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During Critical times in kids lives, sports provide a positve influence which can help shape their lives for the better. This includes lower stress levels, lower rates of anxiety, higher confidence, more creativity and improved cognitive performance

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University of San Diego - Professional & Continuing Education

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The Benefits of Youth Sports in Child Development

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From improved physical health to better academic performance, the benefits of youth sports are extensive. Read our blog post to learn more.

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Massachusetts was the first state to mandate school which gave kids more free time. With this free time children were getting into trouble. To combat this organized sports were implemented.

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Sports are a fundamental part of most kids' childhoods. Both children and parents enjoy youth sports because they keep kids active, help them make friends, and teach life lessons. But where did youth sports begin?

These days, it's normal, even expected, for kids to play flag football , soccer, baseball, or basketball. But youth sports haven't always been as popular as they are now. Here's a look at the history of youth sports in America over the past 170 years to help you understand how we got to where we are today.

States made school attendance mandatory for children in 1852.

Massachusetts was the first state to pass a compulsory education law requiring all children to attend school. Every state had a similar requirement by 1918. Before school was mandatory, a child's day consisted of helping out at home or on the farm-as well as getting into trouble.

The advent of schooling filled a lot of free time, but kids still had all afternoon to cause mischief. A common solution was to build parks and playgrounds where children could play. The introduction of organized youth sports soon followed, which offered more structure than playground games.

Cities began establishing Athletic Leagues in 1903.

New York City established the first Public Schools Athletic League, which pitted schools against one another for championship titles. The idea was to bring more competition to youth sports. The trend caught on, and by 1910, 17 other nearby cities had similar organizations. Athletic Leagues only continued to spread from there.

Pay-to-play youth sports popped up in the 1930s.

Following a few decades of growth, publicly financed youth sports took a big hit during the Great Depression. This started a shift toward pay-to-play organizations like Pop Warner Football and Little League Baseball.

In 1929, Joseph J. Tomlin founded the first youth football league as a crime prevention initiative in an especially troubled area of Philadelphia, PA. The four-team league was originally called the Junior Football Conference, but it changed its name to Pop Warner in tribute to Glenn "Pop" Warner, a legendary coach at Temple University.

Junior baseball launched in 1926 as a creative effort of the American Legion to promote patriotism and good citizenship, three years before its football counterpart. However, it wasn't until 1939 that Little League baseball officially debuted in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Its founder, Carl Stotz, reportedly wanted to expose his young nephews and other boys to rules and life lessons designed to suit them.

Pay-to-play leagues grew in popularity in the 1940s-1960s.

During this era, organized youth sports programs truly began to thrive. Still, not everyone was smitten. Debate raged over whether the fierce competition and high-pressure elements of youth sports were unhealthy for young kids. There was also concern surrounding talented children earning all the attention while less athletically gifted youngsters were left behind.

By the 1960s, these attitudes had grown into a full-blown movement surrounding self-esteem. The results of this movement are still evident today. After all, while children as young as 3 years old can participate in youth sports, interscholastic programs tend not to begin until middle school.

AYSO soccer was founded in 1964.

Hans Stierle founded the American Youth Soccer Organization in Los Angeles with nine teams consisting of any youngsters who wanted to play. Even players who had never kicked a soccer ball before were welcome to learn and join the league.

Title IX passed in 1972.

Up to this point, all organized sports had one thing in common-they largely catered to boys. Title IX changed that by prohibiting sex-based discrimination in schools, educational programs, and youth sports.

Before this landmark civil rights legislation, about one out of 27 girls played sports. Almost half a century later, two out of five girls were on organized youth sports teams. Statistics from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) also reveal that about 43% of US high school athletes during the 2018-19 school year were girls.

Scholarships for athletic performance became every athlete's dream in the 1970s.

US colleges started offering athletic scholarships in 1950 under the guidance of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). But the desire to obtain one really skyrocketed when Baby Boomers began graduating from high school in the 1970s. With so many people applying for college, simply having good grades suddenly wasn't enough. Athletes began garnering more attention as their sporting careers made them stand out.

Since this mindset shift 50 years ago, it has now become more common to pursue sports in hopes of landing a scholarship. While it's good to set goals, it's also important to have reasonable expectations. The drive to earn a scholarship shouldn't be any parent's or child's primary reason to get involved in youth sports. After all, figures from the NCAA and NFHS reveal that only 3.5% of high school basketball players, male or female, go on to play at the collegiate level. And only 2% of college players in any sport earn an athletic scholarship.

i9 Sports ® Changes the Game.

founder, Frank Fiume, identified a destructively competitive, highly political culture that was turning sports into a negative experience for kids. He felt that all kids needed the opportunity to learn how to play sports and have fun. But how could this happen if kids were constantly told they were not good enough to play or made to sit on the bench? Kids who didn't have fun, or who didn't get playing time, often dropped out of sports entirely. Instead of building kids up, sports were often tearing them down. Frank set out to fix it. In 2003, was born with a simple goal of putting fun back into youth sports. Today we have thousands of kids enjoying youth sports every week throughout the country!

Understanding the history of youth sports gives you a greater appreciation for the opportunities available at ® . We're the nation's first and largest youth sports league franchise, with over 3.5 million registrations in communities ranging from New York to Hawaii. We focus on fun, instruction, and sportsmanship, with highly convenient, once-a-week programs that won't take up too much family time. If you're ready to enjoy a positive, stress-free experience for the whole family, get in touch with your today.

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Sports are a fundamental part of most kids' childhoods. Both children and parents enjoy youth sports because they keep kids active, help them make friends, and teach life lessons. But where did youth sports begin? These days, it's normal, even expected, for kids to play flag football , soccer, baseball, or basketball.

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The US did a case study at Round Hill School, Northhampton MA to similate the English boarding school model "Muscular Christianity". This consists of a religious movement that emphasizes physical fitness, health, and morality as a way to express Christian values and masculinity.

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The progressive movement era thinking consisted of the mindset that althletics are a tool for teachers to prepare the students for the modern world, and a path for immagrints to dive into American culture.

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Child’s Play: How Progressive Era Science Shaped America’s Playgrounds — Oxford Urbanists

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In this article, Oenone Kubie investigates factors influencing how children’s play was perceived during the ‘Progressive Era’. Kubie’s article investigates changing approaches to the treatment of ‘play’ in the city and, ultimately, the rise of the ‘playground’ as city infrastructure.

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A dumb turned into a playground in Boston, MA

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During the progressive movement increased playground space was advocated for. This only worked out for a little while because the youth started using these playground spaces for fights, gambling and even sex.

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After WW1, sports became widely known as a way to train for the millitary. Fighting sports, espeically boxing and wresting became popular because it was known for a way to get muscles for trench warfare.

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Wars change the course of history and, subtly or significantly, change human activities of sports and recreational games. This transformation comes about not only from war itself, but the training that soldiers bring back with them to civilian life and the cultural influences acquired from contact with allied nationalities that share encampments and joint military operations.

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East Boston High School Football Team, 1918

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During this period after WW1, sports became part of uducation. This means schools had their own sports teams and started to play other school. While being tied to education, sports also boosted school graduationr rates. This is due to the disipline tought in sports.

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The YMCA is a very important program for youth sports. They were the most prominent agency to promote youth athletics. They had facilities where kids can go to play whatever sports they wanted. The game of basketball was even invented by a YMCA teacher in Springfield Massachusetts. In 1930-1950 the YMCA was a later in allowing female members to play sports.

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The very first game of basketball was played on December 21, 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts. The creator was James Naismith, a 30-year-old physical education faculty member at the YMCA International Training School (later to be named Springfield College.) He was tasked with creating a game that could focus young men and be played indoors in the winter. He was given two weeks to do so.

Naismith knew he wanted the game to be interesting to keep the attention of players and yet easy to play and safe. He drew upon his knowledge of a childhood game called duck-on-a-rock, a game involving throwing a small rock placed on top of a larger rock. He also combined his knowledge of rugby and football to come up with "Basket Ball," a game with only 13 rules that Naismith wrote on a scratchpad in less than an hour. To help keep players safe from injuries, he allowed no contact.

At the first game, the height of the goals was placed at 10 feet, determined solely by the height of the Y's indoor running track. The score of the first game was only 1-0 as Naismith hadn't yet thought to cut out the bottoms of the peach baskets. Instead, someone had to climb a ladder to claim the ball, which was a soccer ball, from the basket.

The game was a success from the start and word spread. Within a few days, the class was attracting a crowd. Teachers from a nearby girls school asked the Y to organize a girls team. A newspaper reported it as "an uproarious game accompanied by much yelling." In 1936, basketball became an Olympic sport.

Today, James Naismith would be amazed at what his "simple" game has become. Thanks to his imagination, terms like "March Madness," and "Final Four" are part of America's collective vocabulary. Basketball is played and enjoyed at schools and YMCAs around the world by children and adults.

We have basketball programs for all ages, youth through adult - check out our brochure!

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Did You Know - Basketball Was Invented at the YMCA? - North Penn YMCA

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The very first game of basketball was played on December 21, 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts. The creator was James Naismith, a 30-year-old physical

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In a effort to combat unenployment during the great depression, President Roosevelt created the WPA Works Progress Administration. This provided milliions of Americans jobs, by funding public works projects which includes mass construction, updating sports fields and playgrounds.

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National Federation of State High School Associations

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National Federation of State High School Associations

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The National Federation of State High School Associations is the coordinator for activities such as music,debate, theater, and student council. Theybelong in 50 state high school athletics and activies accociations. They are also responsible for getting referee certifications.

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The State Associations orginizes state championships. They make the brackets and choose how the tournament plays. The final say in a athletes eligibility is also in their say. They say if a player is plysically unfit or a players grades to not meet the specific specifications. The state association for Masachusetts is the MIAA.

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The National Youth League Orginizations are in charge of administrative efforts. These are youth-focused programs and leagues aimed at promoting sports development, physical fitness, teamwork, and leadership among young people. These organizations provide competitive and recreational opportunities for youth in various sports while also providing strict guidelines which must be followed. One example would be Little League baseball providing the field guidelines for fair play around the country.

