When Bill O’Brien left his job as offensive coordinator to take over as head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions, he probably understood that tough times were ahead.
After all, by the time O’Brien took the job, the Jerry Sandusky sex scandal had already thrown Penn State into turmoil, resulting not only in the firing of longtime coach Joe Paterno but also launching an NCAA investigation that ultimately would result in some of the most crippling sanctions ever levied by college football’s ruling body.
Those sanctions finally were announced several months after O’Brien’s arrival, and in the end, they were far more damaging that anyone could have possibly imagined.
Acting with unprecedented authority, NCAA president Mark Emmert banned Penn State from postseason play for four years, fined the school $60 million, stripped the program of 20 scholarships and ordered that all wins dating to the 1998 season be removed from the record books. The prevailing wisdom at the time hinted that the sanctions were so severe that the Penn State program—one of the biggest and most successful in college football history—would be rendered insignificant, possibly for as long as a decade.
In the immediate wake of the NCAA announcement, O’Brien and his boss—Penn State athletic director David Joyner—issued statements regarding the scandal and their feelings on the punishments dealt out by the Emmert. Those statements can be read in full here.
Statement by Head Coach Bill O'Brien
Today we receive a very harsh penalty from the NCAA and as Head Coach of the Nittany Lions football program, I will do everything in my power to not only comply, but help guide the University forward to become a national leader in ethics, compliance and operational excellence. I knew when I accepted the position that there would be tough times ahead. But I am committed for the long term to Penn State and our student athletes.
I was then and I remain convinced that our student athletes are the best in the country. I could not be more proud to lead this team and these courageous and humble young men into the upcoming 2012 season. Together we are committed to building a better athletic program and university.
Statement by Acting Athletic Director David Joyner
The Freeh Report concluded that individuals at Penn State University entrusted to positions of authority shunned their basic responsibility to protect children and innocent children suffered as a result. Our hearts go out to the victims of this abuse and their families.
Today Penn State takes another step forward in changing the culture at the institution as we accept the penalties of the NCAA for the failure of leadership that occurred on our campus. We are deeply disappointed that some of our leaders could have turned a blind eye to such abuse, and agree that the culture at Penn State must change. As we move forward, today's student athletes have a challenging road ahead. But they will do the right thing, as they have always done. I am confident all of our head coaches will come together to make the change necessary to drive our university forward. Penn State will continue to fully support its established athletic programs, which provide opportunities for more than 800 student athletes.
Working together, the path ahead will not be easy. But it is necessary, just, and will bring a better future. Our faculty, staff, students, athletes and parents will work together as Penn State begins this new chapter. Through this cooperation and collaboration, Penn State will become a national model for compliance, ethics and embodiment of the student athlete credo.
