The state of Pennsylvania has won a legal battle with the NCAA, ensuring the $60 million in fine money to be paid by Penn State will remain instead. The NCAA had been fighting to spread the fine money around the nation toward child abuse awareness efforts, but the organization has filed to withdraw its fight and will allow the money to stay within Pennsylvania.
According to The Patriot News, the NCAA has agreed to comply with a new law in Pennsylvania that is designed to keep the money in the state. State Senator Jake Corman was the prime sponsor for the Higher Education Monetary Penalty Endowment Act in Pennsylvania, which maintained all fine money paid by Penn State (or any school) as required by the NCAA should be used for in-state programs and awareness efforts. The court still needs to approve the paperwork filed by the NCAA, but that should be nothing more than a simple procedural step at this point.
The NCAA’s decision to withdraw the fight over fine money is just one step toward hoping to fend off the possibility of a trial that would take aim at the entire terms of the sanctions levied against Penn State two years ago. In response to the findings revealed in the Louis Freeh report on Penn State’s handling of the Jerry Sandusky crimes, the NCAA issued a four-year postseason ban, reduced scholarship totals and vacated a chunk of victories from the Penn State football program. The NCAA also issued a $60 million fine to be paid over the course of five years. To date, Penn State has complied with the payment schedule with two payments already made.
The NCAA has already returned a number of scholarships to the football program, allowing the Nittany Lions to get back to a full scholarship limit much sooner than initially planned. With the latest review from George Mitchell expected to be released soon, the possibility of a potential restoration of scholarships or reduction in postseason ban length are still thought to be realistic possibilities with a positive update and review.