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The School Athletic Director is responsible for hiring and evaluating coaches, managing contest logistics, and overseeing the hiring and payment of officials and staff. They ensure proper training, enforce discipline policies, and handle risk management and insurance. The AD also upholds policies on sexual harassment and gender equality to create an inclusive environment. In addition, they manage the athletic department's budget, support student-athlete development, and communicate with coaches, parents, and the community to maintain a positive and effective sports program. The School Athletic Director can make or breaks a schools sports program.

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Athletic Director [1] - Bourne Public Schools

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Athletic Director [1] - Bourne Public Schools

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A coach or trainer plays a critical role. By shaping players’ skills, strategies, and physical fitness, while also addressing players' personal challenges and becoming a trusted mentor. They teach discipline, teamwork, and resilience, offering guidance on and off the field. For youth athletes, coaches often help navigate issues like confidence or focus, creating a positive impact beyond sports. Despite working long hours with little or no pay, they remain dedicated to their teams. Additionally, most coaching roles require certifications to ensure proper training techniques and player safety, further highlighting the commitment needed to excel in this vital role.

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Football Coach helps turn players life around 

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Football Coach helps turn players life around 

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This Video shows that being a coach is more than making plays for your team. It is about helping your players become sucessful and to help them when they really need it.

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Coach invites homeless player to live with his family

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An athletic trainer or physical therapist is critical in sports, focusing on injury prevention, recovery, and overall physical wellness. They not only provide personalized rehab plans but also act as mentors, helping athletes cope with physical and emotional challenges during recovery. For young athletes, they offer encouragement and guidance, fostering resilience and confidence. They are often required to attend games, ready to address injuries immediately and ensure player safety on the spot. Despite working long hours and often receiving little recognition, their dedication ensures athletes return stronger and healthier. Certifications and advanced education are essential, ensuring they provide expert care and stay current on the latest techniques.

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This video goes over what a typical day looks like for an athletic trainer. It consists of trating injuries, stretching to get rid of cramps and going up to the practice field to be there if any injuries occur.

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Day in the Life of an Athletic Trainer - Episode 2 - High School

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Officials and judges in sports ensure games are played fairly and follow the rules. They are often hired by schools or leagues but work as independent contractors, meaning they’re not full-time employees. Most need special certifications, which involve training and passing tests to qualify. At lower levels, like youth sports, volunteers can often step in to officiate without formal certification. Their main job is to enforce rules, make fair decisions, and keep players safe. Whether paid or volunteering, officials play a key role in maintaining the integrity and smooth running of sports events.

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This video shows what it is like to get ready and referee a hockey game. This video shows the referee making calls and talking to the players. This is accurate because I am also a hockey referee. This requires a certification and to be employed by a league. In this case the league is the NHL.

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This is a graph showing sports management skills 

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Sports management comes with plenty of challenges. One big issue is the "win-at-all-costs" mentality, which can lead to ethical problems like cutting corners or ignoring doping accusations. Keeping equipment up to safety standards is another concern, and it’s not always cheap or easy. Weather and other unpredictable factors can throw a wrench into game schedules, forcing managers to make quick decisions to keep everyone safe. Evaluating coaches is also tricky since it’s not just about wins—it’s about leadership, player growth, and doing things the right way. Balancing all of this is what makes sports management both challenging and rewarding.

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What are the main issues in sport management?

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Are you interested in sports management? We detail the main issues in this often little known field.

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This is a graph of the world GDP from 1998-2015

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Youth football teams are often nonprofit but still face financial challenges, especially when managing costs like equipment, transportation, and referee fees. Reduced public funding has added pressure, leading to canceled sports programs, fewer coaching staff, and "pay-to-play" policies to raise revenue. Budget cuts have also impacted the quality of equipment and facilities. For example, a football team that once used two school buses to travel to games might have to cram into one bus due to cuts, as seen in 2008. These financial struggles create tough choices for teams, affecting both the quality and accessibility of youth sports.

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The expansion of opportunities in high school sports led to increased student participation. New programs like bass fishing provided nontraditional options, while policies such as the Equal Access for Homeschool Students Act allowed more inclusivity. Partnerships with organizations like the Special Olympics promoted involvement for students with disabilities, and efforts to support LGBTQ+ athletes created a more welcoming environment. These changes reflected a broader commitment to diversity and inclusion in sports, giving students of all backgrounds the chance to compete, bond, and thrive. The result was a more engaged and representative student-athlete population across schools.

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Disney's Wide Wide World of Sports complex

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Case Study: Disney World using youth sports to increase profits

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Case Study: Disney World using youth sports to increase profits

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Corporations like Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex profit from youth sports by hosting large tournaments that attract athletes and families. Visitors spend on entry fees, hotels, food, merchandise, and park tickets, boosting revenue. These events also offer sponsorship opportunities, which also increase their profits.

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Ethical Issues:Coaches as Sexual Predators

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Ethical Issues:Coaches as Sexual Predators

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Legislators have expanded mandated reporter laws to include coaches and athletic directors, recognizing their critical role in child safety. The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) has implemented mandatory background checks for over 50,000 coaches and volunteers to enhance protection measures. These actions respond to incidents where coaches exploited their positions to abuse athletes, prompting stricter oversight and accountability. For instance, the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 established mandatory reporting requirements for individuals involved with youth and amateur athletes.

Such measures aim to create safer environments in youth sports.

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The rise in rule violations among student-athletes, such as steroid use, poses significant challenges to maintaining fair competition. The NCAA enforces strict drug-testing protocols to deter such behavior and uphold integrity. Additionally, the growing number of international student-athletes has impacted conference and state championships, prompting discussions on eligibility and competitive balance. For instance, Utah proposed a ban on international students in high school sports to address these concerns. These developments highlight the need for robust policies to ensure equitable and fair play in collegiate athletics.

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College athletics are a major part of the sports industry, with over 480,000 student-athletes competing across various levels. These programs generate significant attention through increased broadcasting deals, sponsorships, and merchandise sales, making them a lucrative market. The inclusion of more international students has also added diversity and talent, elevating competition. Events like March Madness and college football bowl games draw millions of viewers annually, attracting sponsors eager to reach passionate fan bases. Beyond entertainment, college sports play a critical role in community engagement, alumni pride, and providing student-athletes with opportunities for personal and professional growth.

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 The Yale Vs Harvard rowing event in 1852

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The first intercollegiate athletic event in the U.S. was the 1852 rowing race between Harvard and Yale, sponsored by a railroad company to promote tourism. Initially, college sports were student-run, but growing popularity and competition led to professional coaching, with Yale hiring William Wood in 1864 for its rowing team.

By the late 1800s, football gained traction, prompting the creation of the Intercollegiate Football Association in 1876 to standardize rules based on soccer and rugby. These developments laid the foundation for modern college sports, which now include over 480,000 student-athletes and generate billions in revenue through media and sponsorships

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this is the evolution of the NCAA logo over the years

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In the late 19th century, the violent nature of football, including numerous deaths and severe injuries, spurred faculty and administrators to regulate college athletics. In 1895, the Big Ten Conference was established to set eligibility standards and create fair play rules. By 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt, concerned about football’s brutality, urged reforms, leading to the creation of the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States (IAAUS). This body introduced safety measures like the forward pass and stricter penalties. In 1910, the IAAUS renamed itself the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), solidifying its role as the primary governing body for college sports.

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The 1929 Carnegie Report exposed widespread issues in college athletics, including recruiting abuses, payments to student-athletes, and commercialization.

This prompted the NCAA to adopt the "Sanity Code" after World War II, establishing principles covering financial aid, recruitment, and academic standards to ensure amateurism in college sports. Despite these efforts, abuses continued, leading to further reforms and the appointment of Walter Byers as the NCAA's first executive director in 1951.

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Is Integrity of higher education being threatened by college athletics?

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Is Integrity of higher education being threatened by college athletics?

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In 1989, a Harris Poll revealed that 78% of Americans believed collegiate athletics were "out of hand." This led to the formation of the Knight Commission, which prompted the NCAA to implement stricter regulations on recruiting, academic standards, and financial practices to preserve the integrity of higher education.

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Concerns in college athletics include escalating costs to field teams, recruiting violations, academic fraud, athlete and coach behavior issues, commercialization, and the exploitation of student-athletes. Additionally, financial disparities among NCAA programs create unfair advantages within the same division. For example, Power Ten schools generate over $600 million annually, while smaller Division I schools often operate at a loss, highlighting the inequities in resources and competition.

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This shows the expenses by school. Ohio State has the highest revenue at 251 million a year. The division one school with the least revenue is New Orleans with just 2.5 million a year. This shows how the budget can create unfair advantages.

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NCAA Finances: Revenue & Expenses by School - USA TODAY

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Which are the most profitable college athletic programs in the country? See a ranked listed, including total revenue and expenses. Brought to you by USA TODAY.

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In the early days, collegiate sports were dominated by men, reflecting societal attitudes of the time. That began to change in 1892 when Senda Berenson introduced basketball to women at Smith College, tweaking the rules to suit them. The first women’s college basketball game followed in 1896, with Cal facing Stanford. In 1966, the Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (CIAW) was formed, evolving into the AIAW by 1971. Title IX, passed in 1972, revolutionized women’s sports by mandating equal opportunities.

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The AIAW championed an education-centered approach to women’s sports but faced a power struggle with the NCAA in the early 1980s. In 1981, the NCAA began hosting women’s championships, leading NBC to stop televising AIAW events and withholding payments. This financial blow prompted the AIAW to dissolve in 1982. Title IX, enacted in 1972, significantly expanded opportunities for women in sports, ultimately shifting the balance of power to the NCAA.

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The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is the primary governing body for college athletics in the United States, overseeing approximately 1,100 member schools. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), founded in 1940, serves smaller colleges and universities, currently comprising 300 member institutions.

The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), established in 1938, governs two-year colleges and includes 500 member institutions. The NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA differ in scholarship opportunities, size, structure, and competition levels.

