Dent Applauds Court's NCAA Ruling

My grandson: one of the last at JoePa's statue

Yesterday, a seven-judge panel of the Commonwealth Court issued a ruling in a dispute involving the Pennsylvania Senate, Penn State and the NCAA. Speaking for the Court, Judge Anne E. Covey was critical of the $60 million fine and other sanctions imposed as a result of the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal. The Court refused to overturn a recently enacted sate law that would require the fine to be spent on child protective services in Pennsylvania.

She blasted NCAA sanctions.

"High school athletes who had no involvement in the criminal acts were prevented from obtaining a free college education. Student-athletes, trainers, coaches and support personnel who were taught and trained to be and do their best were stopped from competing and student-athletes from other colleges and universities were also precluded from competing against them by the prohibition against post-season play. Student-athletes, trainers, coaches, administrators and support personnel who had excelled in their jobs through hard work, practice, commitment, team work, sportsmanship, excellence and perseverance were told none of that mattered."

Lehigh Valley Congressman Charlie Dent, who has previously proposed legislation that would require greater transparency and accountability from the NCAA, and has urged the restoration of all PSU scholarships, is quite pleased with the decision.

“I wholeheartedly applaud the decision by the Commonwealth Court. As I have repeatedly said, the $60 million in taxpayer money should remain in the state. All of the money – not just 25% of it – should be used to protect Pennsylvania’s children.

He calls the decision "a great step to benefit Pennsylvania’s kids. What great news!"

Dent Wants NCAA to Restore ALL PSU Scholarships

The NCAA plans to "gradually" restore football scholarships to Penn State as a result of "continued progress" made since they were cut as a result of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. But if you ask Lehigh Valley Congressman Charlie Dent, all 40 scholarships should be restored now.

Though Dent is happy to see "NCAA revisit its arbitrary and capricious punishment of innocent student athletes," he wants all scholarships restored immediately to "allow more student athletes the opportunity to graduate from a top-rated university.” He has suggested the money should come from the $60 million fine the NCAA imposed on Penn State last year.

Dent, himself a PSU graduate, is joined in calling for the restoration of all scholarships by Congressman Glenn "GT" Thompson, whose Congressional District includes Penn State. Thompson condemned the NCAA's "punitive action against innocent students," noting it "only serves to harm past, present and future academic achievers."

In the wake of these sanctions, Dent last month introduced the NCAA Accountability Act. It is designed to standardize the enforcement process and gives students more priority. A four-year scholarships will no longer be revoked if a student is injured or loses his athletic prowess.

Thompson is a co-sponsor of this legislation, which has been referred to the House Higher Education and Workforce training Committee.

While they're at it, put the Joe Pa statue back.

Dent: Time to Hold NCAA Accountable

While Division I college athletes bring in the bucks for their colleges, many of them are actually forced to live near or below the poverty level. Once an athlete's eligibility is used up, he's out out to pasture. If he makes the mistake of accepting a suit or a free dinner, the NCAA can swoop down and destroy him.

In the case of Penn State, 14 years of Joe Paterno's victories were simply erased without so much as a how-do-you-do. And scholarships were taken away from deserving high school students who know nothing about the Sandusky scandal.

So it's about time that the NCAA itself be held accountable. Penn State fan Charlie Dent and Ohio State fan Joyce Beatty are from different parties and are doubtless bitter rivals whenever those teams clash. But they have united in proposing legislation that will soften the association's draconion sanctions by mandating administrative hearings with a right of appeal.

"Too often, I open the paper and I read a new story about how the NCAA has mismanaged its investigations," stated Dent at a news conference yesterday. He points out that the ones who suffer most are "are our nation’s young student athletes." Dent thinks those young minds and bodies are what NCAA should protect.

The NCAA Act will require annual baseline concussion testing in certain contact sports. Four-year scholarships will no longer be revoked if a student is injured or loses his athletic prowess. Before sanctions are imposed, against either a college or student, there will be at least one administrative hearing and a right to appeal.

"This bill will ensure that students – the individuals the NCAA is charged to protect – will, once again, come first in collegiate athletics,” said Congresswoman Beatty.

Charlie Dent Explains NCAA Act

Dent to NCAA: Restore 40 Scholarships to PSU

Lehigh Valley Congressman Charlie Dent has asked the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to restore forty athletic scholarships taken from Penn State as a result of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

Commenting about the letter, Congressman Dent stated: “I want to make it clear to the NCAA who they are really hurting with this scholarship reduction. It’s not Jerry Sandusky and it’s not the University. They are hurting young people who are completely innocent of anything relating to the Sandusky situation and who through no fault of their own are being denied a chance to get a great education.”

Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson, who represents the State College area, co-signed the letter with Congressman Dent. The text of this letter is below.

Dent to NCAA: Restore Athletic Scholarships at PSU by