Today's Topics: NCAA, Penn State penalties

ESPN | CBSSports.com | Yahoo Sports | Fox Sports | Bleacher Report


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.