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Everything You Need To Know About The New Digital SAT

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Learn all about the new digital SAT exam administered by Collegeboard and how it is changing from the previous paper format…

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The NCAA is a voluntary organization comprising over 1,250 institutions, conferences, and related associations, aiming to integrate athletics into educational programs. In 1956, it established University and College Divisions, and in 1973, it introduced the three-division system (Divisions I, II, and III) to accommodate different school sizes. Key administrative areas include legislation, governance, and academics, overseeing violations and imposing penalties. In 2021, the NCAA generated $1.15 billion in revenue, primarily from broadcasting rights for the Division I Men's Basketball Tournament

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The NCAA's annual convention brings together member schools, with separate meetings for Divisions I, II, and III. Each division operates through a governing body—the Board of Directors for Division I and Presidents Councils for Divisions II and III—and additional councils composed of university officials, focusing on legislative and administrative matters. In 2022, the NCAA adopted a new constitution, granting divisions greater autonomy to tailor governance to their unique needs and priorities.

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Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools emphasize competitiveness, revenue generation, and national exposure. Historically, they were required to average 15,000 in football game attendance over a two-year period; however, this attendance requirement was eliminated in 2023. FBS teams are capped at 85 scholarships and must sponsor at least 16 sports. In contrast, Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) schools have no attendance minimum, focus more regionally, are limited to 63 scholarships, and must sponsor at least 14 sports. Most FBS schools spend significantly more on athletics compared to FCS counterparts. For example, the University of Alabama's athletic budget is substantially higher than that of James Madison University.

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What Is the Difference Between FCS and FBS?

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What is the difference between the FCS and the more well-known FBS in college football? Learn about both.

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1. NCAA Division II schools must sponsor at least 10 sports, with at least two team sports per gender, and can offer partial athletic scholarships. This division emphasizes regional competition and operates on smaller budgets compared to Division I. Division III, the largest division, prohibits athletic scholarships, focusing on academic balance and regional play, with many student-athletes receiving merit-based or need-based aid. Nearly 75% of Division III athletes benefit from financial assistance unrelated to athletics .

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Division I member conferences must have at least seven institutions in a single division to be voting members. They oversee compliance with NCAA rules, run educational seminars, and often sponsor championships in at least 12 sports. Many conferences share revenue among members, such as the Big Ten, which allocates approximately $25 million per school annually. Conference realignment remains a pressing issue, with teams like Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC in 2024 to capitalize on expanded media deals and visibility.

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Texas, Oklahoma leaving Big 12 early, joining SEC in 2024 season after reaching exit agreement

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The Longhorns and Sooners will be in the SEC a full season earlier than originally planned

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This graph shows the percent of students who are athletes and how division 3 is very academically focused.

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Carrer Oppurtunity as a college coach/Athletic Director

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Carrer Oppurtunity as a college coach/Athletic Director

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In Division I, athletic directors act as “CEOs” overseeing specialized staff, while in Division III, they manage multiple roles, with coaches often handling administrative tasks. Division III emphasizes academics and participation, with 87% of its athletes graduating within four years, the highest rate among NCAA divisions .

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If you want to know all about the NCAA divisions, you've come to the right place.

According to the NCAA, there are 363 Division 1 schools, 313 Division 2 schools, and 442 Division 3 schools.

How many NCAA divisions exist?

The NCAA has three division levels: Division I, Division II, and Division III.

To give you a better idea of the size and how these college divisions compare, about 187,000 student-athletes compete at the Division 1 level.

More than 124,375 student-athletes compete in Division 2 and Division 3, with just over 186,000 student-athletes on its various rosters. And that's just the NCAA divisions.

There's also the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The NAIA has 250 schools and, of course, many options at the junior college level for high school athletes. All divisions share some similarities, but each has aspects that make them unique.

Student-athletes and parents should note that for the small percentage of high school athletes that end up playing at the D1 and D2 level, only about 57 percent of D1 athletes receive some type of athletics aid and D2 athletes fare just a little better at 60 percent that get athletics aid.

Division I: Your sport, your life

What is a D1 athlete?

A Division 1 (D1) athlete is a student-athlete who participates in a college sports program that is a member of the NCAA Division 1. Division 1 is the highest level of college sports competition in the United States and includes many of the largest and most well-known universities and athletic programs.

What is D1?

D1 is short for Division 1. Division 1 programs offers the highest level of competition between the NCAA's three divisions. Most Division 1 programs are found at large schools with big athletic budgets.

How many D1 schools are there?

There are 363 NCAA D1 schools across the U.S. Division 1 schools have the largest athletic budgets and provide more scholarships compared to the other division levels.

There are many reasons athletes try for Division 1 colleges. Who wouldn't want to compete at a large university in front of big crowds against some of the best athletes in their sport?

But playing in a D1 sport is not all glory. Training and practices take up most of your time. You won't be able to have a part-time job, an internship, or vacation during spring break. You may even be volunteering when you're not training, practicing, or studying.

Every moment of your day is accounted for. Many athletes stay on campus during the summer and take their most challenging classes then because they can devote more time to them. Some student-athletes feel separated from their classmates because they aren't training as heavily as they are.

You live, breathe, and sweat your sport because that is what it takes to compete at the D1 level.

If you're interested in D1, view NCSA's list of the Best NCAA Division 1 College for student-athletes.

What does D1 mean?

D1 stands for Division 1. It is the toughest division to get into and compete in. If you are on the roster of a Division 1 team, you are a Division 1 athlete.

It's considered the most challenging division because you spend most of your time training at the gym or practicing. You take classes and study, but never as much as you train and practice.

Division I and the Ivy League 8

Some of the country's oldest and most prestigious schools make up the Ivy League. They are:

Brown University

Columbia

Cornell

University of Pennsylvania

Harvard

Princeton

Yale

Dartmouth

They rank among the top 20 NCAA Division 1 schools within the NCSA Power Rankings. And according to the NCAA, more than 8,000 student-athletes compete every year for these schools.

Most choose the Ivy League for its ultra-high level of competition in both athletics and academics. If an Ivy League school is on your target list, note that these schools do not award academic or athletic scholarships.

Financial aid is based on needs determined by the financial aid office at each school. Some schools will change their financial aid options yearly based on your grades and sports performance.

Division II: A more balanced approach

If you want a more balanced approach to college, consider a D2 program. Being a Division 2 athlete also requires a lot of training and practice, but less than D1.

There are still the demands all student-athletes face, but it is not as intense and rigorous as the year-round total commitment of a D1 athlete.

Additionally, you're more likely to be rewarded with aid. 60% of D2 athletes receive athletic aid.

If you're interested in D2, view NCSA's list of the Best NCAA Division 2 College for student-athletes.

Division III: A well-rounded college experience

If you want to focus on academics as much as your sport, a D3 program is your best bet. This doesn't mean you don't train or practice. But it's less demanding and intense than it would be at a D1 or D2 school. Academics are just as important as athletics in a D3 school.

A D3 program offers you a more well-rounded college experience. You'll have a better chance to make friends outside your sport and feel more connected to your classmates.

View NCSA's list of the Best NCAA Division 3 Colleges for student-athletes.

The surprising D3 differences

D3 is slightly different from D2 and D1. One difference is that all D1 and D2 athletes must meet specific eligibility requirements set by the NCAA. Each school sets Division 3 eligibility requirements instead of the NCAA.

Regarding scholarships, D3 students receive non-athletics aid through grants and needs-based scholarships. But that doesn't mean they don't do well. Approximately 87% of D3 athletes graduate from college within four years. See what D3 colleges offer full scholarships.

Watch the video below to compare all divisions.

Is there a NCAA D4?

Currently, there is no Division 4. In 2013, there was talk of adding a fourth division. CBS reported what D4 could have been like. It's unknown why the plans for a fourth division didn't move beyond talks.

Why an NAIA school might be your best bet

It may surprise some, but the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has been around longer than the NCAA. With 250 primarily private, smaller schools, more than 60,000 student-athletes compete at NAIA colleges in various popular sports for the 2022-23 academic year.

Many consider NAIA to be on par with NCAA D3 schools regarding life/sport balance and level of competitiveness. The NAIA awards close to $800 million in athletic scholarships every year. That, along with more aggressive recruiting, is driving more talent to these schools and increasing competition. Today, top-level NAIA schools are like competing on an NCAA D2 team in terms of competition level.

If you want to play sports and have a chance to do well in college, the NAIA may be your choice. Learn more about the NAIA and how it differs from the NCAA below:

Don't ignore junior colleges

Between the three NCAA divisions and NAIA schools, it's easy to overlook junior college athletics as an option. But junior college is a good choice, too. According to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), about 60,000 student-athletes participate in 28 different sports at 500+ schools nationwide every year.

Many don't consider a junior college because there are some common misconceptions about what junior colleges can offer student-athletes. However, today's junior colleges have a lot to offer, especially regarding scholarships and other cost savings.

Junior college is the best path to getting a four-year college roster for some athletes. For others, it's a chance to stay close to home, earn college credit, and continue their athletic career. Here are four reasons why junior colleges can be an excellent option for student-athletes:

Looking for more reasons to consider attending a junior college or pursuing junior college athletics? Here are a few more advantages of a junior college that other division levels may not have.

They're more affordable

Junior colleges are less expensive than public and private four-year colleges and universities. This is due to a few factors. One has to do with the fact they are two-year schools which are cheaper to run. Another is that they often don't have dorms to upkeep.

Junior colleges also tend to be more generous with academic and athletic scholarships. Plus, you have more time to save for a four-year school.

It's more practical than taking a year off

It is tough (if not impossible) to get recruited to play at a four-year college after taking even one gap year between high school and college.

But junior colleges offer remedial classes, which can get you up to speed on some of the basics and make four-year college courses easier.

Every major requires history classes, math, science, and English. You can knock those out in junior college. That way, you'll be ready to tackle the major-related courses at your transfer university.

Recruits can make an impact right away

Junior college athletics coaches look for players that can hit the ground running and may even recruit for starting roles. They know that since you've been a student-athlete at a junior college, you know what it takes to compete.

You won't be a benchwarmer. You'll be hitting the field hard.

Increase your chances of getting recruited at a four-year college

College coaches like to recruit JUCO athletes because they're a safer bet than their high school counterparts. Coaches know these athletes have a track record of balancing college academics and athletics while maintaining their eligibility.

While nearly everyone starts out with D1 as their goal, it comes down to what type of college experience will suit your child. The good news is that with four NCAA divisions, NAIA schools, NCCAA schools, and junior colleges, there's something for every type of student-athlete.

