Penn State was fined an unprecedented $60 million, given a bowl ban and scholarship reductions and saw victories from 14 seasons wiped from the records books in a stunning series of penalties announced by the NCAA on Monday.

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Fortunately, and I'm one of the biggest college football fans out there, it is just a game. It'll pass people by. The local economy will suffer no more than when the team had a few losing seasons earlier a decade ago. In fact, I expect the Penn State community to be stronger now than ever. Suffering hurts, but it also creates. There is an art of solidarity.

Paterno's family are convinced the truth will have it's day. Ultimately, if they are right, many people will have to eat crow. However unlikely, they reserve the right to pursue truth and justice. One can only imagine the pain they are enduring suffering not only the death of a father, uncle, husband and friend, but also to be so publicly reminded of his deeds, for better and for worse. My prayers are with them.

Ultimately, it is probable that with one man passed away, two facing legal charges with the third person possibly to follow, it is unlikely the full story will ever really be told.

As always, my thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, several of whom are my peers. No punishment will give them back the lives they might have had; I am incredibly proud of their courageous acts to stand against the person who assaulted them.

They are the definition of bravery.

PS The last win of Joe Paterno, now in November of 1997, a young redhead local-hero was the starting quarterback. His name is Mike McQueary

The tragedy of child sexual abuse that occurred at our University altered the lives of innocent children. Today, as every day, our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the victims of Mr. Sandusky and all other victims of child abuse.

Against this backdrop, Penn State accepts the penalties and corrective actions announced today by the NCAA. With today’s announcement and the action it requires of us, the University takes a significant step forward.

The NCAA ruling holds the University accountable for the failure of those in power to protect children and insists that all areas of the University community are held to the same high standards of honesty and integrity.

The NCAA also mandates that Penn State become a national leader to help victims of child sexual assault and to promote awareness across our nation. Specifically, the University will pay $12 million a year for the next five years into a special endowment created to fund programs for the detection, prevention and treatment of child abuse. This total of $60 million can never reduce the pain suffered by victims, but will help provide them hope and healing.

http://live.psu.edu/story/60475