Penn State is getting back 112 wins that were vacated two years ago in the Jerry Sandusky scandal and the late Joe Paterno again becomes the winningest coach in major college football history in a settlement reached with the NCAA.
The NCAA, Penn State and Pennsylvania lawmakers announced the settlement Friday — weeks before a scheduled trial in state court on the legality of the 2012 consent decree.
Paterno, who died in January 2012, is once again the all-time leader in FBS coaching victories. He moves back to the top with 409 victories, ahead of Bobby Bowden’s 346.
As part of the proposed settlement:
–Penn State agrees to commit $60 million to activities and programs for the prevention of child sexual abuse and the treatment of victims of child sexual abuse.
–Penn State acknowledges the NCAA’s legitimate and good faith interest and concern regarding its handling of the Sandusky matter.
–Penn State and the NCAA will enter into a new Athletics Integrity Agreement (with the concurrence of the Big Ten Conference) that includes best practices with which the university is committed to comply and that provides for the university to continue to retain the services of former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell and his firm to support the university’s activities under the Athletics Integrity Agreement and in the areas of compliance, ethics and integrity.
“We acted in good faith in addressing the failures and subsequent improvements on Penn State’s campus,” said Kirk Schulz, chairman of the NCAA board of governors. “We must acknowledge the continued progress of the university while also maintaining our commitment to supporting the survivors of child sexual abuse.”
Pennsylvania state Sen. Jake Corman, who had sued the NCAA, said, “The NCAA has surrendered. … This is a full repeal of the consent decree.’
The scandal at Penn State hit in November 2011 when Sandusky, a retired assistant coach for the Nittany Lions, was accused of sexually abusing boys, some of them on campus.
Sandusky, who maintains his innocence, was convicted in 2012 of 45 counts and sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison.
Paterno was fired in November 2011 after six decades with the school and died just two months later of complications from lung cancer. He was 85.
In July 2012, the NCAA Division I board of directors and executive committee issued unprecedented sanctions for Penn State’s role in enabling child sexual abuse by Sandusky to occur on campus. In addition to the $60 million fine and vacation of wins from 1998 to 2011, penalties included a four-year postseason ban, scholarship reductions, five-year probation and a waiver of transfer rules.
The NCAA executive committee restored postseason access and the full complement of scholarships in 2014, based on the recommendation from Mitchell in response to the university’s progress.
“I am pleased to learn that financial resources to help child sexual abuse survivors will soon become available,” Mitchell said. “I remain impressed with Penn State’s progress to date and look forward to its many reforms and improvements continuing to take root.”
Paterno’s family, which had filed its own lawsuit against the NCAA, called the settlement Friday “a great victory for everyone who has fought for the truth in the Sandusky tragedy.” However, a spokesman said the family will continue its suit against the NCAA.