NCAA May Restore Wins to JoePa's Record

By Alison Smith:

The NCAA is reportedly considering restoring the 111 wins stripped from Joe Paterno’s record in light of Jerry Sandusky’s crimes.

The NCAA, Penn State and Pennsylvania officials are in talks that would change the terms of the sanctions and fines imposed on the university following Sandusky’s crimes, The Philadelphia Inquirer said.

Sandusky, a former assistant football coach at Penn State, was convicted in June 2012 of 45 out of 48 counts of child sexual abuse, and is serving 30 to 60 years in state prison.

Record sanctions were imposed against the university, including a $60 million fine to be used for anti-child abuse measures; the vacation of all wins after 1998; and a loss of postseason eligibility and scholarships.

The NCAA already had backtracked on some of the sanctions, citing the “significant progress” that Penn State has made.

The NCAA restored Penn State’s bowl eligibility in September; Penn State went on to face Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl in December, winning 31-30. Scholarships will be back for the 2015-16 season.

The settlement discussions are related to a lawsuit filed against the NCAA and Penn State by two state lawmakers, FOX 29 said. Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman and state Treasurer Rob McCord question the legality of the sanctions, FOX said; a trial is scheduled for next month.

In addition to the restoration of Paterno’s wins, the Inquirer said settlement talks include keeping the $60 million fine in Pennsylvania.

With the restoration of the 111 wins, Paterno would again be the most-winning football coach in NCAA Division I history, with a record of 409-136-3.

Paterno was fired from the university on Nov. 9, 2011. He died Jan. 22, 2012.