NCCAA: Christian Schools

The National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) was founded in 1968 and has nearly 100 schools with over 23,000 student-athletes competing in 26 different sports. About 50% of member schools are dually affiliated with D2, D3, or NAIA, giving their student-athletes the benefits from those organizations along with a Christ-centered experience and competition opportunities within the NCCAA.

Earn a degree from an institution that can help your spiritual journey. NCCAA schools incorporate Biblical educational components and provide chapel opportunities.

How to gauge your talent to find your best division

One of the first steps in the recruiting process is to accurately gauge your talent level and get an understanding of the divisions you might be suited for athletically. However, each day, we talk to athletes who don't have a good grasp on what's realistic for them.

And we get it! It's tough to predict what level you'll be at in three or even two years. The good news: There are plenty of ways to figure out where you stand athletically. The bad news: It's still going to require that you honestly evaluate yourself. Let's check out some of the best ways to get a better understanding of your true athletic talent.

Watch college games at every division level

Watch college athletes closely and compare your current skill level to the competition. If you can, visit local schools and universities and see it live. And be realistic! If you need to improve drastically to get some playing time on a team, check out a game at a different division level and see how you compare.

The head baseball coach at D3 Webster University Bill Kurich explained during a panel discussion,

"Go watch a Division 1, a Division 2, a Division 3, or an NAIA game." He added, "One of the best things I did-I played at Quincy University-I went and watched them play. I sat in the stands and said, 'You know what, I can play here; I can do this.' I also went and saw Illinois State play the University of Northern Iowa when I was in high school, and I thought, 'Well, maybe not.' Not that I wasn't as good, but I wasn't going to play... And I knew I wanted to play every day."

When you're watching a game, ask yourself these questions to help you figure out if this is the right level for you:

Could you compete with these athletes today? If not, are you on track to be at that level as a senior?

Would you get playing time if you joined this team? Is playing time important to you?

Can you picture yourself competing on this team and for this school?

Review rosters of schools at different division levels

There's a lot of helpful information you can get from a college sport's roster. To find it, go to the school's website and find the roster of current team members. Typically, you can find it by searching for the athletic program and then your specific sport. Each athlete will most likely have a short bio that talks about their high school and collegiate accomplishments. Here are a few key things to look for:

Check out the body types of the athletes in your position. How do you stack up to their posted heights and weights?

Are you competing in the same tournaments and showcases as the current athletes?

Review their list of high school accolades (e.g., All-State, All-City, team MVP or captain), and consider how your current compilation of accolades compares.

For individual sports like track & field, swimming, etc., pay particular attention to the athletes' current stats. Compare that to your current numbers

Keep an open mind as you're looking through schools' rosters. If you never imagined yourself competing at a D3 school-but those are the athletes who most resemble you-it's worth it to continue investigating what that division has to offer.

Hint: There are countless benefits to attending a D3 school. Learn more about D3 colleges and universities.

Get evaluated by a third party

In many cases, it can be difficult to objectively evaluate yourself. Especially on something as personal as your athletic talent. That's where third parties come into play. Experts can either evaluate you in person or via your highlight film. Make sure your highlight film is up to date.

You can ask your current high school and/or club coach to evaluate your talent level. Recruiting experts like us can also help. NCSA College Recruiting evaluates athletes in 37 1 different sports. Another avenue to investigate is evaluation camps. As the name indicates, they are camps for camps in which coaches help high school athletes gauge their talent and give them improvement suggestions.

When getting a third-party evaluation, here are a few questions to ask the evaluator:

What level do you think I could compete at right now?

How much would I need to improve to get to the next level?

What are my strengths? What weaknesses should I work on?

Compete against elite athletes

Some high schools and clubs compete against tough teams who notoriously turn out college athletes. For athletes who already compete against the elite, every game is an opportunity to level set and see how they compare to other athletes in their recruiting class.

Some athletes play for smaller teams and don't necessarily get a chance to compete against other college-bound athletes. If that's the case for you, find camps, showcases, summer leagues or club teams to play against the best high school athletes.

How to decide which is best

Getting a better understanding of your talent is a great place to start when figuring out your best school. However, don't forget that a great match is about where you fit athletically, academically, and socially. You may have the talent to compete at the Division 1 level, but that doesn't mean that will be the best fit for you academically and socially. Keep all three factors in mind as you build your target list of schools, visit campuses, and do your research.

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The College Divisions Explained (D1 vs. D2 vs. D3) | NCSA

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Learn the differences between the NCAA college divisions and what it means to be a D1, D2, or D3 athlete.

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Career Oppurtunity as a Assistant/Associate Director

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Career Oppurtunity as a Assistant/Associate Director

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Athletic departments handle various responsibilities, including business management, media relations, ticket sales, marketing, sports administration, and compliance. Areas of growth include fundraising and student-athlete services, while senior women’s administrators and faculty athletics representatives play vital roles. NCAA programs, such as the Foundations of Fundraising, emphasize career development in these areas, focusing on leadership and opportunities for underrepresented groups in athletics management.

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With a focus on women and ethnic minorities, Foundations of Fundraising is a collaborative effort between the NCAA and the National Association of Athletic Development Directors designed to educate future leaders (interns, graduate assistants, development associates, etc.) in the field of development in intercollegiate athletics. The eight-week hybrid learning course is created so that learners will view development/fundraising as a viable career option with great advancement opportunities.

What You'll Learn

Learners in the Foundations of Fundraising virtual course will walk away having an in-depth exposure and introduction into athletics development as a viable career path within college sports. Participation in the two-month virtual program will provide essential career development to allow learners to thrive in their current roles while preparing them to obtain elevated positions in the industry. A key focus for curriculum content will be learner visualization of fundraising as a pathway to the opportunity to access senior-level positions in college athletics, particularly as an avenue to ascend to the athletics director seat.

The 30 cohort members will have the opportunity to participate in an experiential class project that will promote active learning and implementation. The course will begin with a detailed exploration of the principles of fundraising and development before diving into a curriculum to boost participant capabilities. Additionally, learners will gain insight from a series of development-centric leadership speakers scheduled in consultation with NAADD who will enhance learning experiences.

How is Foundations of Fundraising structured?

Foundations of Fundraising is a two-month commitment that will be delivered virtually. Learners will begin the program with a virtual orientation outlining the components of the program and setting the scene for the program. Beginning in January, the group will connect on a weekly basis, meeting virtually from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesdays for eight weeks (this excludes January 14th due to the NCAA Convention). Learners who attend all eight sessions will be eligible to receive a NAADD membership for one year and registration for the 2025 National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Convention in Orlando, FL to participate in the NAADD convention programming.

Who is Eligible?

Participants must be a current intern, graduate assistant or entry level professional within an athletics department at an NCAA member school, conference office, affiliate organization or the NCAA national office. Individuals must have completed a bachelor's degree to be eligible to apply.

Cost

Foundations of Fundraising is offered free for selected learners. For learners who attend all eight sessions of the program, the NCAA and NAADD will provide a one-year membership to NAADD, as well as a paid registration to the 2025 NACDA Convention.

PLEASE NOTE: Learners who decide to attend the NACDA Convention will be responsible for their travel to and from the convention location, lodging, meals and incidentals.

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With a focus on women and ethnic minorities, Foundations of Fundraising is a collaborative effort between the NCAA and the National Association of Athletic Development

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National offices like the NCAA, NJCAA, and NAIA, along with individual conference offices, offer employment in specialized areas such as compliance, marketing, sponsorship, and conference championships. These offices support the operational and governance needs of collegiate sports, providing job opportunities for professionals across a range of disciplines in athletics management

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Conference realignment in Division I, with 84 institutional moves since 2010, is driven by factors like increased TV contract values, football bowl payouts, and revenue-sharing from new networks. Key events include the 1994 Southwest Conference collapse, 2010 Pac-10 and Big 12 expansions, and the formation of the American Athletic Conference in 2013.

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The Southwest Conference, a historic collegiate athletic league, faced financial struggles and uneven competition, leading to its collapse in 1994. Founded in 1914, it included powerhouse programs like Texas and Arkansas. In 1996, its members merged with the Big Eight to form the Big 12, while others joined conferences like the SEC and WAC.

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Closing Shot: The Crash Of The Southwest Conference

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Twenty-five years ago this month, Kyle Kallander had a front-row seat to the last days of the Southwest Conference. The league was made famous for athletic success — over 82 years, a SWC school won a national championship in some sport every 1.3 seasons — but also the geographic insularity that drove its legendary rivalries and runaway football cheating scandals.

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In November 2011, former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky was arraigned on 40 counts of sexual abuse involving minors. Key administrators faced charges for perjury, obstruction of justice, and endangering children due to their failure to act on knowledge of Sandusky’s abuse. The NCAA concluded there was significant institutional control failure and integrity issues at Penn State, leading to severe sanctions.

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The Penn State child sex abuse scandal concerned allegations and subsequent convictions of child sexual abuse committed by Jerry Sandusky, an assistant coach for the Penn State Nittany Lions football team, over a period of at least fifteen years. The scandal began to emerge publicly in March 2011 and broke in early November 2011 when Sandusky was indicted on 52 counts of child molestation, stemming from incidents that occurred between 1994 and 2009. Sandusky was ultimately convicted on 45 counts of child sexual abuse on June 22, 2012, and was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years and a maximum of 60 years in prison. Of the 10 victims who were listed, only eight appeared at trial. All were over the age of 18 by the time they testified. Six were over 21.

Additionally, three Penn State officials - school president Graham Spanier, vice president Gary Schultz and athletic director Tim Curley - were charged with perjury, obstruction of justice, failure to report suspected child abuse, and related charges. The Penn State Board of Trustees commissioned an independent investigation by former FBI Director Louis Freeh, whose report stated that Penn State's longtime head football coach Joe Paterno, along with Spanier, Curley and Schultz, had known about allegations of child abuse by Sandusky as early as 1998, had shown "total and consistent disregard...for the safety and welfare of Sandusky's child victims", and "empowered" Sandusky to continue his acts of abuse by failing to disclose them. Shortly after the scandal broke, Spanier resigned. The board of trustees terminated the contracts of Paterno and Curley.

