Buckeye Blogger Network
Pointed to the coming storm?
The quiet of this week around Buckeye Nation provides a moment of peace prior to August’s chaos of fall camp and Olympic dreams. It’s completely different than July of 2011… and I don’t hear many complaining.
What I do hear, though, are the thunder and raging winds still swirling from last week’s Freeh Report. Both the national news coverage and the responses from Lion Faithful and PSU alums are clamoring- and, like what passes for dialogue these days, neither side are really listening to the other. Civility seems to be yet another casualty of this situation- although, it can be argued that this merely highlights the fact that it’s been dead for a long while.
So, this week’s SBP will take a look at some of the interesting articles and reflections on this almost indescribable set of circumstances. The view we’ll be taking will be a bit farther out- looking not at the particulars but at the “culture” that’s seems to have been on everyone’s mind lately… although, I’m not sure we’re looking deep enough.
If you’re tired of this story, I hope you’ll at least stick around for the commentary after the jump- there’s a lot to learn and think about from this, even if you’re not Nittany.
Responses to the Freeh Report
Everything about the crimes and the cover up is horrific, so please keep that in mind while you are celebrating Penn State’s coming reckoning. When you pop the champagne tonight in jubilation, try to remember that children were raped and grown men in charge of leading young men allowed it to happen. Then try to think of any reason why a human being should ever be happy that this could happen to a child, let alone children.
…
Don’t let football blind you, because that’s what Penn State did. They willingly let themselves lose sight of of what actually happened to these children, and then somehow found a way to ignore it. Hate Penn State for what happened here all you want, but don’t forget why you feel the way you do. And it should have nothing to do with football.
The Greggster must have gotten what he was looking for, because his next comments on the matter were… get this.. a complete change in tone that went against what others were saying. Read More
This morning, the report from the independent investigation into the culture at Penn State University was released by the committee led by former FBI director Louis Freeh
The investigation, commissioned by the PSU Board of Trusteees sought to examine the circumstances which led to the instances of child abuse that former coach Jerry Sandusky has been found responsible for. Those instances, as you may remember, happened during his tenure as PSU assistant coach and also in some of the PSU facilities following his resignation.
Among the concerns following the initial investigation into Sandusky’s actions were how much of these situations were known to PSU staff, and how reports of child abuse were handled by football administration and others at the university. Over the past few weeks, it has become apparent that the report and investigation by Freeh’s group would focus also on on the campus climate and culture surrounding the University’s football program; for instance, recent articles have indicated that there may have been a disconnect between the University’s protocols for student accountability and how violations by members of the football program were handled.
Many were concerned that today’s report would either “blow the lid off” the legacy of former head coach Joe Paterno, or would unfairly tarnish the work that he accomplished over his tenure. There are also concerns that the NCAA may examine the findings of the Freeh report for possible lack of institutional control. This would be in addition to the Pennsylvania State Attorney General’s Office, the Department of Education, and the FBI being invested in the findings of this investigation, particularly for former president Spanier, former VP Schultz and former AD Curley
In addition to looking at the foundations for any problems that may exist, the comissioned report makes some recommendations for how the athletic department and the University might move forward from the tragic past few months.
The full report can be read at TheFreehReportOnPSU.com and is available in it’s entirety here as well. Judge Freeh will be hosting a press conference later this morning to answer concerns and questions about both the group’s process, findings, and recommendations.
We’ll be bringing you further commentary and reflection on the Freeh report as the week progresses, but here are some initial observations.
Four of the most powerful people at The Pennsylvania State University… failed to protect against a child sexual predator harming children for over a decade. These men concealed Sandusky’s activities from the Board of Trustees, the University community and authorities. Read More
South Carolina AD Eric Hyman may be winning the NCAA Violations sweepstakes.
It’s the sports dead season again and, as is rapidly becoming a tradition around these parts, we find ourselves updating the table of violations for a school on our Compare and Contrast board. This edition’s winners are the South Carolina Gamecocks and the rather surprising conclusion to a two year investigation into improper benefits for the football team.
On April 27th, the NCAA Committee on Infractions released the dreaded Public Infractions Report (PIR). As you may know from our previous work, the Public Infractions Report is the document outlining the final decisions of the Committee and the ultimate penalties resulting from their violations. The document is particularly helpful in giving a window into the inner workings of the investigation. Sometimes that can be more interesting even than the penalties leveled at the institution.
Obviously, we’re still waiting on several other NCAA documents. That wait could stretch on for as long as a couple years, particularly for Miami and Oregon. We’ll include those documents when we can.
