NCAA Sanctions Could Cripple Penn State On And Off The Field
By: Aaron Cheslock
Updated: July 23, 2012
The NCAA will announce "unprecedented" penalties against Penn State Monday morning.
A press conference is scheduled for 9 am. They're expected to enforce major punishments to both the school, and the football team. Which many in the area think, could be a devastating blow, on and off the field.
Amid the controversy at Beaver Stadium, was concern over impending penalties against Penn State. Some incoming freshmen, like Jack Burns, are rethinking their decision.
"...you'd like almost transfer. Some kids think it's like that big of deal to some of the kids that go here. Like they really love it, they're really spirited... And the whole thing with this university is all about school pride, and if you were to take that away, you're killing like
the heart of this university. I was originally coming here because it's like the start of a new era, so I was excited to start that up, but then there's the question of the football season not happening. It just, it sucks."
Thomas Kupchinsky, a former teacher, says the fans aren't the only victims here.
"It doesn't matter about me, how about those 100 kids that are out there right now working out and may end up losing their scholarships. Is the NCAA or anyone else thinking about them? What did they do?"
Dan Pierson, an incoming freshman, says some of his classmates will get hurt.
"I know a lot of freshman football players that are trying to start their college career for football, and that would really hurt."
The football program brings in a lot of money to State College, and a blow to the program, could end up being a knockout to the local economy. Kupchinsky says it's more than just chump change.
"Football, and and Penn State athletics brings in 90 million dollars into the local economy."
Byrns thinks too harsh a punishment would leave the whole town staggering.
"They wouldn't just kill the football program, they'd kill this whole town, like, do you know how much revenue they'd lose? They would lose everything, this town would go under so quick."
Connor Sidebottom, who'll be attending PSU this Fall, says it could hurt other sports too.
"Penn State Football is this area, as I said, if you talk about other athletics at this university, the revenue that Penn State Football brings in, pays for every other single sport here."
And the loss of money wouldn't just hit local businesses, it could hurt the worker's wallets too.
"It means a woman at a diner that I frequent, 4 to 5 times a week, she could lose her home. she works two jobs, one of them being a waitress at the diner, the chances are she could lose her home."
There's no official word on what the sanctions will be, but they're sure to be hard hitting. Until Monday morning, it's just wait and see.