As a result of the scandal, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) imposed sanctions on the Penn State football program: a $60 million fine, a four-year postseason ban, scholarship reductions, and a vacation of all victories from 1998 to 2011. These sanctions were considered to be among the most severe ever imposed on an NCAA member school. NCAA President Mark Emmert stated that the sanctions were levied "not to be just punitive, but to make sure the university establishes an athletic culture and daily mindset in which football will never again be placed ahead of educating, nurturing and protecting young people." The Big Ten Conference subsequently imposed an additional $13 million fine.

The Paterno family retained former Attorney General Richard Thornburgh to conduct a review of the Freeh report, which concluded that the report constituted a "rush to injustice" that could not be relied upon and that Freeh's evidence fell "far short" of showing that Joe Paterno attempted to conceal the scandal, but rather that "the contrary is true". In January 2013, state senator Jake Corman and state treasurer Rob McCord sued the NCAA, seeking to overturn the Penn State sanctions on the basis that Freeh had been actively collaborating with the organization and that due process had not been followed. In November 2014, Corman released emails showing "regular and substantive" contact between Freeh's investigators and the NCAA, suggesting that Freeh's conclusions were orchestrated. As part of a settlement, the NCAA restored the 111 wins to Paterno's record on January 16, 2015.

On March 25, 2017, Curley, Schultz, and Spanier pleaded or were found guilty of misdemeanor charges of child endangerment. All conspiracy charges against Curley and Schultz were dropped, and Spanier was acquitted of conspiracy, the charges central to Louis Freeh's allegation of a cover-up. In June 2017, all three were sentenced to jail terms, fines, and probation for the misdemeanors. Spanier was sentenced to four to twelve months in jail, a $7,500 fine, and two years of probation. Spanier's misdemeanor conviction was overturned by the federal district court, but reinstated by the court of appeals in December 2020.

Jerry Sandusky was an assistant coach for the Penn State Nittany Lions football team from 1969 to 1999. For the last 23 of those years, Sandusky was the team's defensive coordinator. In 1977, he founded The Second Mile in State College, Pennsylvania, a charity formed to help disadvantaged youth. Sandusky retired from the organization in 2010. In 1998, he was investigated for child sexual abuse but no charges were filed. Sandusky was considered for spearheading the startup of a football program at Penn State Altoona in 1998-99, but the idea was scrapped and he retired in 1999. After his retirement, Sandusky remained a coach with an office in and access to Penn State's football facilities per his employment contract.

In Pennsylvania, a grand jury only recommends criminal charges. It hears all of the available evidence but does not have authority to indict the accused. In the case of Sandusky, the grand jury investigation began in 2009 under commonwealth attorney general and later- governor Tom Corbett. The grand jury subpoenaed records from both Penn State and The Second Mile, and heard testimony from Victim 1 (Aaron Fisher), Mike McQueary, Joe Paterno, Tim Curley, Gary Schultz, Victim 7, Graham Spanier, Victim 4, and Ronald Petrosky (Penn State janitor). This grand jury did not recommend indictment.

Commonwealth attorney general Linda L. Kelly prepared a presentment which included credibility determinations about the testimonies received before the first grand jury for the second grand jury. This second grand jury heard testimony from Victim 3, Victim 5, and Victim 6. Kelly said that during the investigation there was an "uncooperative atmosphere" from some Penn State officials.

The investigation was initiated in the spring of 2008 after Aaron Fisher (identified in court papers as "Victim 1"), then a freshman at Central Mountain High School in Mill Hall, Pennsylvania, reported that Sandusky had been molesting him since age 12. Fisher met Sandusky through The Second Mile in the mid-2000s, when Sandusky began making advances toward Fisher which involved "inappropriate touching". At the time of the alleged actions, Sandusky was volunteering as an assistant football coach at Central Mountain High School, where these assaults took place.

Mike McQueary, then a graduate assistant and later assistant coach at Penn State, testified that on approximately February 9, 2001, he had been inside the Lasch Football Building, located on Penn State's University Park campus, when he witnessed a naked Sandusky standing directly behind a boy whose hands were up on the wall in the men's shower room. McQueary, distraught, left the building and called his father John, who told Mike to come over to his house right away and talk to him. While Mike was on the way to his father's, John called Dr. Jonathan Dranov, Mike's boss and family friend, seeking his advice. As President of Centre Medical and Surgical Associates, Dranov was a mandated reporter in the state of Pennsylvania. Dranov testified that he questioned Mike three times about what he saw, and each time Mike kept going back to what he witnessed. Because there was no clear crime witnessed by Mike, Dranov and John recommended he talk to head football coach Joe Paterno.

On Saturday morning, Mike McQueary called Paterno to arrange a meeting, and the two met at Paterno's home later that same morning. McQueary testified he gave a rough report of what he had seen but that, out of respect, he did not share more graphic details. Paterno left for Pittsburgh to attend an awards ceremony shortly after meeting with McQueary and did not return to State College until late Saturday night or Sunday morning. On Sunday morning, Paterno called then-athletic director Tim Curley regarding the incident. Curley, along with then-university vice president Gary Schultz, both went to Paterno's home, where Paterno told them about McQueary's story and advised them to speak directly to McQueary themselves to get the full details. In his grand jury testimony, Paterno said that he was told about Sandusky "fondling or doing something of a sexual nature" to the victim.

On Monday, Curley and Schultz reported the incident to Graham Spanier, who was president of Penn State at the time. Spanier told them to meet with the graduate assistant, which he was not told to be McQueary. Nine or ten days later (the exact date is unknown), McQueary received a phone call from Curley regarding the incident and set up a meeting with Curley and Schultz in the Bryce Jordan Center, either that same afternoon or the next day, to go over the details of what had happened in the shower room. Curley and Schultz both denied having been told about alleged anal intercourse. Curley denied that McQueary reported anything of a sexual nature whatsoever and described the conduct as merely "horsing around". Spanier likewise testified that he was only apprised of an incident involving Sandusky and a younger child "horsing around in the shower".

Curley then met with Sandusky and told him he was not to be using Penn State's athletic facilities with any young people, and Curley reported the incident to Jack Raykovitz, who, as the CEO of The Second Mile, was Sandusky's boss and also a mandated reporter. The Second Mile fell under the direct supervision and authority of Pennsylvania's Department of Public Welfare, and was a contractor of the local county office of Children and Youth Services. Raykovitz was also a highly trained professional on handling such allegations. He reported the incident to two board members of The Second Mile, Bruce Heim and Bob Poole, and told Sandusky to wear shorts in the shower in the future. Despite Penn State banning Sandusky from bringing boys onto the main campus after the McQueary incident, he was allowed to operate a summer camp through his Sandusky Associates company from 2002 to 2008 at Penn State's Behrend satellite campus near Erie, where he had daily contact with boys from fourth grade to high school.

One child's mother reported a 1998 incident to Penn State police when her son came home with his hair wet. After an investigation by Detective Ronald Shreffler, Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar chose not to prosecute. Shreffler testified before the grand jury that the director of the campus police then told him to drop the case, and that detectives had eavesdropped on conversations during which the mother confronted Sandusky about the incident. Sandusky admitted to showering with other boys and refused to discontinue the practice. Gricar was not available to testify, as he had disappeared in 2005.

Victims also commonly reported that Sandusky would place his hand on their thighs or inside the waistband of their underpants. Two recounted oral sex with Sandusky, sometimes culminating in his ejaculation. Penn State janitor James Calhoun reportedly observed Sandusky performing oral sex on an unidentified boy in 2000, but by the time of Sandusky's trial Calhoun was in a nursing home suffering from dementia; he was deemed not competent to testify.

According to the grand jury testimony, the assaults took place:

A hotel room in Texas.

Illustration of victims, people with alleged knowledge of alleged crimes, and official responses as of November 11, 2011

On November 4, 2011, commonwealth attorney general Linda L. Kelly indicted Sandusky on forty counts of sex crimes against young boys following a three-year investigation. Sandusky was arrested on November 5 and charged with seven counts of involuntary deviant sexual intercourse, as well as eight counts of corruption of minors, eight counts of endangering the welfare of a child, seven counts of indecent assault, and other offenses. Penn State officially banned Sandusky from campus on November 6. He was arrested again at his residence on December 7, 2011, on additional charges of sexual abuse.

Schultz and Curley, who had been found to be not credible by the grand jury, were charged with perjury and failure to report suspected child abuse. The indictment accused Curley and Schultz of not only failing to tell the police, but falsely telling the grand jury that McQueary never informed them of sexual activity. Sandusky was then released on $250,000 bail pending trial. Curley and Schultz appeared in a Harrisburg courtroom on November 7, where a judge set bail at $75,000 and required them to surrender their passports. Curley was placed on administrative leave, and Schultz resigned to go back into retirement. Spanier was criticized for issuing a statement expressing support for Curley and Schultz, while failing to express any concern for Sandusky's alleged victims.

Congressman Pat Meehan asked Education Secretary Arne Duncan to probe whether Penn State violated the Clery Act when it failed to report Sandusky's alleged actions on campus. Duncan announced an investigation into possible Clery Act violations at Penn State, saying that colleges and universities have "a legal and moral responsibility to protect children" and that Penn State's failure to report the alleged abuse would be a "tragedy". Officials in San Antonio, Texas also began investigating whether Sandusky molested one of the victims at the 1999 Alamo Bowl.

On February 24, 2012, the Harrisburg Patriot-News reported that U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smith was conducting a federal criminal investigation into Penn State - separate from the Clery Act investigation - in which he subpoenaed the school for information about Spanier, Sandusky, Curley, Schultz and The Second Mile. Specifically, Smith subpoenaed information about Sandusky's travel records in relation to allegations that he had molested boys at both the 1999 Alamo Bowl in San Antonio and the 1999 Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida. Although federal authorities would have jurisdiction in the case since Sandusky was accused of taking the boys across state lines, three former prosecutors interviewed by The Patriot-News believed that this investigation did not appear to be focusing on Sandusky, but instead on a possible coverup by school officials.

