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That's not the case at all. The fans aren't happy with what happened at all and the overwhelming majority care about the boys far more than the football program. But they, like me, have the mindset that you punish those responsible, not punish so many more for the actions of a few. I felt the punishment was a tad harsh, but it is what it is. The sad part is that no matter what the punishment is, it isn't going to change what happened to all those boys over the years. They have emotional scars that no amount of money, vacated wins, statues torn down or scholarships taken away will ever heal.
This was a bad deal all around and the cover up by Paterno and certain members of the administration is despicable. The fans, the community around Penn State and current players who had nothing to do with any of this are having to deal with the NCAA's iron fist ruling. The saying goes something like "You don't throw out the baby with the bath water", well the NCAA might have just done that to a lesser degree than a death penalty. Don't knock the fans for supporting their school.
Don't knock the fans for supporting their school? Don't knock the fans for supporting their school?? No. No, no, no, no, no. Explain to me why there was such a resistance to taking down the Paterno statue. Explain to me why there is a bigger outcry against the NCAA sanctions than the rape after rape after rape. The insane level of self-pity and self-righteousness of the Penn State fans has caused me to have absolutely zero sympathy for them. None. Anybody who thinks that the sanctions are anywhere near as bad as the sexual abuses and the cover-up is showing incredibly bad judgment.
As a Pacer fan, I've supported my team ever since the brawl. I don't hold anyone responsible for the brawl except for those who took part in it. You don't go after the organization for the actions of a few employees. But what we have here is the NCAA making an example of Penn State, which is pretty ironic as corrupt an organization as the NCAA is. The one statement that I do agree with that came from the NCAA on this is that college football should never take a priority over the educational duty of the university (I'm paraphrasing here). But it does, it has and it will continue to do so. It will because college football is big business and the NCAA has let this happen. Much like the MLB is guilty of letting the steroid era go on and on because of the money and ratings that they so desperately craved, the NCAA has allowed the football program to dictate the direction that universities have taken.
Again, the "Malice in the Palace," if that's what you're referring to, is absolutely not the same thing. That was one night, one bad night. No kids were molested, and there was certainly no cover-up by anyone to pretend that nothing bad had happened.