Does Penn State Understand?

With the problems caused by a lack of institutional control over its football program, members of the Penn State University Board of Trustees continue to argue about the sanction levied by the NCAA against the program.

The sanctions were levied after a report headed by former FBI director Louis Freeh was issued showing the university and the football program failed to release critical information on child sex abuse charges against former coach Jerry Sandusky.  Sandusky is waiting sentencing after being convicted on 45 counts of abuse.The report named four university administrators including the late Coach Joe Paterno of hidiong information to avoid bad publicity.

The NCAA issued sanctions against Penn State that include the loss of scholarships, no postseason play for years, a large fine and the loss of 112 wins.  Following the NCAA sanctions, the Big Ten Conference issued similar sanctions against the football program.

In a conference call on Sunday, members of the Board of Trustees seemed to exhibit the same kind of arrogance that the Freeh report cited as "an unprecedented failure of institutional integrity leading to a culture in which a football program was held in higher esteem" than the university's values.

The PSU board must vote to agree to the sanctions.  No vote was taken because proper notice had not been given to the members. 

During the call a former NCAA investigator, Gene Marsh, told the board that there was efforts to mitgate the sanctions were not available.  The NCAA issued the consent decree was a "take it or leave it" proposition.

According to Marsh most NCAA board members pushed for the so-called "death penalty" against the football program.  This would have shutdown football at PSU for many years leaving a empty Beaver Stadium and economic hardship for local businesses and the small Central Pennsylvania community that support the program.

Although no vote could be taken, board members including Gov. Tom Corbett (R-PA) thought the punishment was too harsh and that the price was too high for a proud past.

PSU President Rodney Erickson said he had never seen the NCAA grant "time off for good behavior."

Penn State received the correct punishment.  The arrogance of the athletic program and the cover-up of claims of child abuse by a former coach are too high a price to be paid by children in the care of the university.  More from Fox News