If you thought the information the NCAA did share in emails regarding the Penn State sanctions was alarming, just wait. There could be more on the way.
Yesterday a Pennsylvania state court granted a request by State Senator Jake Corman to have the NCAA turn over additional emails the NCAA was attempting to withhold. The court’s decision was based on the initial emails entered as evidence for the legal battle between the NCAA and the state. The court decided a more thorough review of the emails was “necessary and appropriate,” as reported by Pen State student newspaper The Daily Collegian.
In all, the NCAA will have to turn over 477 additional emails for review by a judge. In addition, a list of every individual involved in any email exchanges will have to be included, which could open the door for potential witnesses. The documents will be sealed and may only be opened by the court.
The lawsuit is targeting the legality of the consent decree the NCAA had Penn State sign in the summer of 2012. The consent decree outlined the terms of sanctions levied against Penn State in 2012, including a four-year postseason ban, a significant reduction in scholarships, the vacating of 112 wins and a $60 million fine. The NCAA has since returned scholarships and lifted the final two years of the postseason ban. Earlier this week a court ordered the lawsuit to move forward. Emails released earlier this week suggested NCAA officials gambled with the sanction terms because Penn State would be so embarrassed by the situation linked to former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky and his sick crimes of child abuse. The NCAA released a statement arguing the emails released show nothing more than communication regarding how to handle the situation, but Penn State officials say the information in the emails was disturbing.
On a somewhat related note, outgoing Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett said former head coach Joe Paterno probably should have been suspended, rather than fired. Corbett spoke a different tune initially, suggesting Paterno should be removed as head coach.