Today's Topic: Nittany Lions should be off-limits

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Thanks to his penchant for keeping the offensive pedal to the metal, even in games clearly headed for Wisconsin's "W" column,  Badgers coach Bret Bielema hasn't been easy to like for many non-Cheeseheads.

But Bielema deserves some respect today for saying he has no plans to recruit Penn State players, whom the NCAA said can transfer and play immediately in the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

Northwestern's Pat Fizgerald and Indiana's Kevin Wilson -- two coaches who undoubtedly could benefit from catching a Nittany Lion or two -- agreed with Bielema and said they will not try and raid Un-Happy Valley.

But this position should not be limited to those in the Big Ten. All coaches should stay at home and refuse to blitz Penn State.

If the cleat were on the other foot, they certainly wouldn't like new Nittany Lions coach Bill O'Brien coming after their players.

A Penn State player who initiates contact with another school obviously wants to explore his options. Fine. Coaches should answer such a call.

But opposing coaches treating the Nittany Lions like free agents just isn't right.

Of course, it has been a long time since doing the right thing was of the utmost importance in college football. Even that usually takes a back seat to winning.

Today's Topics: NCAA, Penn State penalties

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Oregon State president and chair of the NCAA Executive Committee Ed Ray: "The message is the presidents and chancellors are in charge.


"The cautionary tale here is, every major college and university needs to do a gut check on athletics' role in the school's culture."


Encouraging words. 


Reality and money say otherwise.


During the Monday morning press conference to announce sanctions against Penn State in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal, NCAA President Mark Emmert and Ed Ray spoke using words that were very admirable.


Ray's suggestive "gut check" probably will resonate with some people -- the people already trying to do the right thing. 


Officials and coaches who went to bed last night with a bend-the-rules approach will continue to do so. When such people feel a threat from outside forces, they still will employ a bunker mentality.


That's because the NCAA has not initiated investigations in the past. The organization's involvement usually follows media reports or other information that arises as a red flag.


The NCAA will need to police athletic programs and universities actively to fulfill Emmert's statement that, "football will never again be placed ahead of educating, nurturing and protecting young people." 


That, or Emmert should hit the circuit with a stand-up routine.


Penn State penalties


The high levels:

• A four-year ban from bowl games
• Football scholarships reduced to 15 annually for four years
• A $60 million fine to be paid by the university
• Football team stripped of all of victories between 1998-2011

The stance here had been a "death penalty" decision for Penn State to create a true break from the past. But such a decision would have harmed harshly many innocent people within the school and community who had nothing to do with the scandal.

The initial take on the sanctions are this: They do the former, but limit the latter.

The football program essentially will be forced to start over. It will be years before the Nittany Lions recover on the field from what has transpired.

Still, football will be played for fans who want to attend games and a local community that depends on those events.

Even for those not affiliated with Penn State, the crimes, the coverup and the results remain hard to comprehend. 

It's all so surreal -- except for the victims.


D4H4HEB6UYGV 

Today's Topics: Tiger, British Open, Penn State penalties

While watching this weekend's British Open, I became convinced Tiger Woods has what it takes to add one or two more Major titles to his current 14.


I'm also sure of something else -- Woods will not surpass Jack Nicklaus as the all-time Major winner (18 championships).


As he continues to try and rediscover the Tiger of old, Woods faces an opponent he never will be able to stare down: Father Time.


Putting together four rounds of precision driving and radar-like putting becomes more and more difficult with every tournament, every month and every year.


Throw in the increasing number of talented PGA Tour and international young guns, the Golden Bear's Major mark seems more golden than ever.


Scott misses out on Big Easy victory


I love, when after a player suffers a crushing defeat, broadcasters or fellow athletes tell that player something such as: "Keep your head up. With your talent, you'll win many of these."


A nice sentiment. I'm sure 23-year-old Dan Marino heard such things after Super Bowl XIX.


Marino, you might recall, never played in the big game again.


Adam Scott has the talent to win Major golf tournaments. Also, players often benefit from the experience of contending in a Major.


Shooting a 75 on the final day of the British Open is no embarrassment. Doing so with four closing bogeys that turned a four-stroke lead into a second-place finish behind the Big Easy, Ernie Els, simply might mean the law of averages on a tough course caught up to him.


But Scott is crushed right now, and he should be. Opportunities such as the one he blew Sunday don't come along often, even for an extremely talented golfer.


D-Day for Penn State: Monday, 9 a.m. ET


When it comes to imposing any penalty or sentence, any judge or decision maker usually has two main objectives:


1. Retribution


2. Deterrence


NCAA President Marl Emmert will announce 9 a.m. ET Monday he is personally sanctioning Penn State in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.


The officials most responsible for the Sandusky child abuse cover-up no longer are working for the school. With that being the case, hopefully the many good people dependent upon the university and football program will not have to pay too dearly.


But as mentioned in yesterday's blog, the NCAA needs to come down hard on Penn State -- and other violators of rules -- to send a serious message to all members.


If reports of a "multiple-year" bowl ban and "staggering" scholarship loss are true, the local Un-Happy Valley economy still we will be able to make money on football Saturdays.


