturing and protecting young people is a top priority.”
Prior to the announcement, Penn State would have had 80 scholarships in 2015, and a full 85 in 2016. They also would not have been able to be eligible for postseason play until 2016.
“This is deserved because those penalties were never deserved,” said Jay Paterno, former Penn State assistant and son of the late Joe Paterno. “I am happy for the university and the team. This is a great thing for the university and the football program but there is still a lot to be done and a lot to be corrected. I think the NCAA saying this relief is because of the Mitchell report process is a cover for the fact that there was a faulty Freeh report.”
In July 2012, Sandusky was convicted on 45 counts of sexual abuse of 10 boys. He is serving a 30- to 60-year prison sentence.
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