Around the Big Ten

[entropy]

congrats to all of these students..

[Jeff Buchanan]

Tim Beckman from Toledo rumored to be the new head coach for the Illini. Hear that people who have voiced an opinion don't seem to be very happy about it; seems they wanted a bigger name.

[Hannibal]

We have found out at Michigan that you don't necessarily need a name. You need a good damn coach.

[Jamie H]

I've got to laugh at Illinois fans who think they rate a big name coach.

[entropy]

6 minutes ago - by Jim Rodenbush - Big Ten to investigate Penn State
The Big Ten Conference will investigate the Penn State scandal and said it will “reserve the right to impose sanctions … in the event that adverse findings are made in the areas of institutional control, ethical conduct and/or other Conference related matters,” according to a statement released Thursday.

[Jeff Buchanan]

I think the NCAA is doing the investigating not the Big Ten.

I find this curious. I'm not convinced the NCAA's jurisdiction extends into matters such as those being investigated by Prosecutors involved in the Sandusky case. Clearly there is law breaking involved with Sandusky. The NCAA should have nothing to do with this. That's the Prosecutor's role.

I have little faith in the role of the NCAA to keep student athlete's on the straight and narrow. I question whether they have any authority to weigh in on matters involving the conduct of coaches that fall outside their NCAA rules compliance duties. When the NCAA starts wading into the areas of moral and ethical conduct with student athletes, that is one thing that I would consider on the margins of their role but possibly within their authority but with coaches that is another matter entirely where if they are allowed to stake out some kind of imperative in this area, that is a slippery slope.

[Pasadena Blue]

agreed ... I don't think there is an NCAA-managed issue here.

[entropy]

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Joe Paterno fractured his pelvis again following a fall at his home but will not need surgery, a person close to the family told The Associated Press on Sunday.

The former Penn State football coach was expected to make a full recovery after slipping Saturday and was admitted to the hospital the next day, the person added.

[+] EnlargeJoe Paterno
AP Photo/Dave MartinJoe Paterno, who turns 85 on Dec. 21, fractured his pelvis again in a fall at his home but will not need surgery, a person close to the family told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.

Paterno, who turns 85 on Dec. 21, is also undergoing radiation and chemotherapy for what his family has said is a treatable form of lung cancer. Son Scott Paterno has said doctors are optimistic his father would make a full recovery from the illness.

Paterno initially hurt his pelvis after he was blindsided on the sideline during preseason practice in August. It was determined Paterno should remain in the hospital now to facilitate his regimen of cancer treatments while recovering from the pelvis injury, the AP was told.

The person declined to identify the hospital to maintain the family's privacy. An operator at the hospital in State College, Mount Nittany Medical Center, said Sunday there was no patient listing for Paterno.

Paterno was fired last month in the aftermath of child sex-abuse charges against former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, who maintains his innocence. Paterno is not a target of the investigation.

Sandusky is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday after being charged Nov. 5 with the first set of child sex-abuse allegations that spanned years. Amid mounting criticism that school leaders should have done more to prevent the alleged abuse, trustees dismissed Paterno four days later and accepted school president Graham Spanier's resignation under pressure.

Paterno hasn't spoken publicly since his firing Nov. 9. He was diagnosed with cancer several days later during a follow-up visit to the doctor for a bronchial illness, his family has said

[hack]

I hate to say it but my first thought with all these Paterno health updates was the news of Mubarak's cancer in the weeks after he stepped down.

[iam416]

Personally, I think the NCAA/B10 have zero business investigating the PSU issues. Those are criminal issues. If you head down that path, then what next?--investigating programs because they have kids arrested? That's not the NCAA's issue.

The appropriate individuals will get their criminal comeuppance. The University is going to get raked in civil court (sovereign immunity issues aside). The University is going to take a hit on contributions. Those are the appropriate venues for these issues. Not the infernal NCAA. Or the B10.

[SeattleLionsFan]

Nice work staking out this position before UFM gets too far into coaching OSU...

[Jeff Buchanan]

Nice work staking out this position before UFM gets too far into coaching OSU...

All that said, (washing mouth out with soap first), I am in complete agreement with talent on this.

The NCAA jumping into this feet first is a stupid move by Mark Emmert and just gives us more insight as to how clueless the NCAA is with regard to the utility of their roll in regulating conduct in college athletics.

[Pasadena Blue]

also agree with talent ... well-stated.

[entropy]

Joe Amendola, the attorney for Jerry Sandusky who thus far has been lawyerin' like a man who got his J.D. from the bottom of a cereal box, did some more lawyerin' in front of the cameras this morning. The choicest moment: At one point, Amendola discussed the possibility that Mike McQueary witnessed a rape, told Joe Paterno and two university administrators, and no one did anything except tell Sandusky to stay out of the locker room with kids. To anyone who believes that version of events, Amendola said, "I suggest you dial 1-800-REALITY." We did. Here's what we got:

"Hey guys, welcome to the hottest place for triple-X action. Get ready for bulging, bursting pleasure with horny gay, bi, and bi-curious studs. Just 99 cents per minute."

Seriously. Call it yourself. We'll have audio for you in a bit.

From Deadspin

[lineygoblue]

The quote from today that really infuriated me was Sandusky's attorney who said they intend to "fight to the death" to prove Sandusky's innocence.

So, the victims get to be victimized again. How nice of them.