Commonwealth v. Sandusky

During Sandusky's trial, an accuser and Sandusky's wife Dottie both testified about the Alamo Bowl incident. The accuser said Sandusky was attempting to negotiate oral sex with him in a bathroom while Dottie was in the apartment, and that she came to the "edge" of the bathroom for a few words with Sandusky including, "What are you doing in there?" Dottie said Sandusky was having a disagreement, including yelling, with the boy-who she said was in the bathroom, but "clothed"-about attending a luncheon. She went on to characterize the boy as "very demanding. ... And he was very conniving. And he wanted his way, and he didn't listen a whole lot." Dottie testified when it was still uncertain whether Sandusky would testify. Though Sandusky's defense attorney Joe Amendola had said on the opening day of the trial that he would testify, Amendola ultimately rested the case without calling Sandusky to testify in his own defense.

On the evening of June 22, 2012, the jury found Sandusky guilty on 45 of the 48 counts against him. Following the announcement of the verdict, Judge John Cleland immediately revoked Sandusky's bail and ordered him to be taken into custody to await sentencing. Sandusky continued to maintain his innocence even after being convicted. His attorneys filed a notice to appeal the conviction.

Sandusky faced a maximum sentence of 442 years in prison. According to NBC News, he likely faced a minimum sentence of 60 years - at his age, effectively a life sentence. Sentencing was scheduled for October 9, 2012. At that hearing, prosecutors requested to the court that Sandusky be declared a sexually violent predator under Pennsylvania's version of Megan's Law, which would subject him to stringent reporting requirements if he is released. He would not only have to report his address to police every three months for the rest of his life, but would also have to participate in a court-approved counseling program. However, given his age, Sandusky will likely die in prison. Earlier, on August 30, the Pennsylvania Sexual Offenders Assessment Board recommended that Sandusky be declared a sexually violent predator.

Commonwealth v. Curley, Schultz, and Spanier

On November 1, 2012, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and NBC News, citing sources close to the investigation, reported that Spanier would be formally charged for his alleged role related to Sandusky's crimes. Later that day, Kelly announced that as part of a superseding indictment, Spanier, Curley and Schultz had been charged with grand jury perjury, child endangerment, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice in connection with the scandal. Spanier faced eight charges, three of which were felonies. A criminal docket was filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Preliminary hearings for Curley and Schultz were held on December 16, 2011. Prosecution presented several witnesses. McQueary took the stand again and testified that, on the night of the 2001 incident, he saw a 10- to 12-year-old Caucasian boy standing upright in the shower, facing the wall, and Sandusky directly behind him, with Sandusky's hands wrapped around the boy's "waist or midsection". McQueary estimated that the boy was roughly a foot shorter than Sandusky. He further stated that he "did not see insertion nor was there any verbiage or protest, screaming or yelling" and denied ever using the words "anal" or " rape" to describe the incident to anybody.

Spanier was sentenced to four to twelve months with two months in jail and four months house arrest, followed by two years of probation and a $7,500 fine. Spanier's conviction was subsequently overturned on appeal. Spanier's conviction was reinstated in December 2020, and he served 58 days in prison in summer 2021. Curley was sentenced to a seven to 23-month jail term, with four months of it as house arrest, followed by two years of probation and a $5,000 fine. Schultz was sentenced to a six to 23-month jail term also with four months of it as house arrest, followed by two years of probation and a $5,000 fine.

The Patriot-News was the first media outlet to report on the Sandusky grand jury investigation in March 2011. The story did not receive much attention outside of the immediate area, and many readers at the time assailed the newspaper for impugning the reputations of Sandusky and Penn State. Criminal charges against Sandusky were filed in November 2011. In April 2012, crime reporter Sara Ganim and members of the Patriot-News staff were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting for their coverage of the scandal.

Under Pennsylvania law of the time, any state employee who learned about suspected child abuse was required to report the incident to his immediate supervisor. In the case of the 2002 incident, McQueary reported the incident to his immediate supervisor, Paterno. In turn, Paterno reported the incident to his immediate supervisor, Curley, and also reported it to Schultz, to whom the University Police Department directly reported. For these reasons, Paterno and McQueary were not implicated in any criminal wrongdoing, since they did what they were legally required to do. However, once the incident came to light, Paterno was criticized for not going beyond the law to report the incident to police, or at least seeing to it that it was reported. Several advocates for victims of sexual abuse argued that Paterno should have faced charges for not going to the police himself when it was apparent Penn State officials were unwilling to act.

After McQueary was identified as the graduate assistant who reported the 2001 incident, he was criticized for not intervening to protect Sandusky's victim (an accusation McQueary has since disputed), as well as for not reporting the incident to police himself. On November 7, Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan said that though some may have fulfilled their legal obligation to report suspected abuse, "somebody has to question about what I would consider the moral requirements for a human being that knows of sexual things that are taking place with a child." Noonan added that anyone who knows about suspected abuse, "whether you're a football coach or a university president or the guy sweeping the building" has "a moral responsibility to call us." Paterno said McQueary informed him that "he had witnessed an incident in the shower ... but he at no time related to me the very specific actions contained in the Grand Jury report." Paterno was uncertain if being more graphic would have made a difference. "And to be frank with you I don't know that it would have done any good, because I never heard of, of, rape and a man," said Paterno. When he read the presentment after it became public, he asked his son, "What is sodomy, anyway?"

Further, following reports of the arrests, criticism of Penn State leadership and Paterno himself included calls for their dismissal for allegedly "protecting Penn State's brand instead of a child" and allowing Sandusky to retain emeritus status and unfettered access to the university, despite knowledge of the allegations of sexual abuse. In an interview with New York City radio station WFAN, sports reporter Kim Jones, a Penn State alumna, stated that, "I can't believe [Paterno's] heart is that black, where he simply never thought about [Sandusky's 2001 incident] again and never thought about those poor kids who were looking for a male mentor, a strong man in their life." Former sports commentator Keith Olbermann called for Paterno to be immediately fired, saying that "he failed all of the kids-the kid kids and the player kids-he purported to be protecting." In an editorial for the Centre Daily Times, literary critic Robert Bernard Hass, a Penn State alumnus, compared Paterno's downfall to a Greek tragedy and suggested that despite his many good deeds, pride and age contributed to his failure to report the incident to police. The Patriot-News published a rare full-page, front-page editorial in its November 8, 2011, edition, calling for Spanier's immediate resignation as Penn State president; it also called for this to be Paterno's last season coaching Penn State football. The same day, an editorial in the Post-Gazette called for the resignations of both Paterno and McQueary.

On November 14, Sandusky gave his first interview after being arrested. In a phone interview with NBC Sports's Bob Costas on Rock Center with Brian Williams, Sandusky denied the allegations, though he admitted showering with boys and inadvertently touching them "without intent of sexual contact". The interview received substantial coverage in the media, particularly regarding the manner in which Sandusky answered Costas when asked if he was sexually attracted to young boys:

COSTAS: "Are you sexually attracted to young boys, to underage boys?"

SANDUSKY: "Am I sexually attracted to underage boys?"
COSTAS: "Yes."

SANDUSKY: "Sexually attracted, you know, I enjoy young people. I love to be around them. But no, I'm not sexually attracted to young boys."

The media began to run various accounts of Penn State culture, as well as the prominence and power of football and of Paterno within it. Former Penn State employees, including a former vice president of student affairs Vickey Tripone, and former football grad assistant Matt Paknis - himself a child abuse survivor who admitted he noticed but failed to report Sandusky's behavior - stepped forward to critique the influence of the school's football program. Further stories detailed the loss of sponsorships, the damage to Penn State's merchandise sales, brand, student admissions, and the impact of the scandal on recent graduates.

On November 23, 2011, the editor of the Patriot-News wrote a column criticizing The New York Times for insufficiently protecting the identity of Victim 1. The Times both defended its reporting and published public editor criticism of the reporting.

Jack Raykovitz, the longtime president and CEO of The Second Mile, announced his resignation on November 14. In addition, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute's Angels in Adoption program subsequently rescinded its earlier 2002 award to Sandusky for his work with The Second Mile "in light of the serious allegations against him, and to preserve the integrity of the Angels in Adoption program."

The allegations impacted personnel and operations for Penn State. Penn State responded in various ways.

Ousting of Spanier, Curley, Paterno, and Schultz

Penn State President Graham Spanier released a statement of support for Curley and Schultz before being forced to resign.

Joe Paterno was heavily criticized for his reaction to the allegations and was subsequently forced to resign in the middle of the 2011 season.

On November 8, 2011, Spanier canceled Paterno's weekly Tuesday press conference, citing legal concerns. It was to have been the coach's first public appearance since Sandusky's arrest. Paterno later reported that Spanier canceled the press conference without providing him with an explanation. That same day, The New York Times reported that Penn State was planning Paterno's exit at the close of the 2011 college football season. Based on interviews with two individuals briefed on conversations among top university officials, the Times reported: "The Board of Trustees has yet to determine the precise timing of Mr. Paterno's exit, but it is clear that (he) will not coach another season." The following day, Associated Press reported that Paterno had decided to retire at the end of the 2011 season, saying that he didn't want to be a distraction. In a statement announcing his retirement, Paterno said, "It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more."

On the afternoon of November 9, Easton Express-Times reported that the board had given Spanier an ultimatum-resign before that night's meeting or be fired. At that night's meeting, Spanier offered his immediate resignation. The board accepted it and named provost Rodney Erickson as interim president. Several Penn State sources told StateCollege.com and the Patriot-News that Spanier and vice chairman John Surma mutually agreed that the best way forward for all involved would be for Spanier to resign "voluntarily and with grace." At the same meeting, the Board turned down Paterno's proposal to finish out the season and instead stripped him of his coaching duties immediately; defensive coordinator Tom Bradley was named the interim coach for the remainder of the season.

During the week after Paterno's firing, the Big Ten Conference removed his name from the championship trophy for its conference championship game, renaming it the Stagg Championship Trophy. The inaugural game was scheduled for December 2011, and the trophy was originally named the Stagg-Paterno Championship Trophy after both Paterno and Amos Alonzo Stagg, a college football pioneer. In addition, the Maxwell Football Club announced that the Joseph V. Paterno Award, presented to the college football coach who did the most to develop his players both on and off the field, would be discontinued.

