The NCAA eviscerated Penn State University Monday, handing down several sanctions against the program -- a four-year postseason ban, vacation of wins from 1998-2011, a $60 million fine, 10 scholarship losses for each of the next four years -- for its inaction against former defensive coordinator and convicted child molester Jerry Sandusky.
These penalties will shake the very foundation of one of the country's most premier programs and further tarnish the legacy of late head coach Joe Paterno. The reverberations are being felt here in Washington as Nittany Lion alumni are reacting to the news.
First, from Redskins running back Evan Royster, who attended Penn State from 2006-2010:
ah crap... so i lost every college football game i ever played in? — Evan Royster (@Evan_Royster) July 23, 2012
Yes, Evan. The Nittany Lions will forfeit 47 victories and three bowl victories (not to mention the 2008 Big Ten championship that they shared with Ohio State) from your time at the university.
Meanwhile, former Redskins and Nittany Lions linebacker LaVar Arrington, who has been outspoken about his thoughts regarding the entire ordeal, has not said anything yet. His daily show with Chad Dukes on 106.7 The Fan begins at 2 p.m.
UPDATE (2:00 p.m.): Arrington blogged about the subject for The Washington Post:
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I have to swallow the fact that as of today, I have no wins as a starter for the Penn State football team. And you know what? It doesn’t matter.
The penalties handed down by the NCAA are harsh enough to bring down an entire football program. But they are not enough to bring down Penn State. Many may feel that football defined us; we know different.
Our way at Penn State is education first, and everything else after that. It’s our task as alumni to make that message clearer than ever before.
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