And hopefully, all people under NCAA jurisdiction will be put on notice.

Today's Topics: Tiger, 'Canes, Penn State

One of the world's best golfers having an exceptional Major tournament, only to be outdone by a player performing at a higher level.


The current British Open scenario isn't foreign to Tiger Woods -- although in the past, he often was the one running away and intimidating the field. 


Now Woods gets to experience what many of his peers felt when Tiger was chewing up and spitting out opponents and Major courses.


Woods has played the first three rounds at the 2012 British Open in 6-under par -- a score that puts him in fourth place heading into Sunday's final round.


Adam Scott, ranked No. 13 in the world rankings, sits atop the leaderboard at 11-under. (Click here for official Open Championship site.)


Is Scott's lead insurmountable? Absolutely not, especially with a blustery forecast for Sunday. Any player can have a bad round -- and a total collapse in a Major's final round would not be unheard of. 


Players such as Woods (world No. 4), Graeme McDowell (7-under, world No. 12) and Brandt Snedeker (7-under, world No. 29) certainly have the talent and moxie to make a run.


Naturally, a good night's sleep tonight would help. I just wonder how Tiger sleeps on fourth place?


NCAA Death penalty and Miami, Penn State


What's worse, repeated offenses by an institution or a horrific controversy and cover-up by a university's leaders?


Certainly recruiting violations, illegal payouts, etc., pale in comparison to sexual abuse of children and an ensuing cover-up.


But in the NCAA's world, serious violations of all kinds need to be dealt with.


Yahoo Sports reported new allegations that Miami's coaching staff used a booster's associate in possible recruiting violations.


And we all know about Penn State and last week's Freeh Report.


The best way for the NCAA to enforce rules and send a message to potential violators would be to hand down the Death Penalty --  a year without competing -- and allow all scholarship players to transfer and be immediately eligible.


Individual coaches and administrators who committed wrongdoings also should be held responsible with a probationary period that would prevent them from working at any school in an equal or higher position.


If such penalties result in schools threatening to break away from the NCAA, so be it. That would be the best way to end the hypocrisy and treat D-I football and basketball as the professional sports they are.


Unfortunately, money talks -- and with the NCAA, all it needs to do is whisper.

Today's Topics: Paterno statue, Titans' Britt

According to news reports, the decision to remove or move the Joe Paterno statue from outside Beaver Stadium will be made by Penn State University President Rodney Erickson.


The easy stance to take is demanding the statue be removed entirely.


The sad stance is to say it should remain.


But what really should happen to the statue is it should be replaced.


No unbiased person would want to arrive at Un-Happy Valley this fall and see a depiction of Paterno with his index finger pointing upward and four Nittany Lions right behind him.


The notion of being "No. 1" is the last thing associated with Penn State these days.


But Paterno's accomplishments at Penn State, good and bad, should not be put in a room or pushed aside. 


Whether or not the statue has a prominent home, Paterno's career and actions will be a constant presence at the school for an undetermined amount of time. And we're talking decades, not months or years.


The statue should be replaced by a more subtle one, perhaps a bust, with a summary of the coach's record, accomplishments and details of the horrific ending.


Just as if Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire or Roger Clemens ever get inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame,  their plaques in Cooperstown should explain the complete story.


Latest NFL DUI: TItans WR Britt


Today's NFL Player in Trouble Spotlight focuses on ... Tennessee WR Kenny Britt, who reportedly was arrested for DUI.


Britt and Titans CB Tommie Campbell apparently were with a female soldier and were stopped at a gate heading back to Fort Campbell (Ky.), according to a report from 104.5 The Zone radio in Nashville.


At this rate, Roger Goodell is going to have to hire someone to deal with players who break rules or laws. Otherwise, the NFL commissioner will have little time to do anything else. 

Today's topics: Kidd, Paterno

Jason Kidd arrested for DWI


Knicks guard Jason Kidd ended what reportedly was a wild evening by smashing his Escalade into a telephone pole early Sunday morning.


Since the pole had position, Kidd earned a charge: DWI.


Perhaps teams that sign players to lucrative contracts should request the player hand over his driver's license until the contract expires. (Not that that would stop all of them from driving, but it couldn't hurt.)


DUI/DWI obviously is not restricted to the rich and famous. But unlike the average person, paying a personal driver or getting a limo for the night is like you or me paying to ride the bus or subway.


Many athletes/celebrities constantly told how special they are start to believe it. Some even think they're invincible to the outside world.


Ask Jim Leyritz or Donte Stallworth if they were invincible.


Joe Paterno's family order own review of Freeh report


Note to the Paterno family: Let it go.


Anything associated with the family will be looked upon, at best, with skepticism. At worst, as a desperate attempt to restore JoePa's image.


Unfortunately for them, there's nothing to erase the coach's role in the Sandusky story.


Joe Paterno, like all of us, should not be defined by one moment/incident in his life. He was a great coach who did many great things throughout his life.


But good deeds don't earn us Mulligans -- especially in a storyline that ruined the lives of victims, scarred a great university and further proved that few things in life are what they seem to be.