An attorney retained by the families of some of Sandusky's victims criticized the decision by the Board to fire Paterno, saying, "The school let the victims down once, and I think they owed it to the victims to at least gauge how the immediate termination decision would impact them as opposed to Mr. Paterno's resignation at the end of the year." However, one of the trustees told Allentown Morning Call that the Board had no choice but to force Paterno to leave immediately to contain the growing outrage over the scandal. According to the trustee, the Board considered letting Paterno finish the season with Bradley as team spokesman, but ultimately decided that would still keep the focus on Paterno. The board also did not like that Paterno released statements on his own rather than through the school, with some board members feeling he may have breached his contract. The trustee also noted that he and many of his colleagues felt Paterno either "knew about [the abuse] and swept it under the rug, or he didn't ask enough questions." The board was also angered by Spanier's statements of support for Curley and Schultz. A few months later, chairman Steve Garban and vice chairman John Surma issued a statement saying that the board felt Paterno "could not be expected to continue to effectively perform his duties" in the wake of the scandal.

However, in late 2014 and early 2015, court depositions by trustees Kenneth Frazier and Keith Masser conflicted with the "failure of leadership" story. As stated by Masser in his deposition in state senator Jake Corman's lawsuit against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), "The decision to remove Coach Paterno had nothing to do with what he had known, what he hadn't done. It was based upon the distraction of having him on the sidelines would have caused the university and the current football team harm. It had nothing to do with what Coach Paterno had done, or hadn't done." Frazier's testimony added that, given what had been reported publicly and in the grand jury presentment, he felt that Coach Paterno leading the football team onto the field would not send the right message. It was his opinion that, although the board needed to be careful to understand all the facts, the decision about relieving Paterno of his coaching duties did not depend on knowing the key facts of Paterno's alleged involvement. Rather, given the seriousness of the matter, Frazier's concern was the public perception of the University's values if Coach Paterno were to remain as coach.

Spanier remained a tenured sociology professor at Penn State, despite being stripped of his duties as president. Likewise, Paterno remained a tenured member of the Penn State faculty, and was treated as having retired. The board was still finalizing Paterno's retirement package at the time of his death from lung cancer two months later, on January 22, 2012. On October 16, 2012, Penn State announced it would not renew Curley's contract when it expired in June 2013.

On November 21, 2011, Frazier announced that Louis Freeh, former director of the FBI, would lead an internal investigation into Penn State's actions. Freeh announced that the team assisting him in his investigation would include former FBI agents and federal prosecutors. As the Sandusky trial proceeded toward conviction in June 2012, it was reported that "[t]he university says that [Freeh's] report should be out this summer and will be released to the trustees and the public simultaneously without being reviewed by the school's general counsel's office".

The Freeh report was released on July 12, 2012. Freeh concluded that Paterno, Spanier, Curley and Schultz were complicit in "conceal[ing] Sandusky's activities from the Board of Trustees, the University community and authorities." According to Exhibit 2F of the report, Spanier and Schultz felt that approaching Sandusky as a first step was a more "humane" approach. Freeh's press release was critical of all four for not expressing the same feeling toward his victim. The report was also critical of Penn State's general counsel, Cynthia Baldwin. Freeh concluded that Schultz, Spanier, Curley and Paterno "failed to protect against a child sexual predator harming children for over a decade", as well as violated the Clery Act. The report also stated the four men not only made no effort to identify the victim of the 2001 incident, but alerted Sandusky to McQueary's allegations against him, thus potentially putting the victim in more danger.

In addition, the report said that the four men "exhibited a striking lack of empathy for Sandusky's victims by failing to inquire as to their safety and well-being." The report stated that the men knew about the 1998 incident but "empowered Sandusky to attract potential victims to the campus and football events by allowing him to have continued, unrestricted and unsupervised access to the University's facilities and affiliation with the University's prominent football program" while the investigation was underway. The report stated that Paterno was asked in January 2011 by the grand jury about inappropriate sexual conduct with young boys, other than the 2001 incident. He replied, "I do not know of it. ... I don't know. I don't remember." Spanier had granted Sandusky emeritus status, and the perquisites of that status, upon his retirement in 1999, to the dismay of provost Rodney Erickson and vice provost Robert Secor. In emails dated August 31, 1999, Erickson said, "Let's go ahead and grant it [ emeritus status], if Graham has already promised it," and Secor wrote, "But we are in a bind. Apparently Graham told [Sandusky] that we would do this, he was wholly within his rights here since the policy says, 'The President may grant (or deny) Emeritus Rank on an exception basis.'" Freeh found no evidence to show that Sandusky's retirement or emeritus rank was related to the events at the Lasch Building. In response, Penn State's trustees announced that they accepted the report's conclusions and would implement corrective measures.

On September 13, 2012, a group of alumni and supporters, under the name of Penn Staters for Responsible Stewardship, released a review of the Freeh report that was critical of their investigation and conclusions. On February 10, 2013, a report commissioned by the Paterno family was released by Richard Thornburgh, former U.S. Attorney General and former governor of Pennsylvania, maintaining that the report was "seriously flawed, both with respect to the process of [its] investigation and its findings related to Mr. Paterno". In response, Freeh called Thornburgh's report "self-serving" and said that it did not change the facts and findings of his initial investigation. On June 23, 2014, at Sandusky's pension forfeiture appeal, hearing arbiter Michael Bangs ruled that his pension be reinstated and criticized the Freeh report, stating it "was based on significant hearsay and was mostly ruled inadmissible (for the proceedings), [but] was admitted in part to show it had found Sandusky had received 71 separate payments from Penn State between 2000 and 2008". Later in a footnote, Bangs states, "The terrifically significant disparity between the finding in the Freeh report and the actual truth is disturbing. While the Freeh report found that Penn State had made 71 separate payments to [Sandusky] between 2000 and 2008, they were off by almost 85 percent, as the correct number was six separate payments". Bangs goes on to say that the error "calls into question the accuracy and veracity of the entire report".

In January 2012, sports journalist Sally Jenkins secured an interview with Paterno shortly before his death. During the interview, she asked him his views on the Sandusky sexual molestation allegations. Her report of the interview was published January 13, 2012. In it she drew no firm conclusions about Paterno's culpability, but simply reported his words, and those of his lawyer. On July 12, 2012, in a Washington Post follow-up column, after the release of the Freeh Report, Jenkins wrote: "Joe Paterno was a liar, there's no doubt about that now ... Paterno fell prey to the single most corrosive sin in sports: the belief that winning on the field makes you better and more important than other people."

A building owner removed Sandusky's image from a mural near the university, and the Penn State Creamery renamed an ice cream flavor which had been created in his honor. On top of ousting both Paterno and Spanier, the school also placed McQueary on indefinite paid administrative leave. Steve Garban resigned from the board of trustees after the release of the Freeh report, the first member of the board to do so since the scandal broke. One victim withdrew from Central Mountain High School due to bullying, and the boy's mother has stated that the high school did not do enough to prevent the fallout.

In January 2012, new university president Rodney Erickson traveled for a week to speak with alumni in New York, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia in an attempt to repair the university's image. At the meetings, Erickson received harsh criticism from alumni over the firing of Joe Paterno, and also received widespread criticism from the media for attempting to shift the focus away from the university.

After the Freeh report's release, local organizations called for the removal of the Joe Paterno statue outside Beaver Stadium. A small plane towed a banner over campus, reading Take the Statue Down or We Will. After some days of mixed messages, the school removed the statue on July 22, in front of a crowd of student onlookers. The statue was reportedly put in storage. Erickson said the statue had become "a source of division and an obstacle to healing" but made a distinction between it and the Paterno Library, also on campus. The $13 million 1997 library expansion, partially funded by a $4 million gift from Paterno and his wife Sue, "remains a tribute to Joe and Sue Paterno's commitment to Penn State's student body and academic success, and it highlights the positive impacts coach Paterno had on the university.... Thus I feel strongly that the library's name should remain unchanged," Erickson said in the statement.

Downtown State College was the location of the November 9-10 student protest.

A few Penn State students, angered over Spanier's role in the 2001 incident as well as his statement of support for Curley and Schultz, created a Facebook page, "Fire Graham Spanier", to call on Penn State's Board of Trustees to fire him. An online petition at change.org calling for Spanier's ouster garnered over 1,700 signatures in four days.

After Paterno's ouster was announced on live television, students and non-students protested near the Penn State campus. Sources estimate 10,000 people protested to support Paterno, with some tipping over a WTAJ news van. Some police officers used a "chemical spray" to disperse the demonstrators. Minor injuries were reported. Approximately $200,000 in damage resulted from the protest. Local police criticized the short notice from Penn State administration and the insufficient time to mobilize officers from other areas as factors exacerbating the situation. About 47 people were charged in connection with the protest, and some were subsequently sentenced to a combination of prison terms, probation, community service, and restitution.

On November 10, a group of Penn State alumni set up and announced ProudPSUforRAINN, a fundraiser for the anti-sexual violence network RAINN with a goal of $500,000, which was exceeded by July 10, 2012. Students also held a candlelight vigil on the lawn of Old Main. The planning for the vigil began the Monday before Paterno's firing and gained steam quickly across campus. It was shown live on news networks across the country, including CNN and ESPN. Former NFL player and sports broadcaster LaVar Arrington, a Penn State alum, spoke at the event which attracted an estimated 10,000.

On November 17, NCAA President Mark Emmert personally wrote Erickson to ask him how Penn State had exercised control over its athletic program in the wake of the scandal. The letter also demanded answers to four specific questions about how Penn State had complied with NCAA policies during that time. Penn State pledged full cooperation, but asked to defer its response until after the release of the Freeh report. On July 16, Emmert appeared on PBS' Tavis Smiley and said that with the release of the Freeh report, Penn State had "weeks, not months" to answer the questions he had raised in the November letter. He also hinted that he had not ruled out issuing the so-called " death penalty", which would have forced Penn State to cancel at least the 2012 season. The NCAA had not handed down a death penalty to a Division I school since Southern Methodist University (SMU) was hit with it in 1987 for massive violations in its football program.

Five years probation.

A four-year postseason ban.

Vacating of all wins from 1998 to 2011-112 wins in all. This had the effect of stripping the Nittany Lions of their shared Big Ten titles in 2005 and 2008. It also removed 111 wins from Paterno's record, dropping him from first to 12th on the NCAA's all-time wins list.

A $60 million fine, the proceeds of which were to go toward an endowment for preventing child abuse. According to the NCAA, this was the equivalent of a typical year's gross revenue from the football program.