Until then, you can find our previous update here. That includes the full information available on all of the other investigations.
Happy Leap Day!! Today’s the day our female readers can finally propose to that guy they’ve been chasin’ around.
Buckeye Bullet, Ready for Leap Day
Buckeye 411… Sort of
B1G News
Time for the hump day look around the world of college sports, with a soundtrack from a reunited legend. We look at playoffs, SEC controversy, NCAA hypocrisy, and other items this week.
There's Your Problem
Buckeye 411
Playoffs?
News came down today that the end is finally in sight on the issues that have plagued Ohio State since about a year ago. Unfortunately, that news came with a bit of a sour note.
The NCAA has sent the Buckeyes an addendum to their previous Notice of Allegations – an addendum that includes a Failure to Monitor charge, the second worst charge the NCAA can mete out to a program. The University has already responded to the allegations, which you can read in this document.
From the release:
The Ohio State University today announced that the institution and the NCAA enforcement staff have completed their joint investigation into the remaining matters not part of the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions hearing Aug. 12. As a result, the university has received a supplemental Notice of Allegations from the NCAA and has submitted its response. The filing of this response completes the university’s submissions to the committee. The university is hopeful that the Committee on Infractions will review these materials and render its final decision in the near future.
The recent notice from the NCAA had two allegations. The first was related to the “extra benefits” violations discovered through a joint investigation with the NCAA and publicly announced by the university Sept. 1 and Oct. 3 involving Robert DiGeronimo, who at the time was a representative of the institution’s athletics interests (also known as a “booster”). In February 2011, he arranged for cash payments of $200 each to four current or former student-athletes at an annual charity event for a nonprofit organization of which DiGeronimo was a board member. Additionally, the student-athletes attended the event without written approval from the athletics director or his designee. Further, DiGeronimo arranged for five student-athletes to be overcompensated by a total of $1,605 while they were employed by businesses owned and operated by the DiGeronimo family.
The second allegation asserts that the institution took insufficient action to monitor DiGeronimo, resulting in a “failure to monitor” allegation, primarily due to DiGeronimo’s overpayment to student-athlete employees and cash payments at the Cornerstone of Hope charitable event. This allegation only concerns a booster and does not relate to any of the issues discussed at the Aug. 12 Committee on Infractions hearing.
The University believes that this wraps up all the violations and ends the investigation, and that it is now time for the NCAA to make their ultimate penalty decision.
To that end, the NCAA has reportedly pushed back the date for their release of a public infractions report, which would be the final end to the investigation.
Ohio State has also self-imposed a 5 scholarship reduction over the next three seasons: two in 2012, two in 2013, and one in 2014.
We will update as more information becomes available.
Another week, another chance to connect with a great writer from inside the intertrons, and to talk about football as well as some “off the field” stuff. We’re thankful that Chris from allCanesBlog.com agreed to chat with us, and that he hasn’t added us to the “do not call” list as of yet. Be sure to check out our responses to his inquisition over at allCanesBlog today.
Wardrobe Malfunction
As a lifelong Miami enthusiast, it’s been a long three-plus decades of media bias and hatred, as well as outside commentary from jaded opposing fans. On one hand, you accept that it comes with the turf as a despised, non-traditional program and “microwave dynasty”, based on what UM accomplished between 1983 and 1992. Private school. Big city. Pro sports town. Still, the bias gets old. Especially from uninformed, big-mouthed folks who don’t understand the South Florida culture or don’t realize that UM is a small school with under 10K undergrads. The majority of fans aren’t alum, which means less true diehards who bleed for the program.
Third String Left Tackle Erik Kramer
Eric, Jim and Joe are back with another preseason look at the 2011 Ohio State Buckeyes! Jim has attended all of the open practices so far this year and has a lot to say about the make-up of the depth chart to date. In particular we discuss the offensive line – primarily it’s youth and in experience behind the starters – along with the shrinking of the QB competition. Current injuries are also touched on briefly, along with the names who we will likely be seeing out wide to start the season.
The three of us also spend some time discussing recent College Football news, including the recent Yahoo! Sports revelation of the Miami University (FL) scandal, and the recent spat of conference expansion news.
All this and more on this week’s BBC Radio Hour!
The Radio Hour is also available via iTunes subscription! Go to iTunes and search for “The Buckeye Battle Cry Radio Hour” at the iTunes store! Subscription is free, and you can take us with you wherever you go on your iPod, iPhone, iPad, or iWhatever!
