On a day when the sports news was dominated by the latest developments surrounding now former Ravens running back Ray Rice it was easy to miss the story in which the NCAA admitted it went way overboard in the sanctions it placed on the Penn State football program in the wake of the child sex-abuse scandal.

(L-R) Kevin Williams with daughter Alex, wife Jane and son Brandon after Alex's graduation from Penn State
(L-R) Kevin Williams with daughter Alex, wife Jane and son Brandon after Alex's graduation from Penn State (Townsquare Media NJ)
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To be honest, the governing body of college sports did not actually say that because they would never admit to a mistake. However their surprise announcement that they were immediately restoring Penn State’s eligibility for postseason play and would allow the football program to have their full complement of scholarships in 2015 was nothing more (or less) than an admission that their original penalties were way to extreme.

Of course many of you know that I am the father of two Penn State graduates, a life-long fan and unabashed supporter of the school and its athletic program.
You could easily say that I’m biased and you would be correct. However any rational person who did some homework would deduct that from day one the treatment of the university was based on media frenzy, public opinion and a desire that someone had to pay for what Jerry Sandusky did over a long period in State College, Pennsylvania.

By the way among those guilty of a rush to judgment was the school’s own administration and Board of Trustees who mishandled the situation and to this day still refuses to acknowledge that they were a part of the problem and not the solution. Of course many of those so-called leaders who were active in July of 2012 when the NCAA levied its original sanctions have since retired or been voted out.

Beaver Stadium
Beaver Stadium (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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Yesterday’s announcement was based on recommendations from former Senator George Mitchell who serves as an independent athletics integrity monitor and said Penn State continues to make great efforts in its compliance efforts. However many observers (including yours truly) believe the NCAA announcement Monday was made to avoid legal ramifications as the tide continues to turn against them. As more and more look into the original sanctions which had nothing to do with the football program it becomes obvious the NCAA overstepped its boundaries and stuck its nose where it did not belong.

Penn State still has to pay a $60 million fine but in a separate matter the NCAA will allow that money to remain in Pennsylvania. There is also the matter of the 111 wins taken away from the late Joe Paterno which is a very sore subject among many. While that fight remains yesterday was still a knockout win for PSU.

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