Loss of a total of forty initial scholarships from 2013 to 2017. During the same period, Penn State was to be limited to 65 total scholarships-only two more than a Division I FCS (formerly I-AA) school was allowed.

Penn State was required to adopt all recommendations for reform delineated in the Freeh report.

Penn State entered into an "athletics integrity agreement" with the NCAA and Big Ten, appoint a university-wide athletic compliance officer and compliance council, and accepted an NCAA-appointed athletic integrity monitor for the duration of its probation.

The sanctions took the form of a sweeping consent decree in which Penn State accepted the findings of fact by the NCAA and waived any right to appeal the sanctions. A full release was granted to all players in the program, allowing them to transfer to another school without losing eligibility. According to ESPN's Don Van Natta, Jr., the NCAA and Penn State had already begun preliminary discussions about possible sanctions in mid-July. The Patriot-News reported that the NCAA formally forwarded its terms to Penn State's legal team on July 19. Discussions continued over the weekend, and the final agreement was essentially the NCAA's original proposal except for some minor concessions to Penn State. In announcing the sanctions, Emmert said that he intended the Penn State case to be "the cautionary tale of athletics overwhelming core values of the institution and losing sight of why we are really participating in these activities can occur." He also said that the sanctions were necessary to force Penn State to reform its athletic culture.

The Big Ten followed the NCAA actions, concurring with its findings by officially censuring Penn State and levying a separate fine of $13 million. In a statement, the conference stated that its intentions were "not to destroy a great university, but rather to seek justice and constructively assist a member institution with its efforts to reform." The Big Ten financial penalty came as Penn State gave up its four-year share of conference bowl revenue. The $13 million, as with the NCAA fines, will instead be donated to "help victims of child sex abuse".

Due to the deviation from normal NCAA investigative process as well as the nature of the sanctions, four trustees of the university filed an appeal of the sanctions. Board member Ryan McCombie, a 26-year U.S. Navy veteran who was elected to the board in July 2012 by members of the school's alumni association, led the trustee appeal. A letter filed on the trustees' behalf by Paul Kelly of Jackson Lewis LLP called the sanctions "excessive and unreasonable". The letter also argued that Erickson exceeded his authority in accepting the sanctions. In addition, a group of former Penn State football players, including former starting quarterback Michael Robinson, filed their own appeal. However, a spokesman for the NCAA held that the sanctions were not subject to appeal.

The NCAA later rescinded many of the sanctions against Penn State. On September 24, 2013, the NCAA announced that Penn State's scholarships would be gradually restored until the number of scholarships reached the normal 85 for the 2016-17 year, the first year after Penn State's postseason ban. A year later, on September 8, 2014, the NCAA announced that Penn State would be eligible for the 2014 postseason and all scholarships would be restored in 2015. Several months later, on January 16, 2015, the NCAA reinstated Paterno and Bradley's wins.

Emmert himself told ESPN's Bob Ley that the death penalty was "unequivocally on the table" as one of the possible sanctions. However, he said, Penn State's swift corrective measures after the scandal broke out in full-including forcing out Spanier and Paterno-were significant factors in ultimately taking the death penalty off the table. "Had Penn State not been as decisive as they were," Emmert said, "I don't know what the outcome would have been, but I suspect it would have been significantly worse." Emmert also repeated Ray's denial that Penn State had been threatened with a multi-year suspension had it not agreed to the penalties, saying there had been "some confusion" about those circumstances. He did say, however, that if Erickson and Penn State had not signed the consent decree, the NCAA would have launched a full-blown infractions investigation that would have had "an unknown outcome."

On November 28, 2011, Fisher and his mother hired attorneys to pursue civil claims against both parties. On November 30, the first lawsuit by a victim of sexual abuse was filed against Penn State and Sandusky alleging over 100 incidents of sexual abuse; the victim was identified in the suit only as "John Doe A." A man claiming to be the previously unknown victim of the shower incident ("Victim 2") stepped forward through his lawyers in July 2012 and stated his intentions to file a lawsuit against Penn State. His lawyers, Ross Feller Casey LLP, also released a pair of voicemails from September 2011 that were purportedly left for the firm's client by Sandusky.

On January 1, 2013, Governor Tom Corbett announced he would sue the NCAA in federal court over the sanctions imposed on Penn State. Although Corbett is an ex officio member of the board of trustees, Penn State was not involved in the suit. According to the AP, Corbett was filing an antitrust suit against the NCAA. Though he had originally "endorsed [the NCAA settlement in the immediate wake of the Freeh report] as 'part of the corrective process'", Corbett and other state lawmakers had recently begun to object to the prospect of the $60 million fine being spent mostly outside of Pennsylvania. One reason given for the objection is that there was no legal way Penn State could ensure that taxpayer money would not be used to pay the fine.

In sharply criticizing the governor's move in an editorial, The New York Times noted that Corbett "barely mentioned the young victims" in his statement. It continued: "In his complaints, the governor only confirmed the inquiry finding that the university's obsession with football predominance helped drive the cover-up of Mr. Sandusky's crimes." It also noted that, in the suit, Corbett "bypassed incoming state attorney general Kathleen Kane [who] in her election campaign last year ... promised to look into why it took so long for the pedophilia scandal to be investigated when Mr. Corbett previously served as attorney general". The Patriot-News said of the suit: "[It] comes after a year of withering criticism of Corbett by some quarters of the Penn State community, which has seen the governor and his fellow PSU trustees as too quick to brand former head coach Joe Paterno and others as fall guys for the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal." On June 6, 2013, federal Middle District Judge Yvette Kane said she could not "find any factual allegations" and threw out the lawsuit calling, it "a Hail Mary pass" that easily warranted dismissal.

Victim 6 filed a lawsuit against Penn State on January 22, 2013. However, the lawsuit was dismissed on November 6. A U.S. District Judge in Philadelphia ruled in favor of Penn State, stating that the university could not legally be held liable for Sandusky's actions simply because he was employed there. The judge stated that Victim 6 failed "to explain how molestation was the kind of act that Penn State employed Sandusky to perform." On November 21, Victim 9 sued Penn State, citing that the male victim had been unable to reach a settlement with the institution. Stephen E. Raynes of Raynes McCarty released a statement that he and his team had been working closely with Michael Rozen to reach a settlement for Victim 9. Because of Penn State's refusal to compensate his client, they filed a civil lawsuit in an attempt to "compel Penn State to finally fulfill its responsibilities to this young man."

Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association Insurance

In February 2012, Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association Capital Insurance Company (PMACIC), Penn State's liability insurer, asked the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas to limit its exposure from a lawsuit filed by an alleged victim of Sandusky due to both the time of coverage of the policies and possible "intentional conduct" of the university. PMA Capital Insurance Co. should not be confused with the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association, which had a business relationship with Penn State dating back to the 1950s. The Association sold its insurance business to PMA Capital Insurance Company of Blue Bell, PA in 2004. PMA Capital Insurance Co, was sued by the university in February 2013 after the company refused to cover claims from thirty men alleging abuse by Sandusky. As part of the litigation, PMACIC brought in a lawyer with expertise in sex abuse cases to examine how Penn State vetted claims before paying alleged victims. Noting a surprising lack of documentation, the lawyer wrote, "It appears as though Penn State made little effort, if any, to verify the credibility of the claims."

Penn Live reported that a court order connected to the PMACIC case stated that Paterno was allegedly told in 1976 about an accusation of sexual abuse by Sandusky. PMA documents alleged that a boy told Paterno he had been molested by Sandusky, who was then an assistant coach. The order also cited reports by unnamed assistant coaches who said they witnessed inappropriate contact between Sandusky and some children, according to the ruling by Philadelphia Judge Gary Glazer. Penn State spokesman Lawrence Lokman said university officials involved in cases related to the Sandusky scandal were aware of the new allegations contained in the insurance case broadly; Lokman said to Penn Live: "Many, many people, potential victims and victims have come forward to the university as part of that (settlement) process... We do not talk about their specific circumstances." CNN reported one of the victims, identified as Victim A, had told Paterno about an incident in a bathroom as early as 1971.

NBC also reported that one former Penn State assistant coach witnessed an incident in the late 1970s, and three other coaches-who have gone on to work in pro level and other colleges-allegedly saw inappropriate conduct between Sandusky and young boys in the 1990s. Risk management expert Raymond Williams identified three incidents with some of the assistant coaches on the Penn State staff at the time, and three others that were reported to university officials; and whether the key officials should have had knowledge about child sex-assault allegations involving Sandusky in each of the six different cases dating to 1976. McQueary alleged former Penn State assistant coaches Greg Schiano and Tom Bradley knew about earlier transgressions by Sandusky. In a deposition related to the PMA case, McQueary claimed that upon telling Bradley what he had seen, Bradley was not shocked and related a story about a time in the 1990s when Schiano had witnessed Sandusky doing something with a boy. Bradley and Schiano denied the allegations.

Penn State president Eric Barron said the accusations were "unsubstantiated and unsupported by any evidence other than a claim by an alleged victim", and claimed the university is being subjected unfairly to "rumor, innuendo and rush to judgment". Barron acknowledged the school's board had spent tens of millions of dollars without making an effort to corroborate claims. "None of these allegations ... has been substantiated in a court of law or in any other process to test their veracity," Barron wrote. The university hired settlement experts Kenneth Feinberg and Michael Rozen to handle the claims.

The settlement agreements required victims to release several organizations, and anyone connected to them, from lawsuits, including The Second Mile. An Indianapolis attorney who represents sex abuse victims said, "That's not normal. Why would Penn State care about The Second Mile?" and that he had never encountered a defendant requesting a liability release for a separate organization. Penn State alumni trustee Al Lord said, "There's only one reason [for the release], and that was to protect ... members of the board who were involved at the Second Mile." The trustee who chaired the board committee that oversaw negotiations was Ira Lubert, a friend of a former Second Mile board chair as well as part-owner of a summer camp The Second Mile visited. Nicholas Mirkay, a University of Hawaii law school professor and nonprofit governance expert, found it surprising Penn State leadership allowed a board member with even a tangential connection to the Second Mile to lead settlement negotiations.

In October 2016, a jury found that Penn State had defamed McQueary, and awarded him $7 million in damages. Penn State appealed the ruling in November 2016, and the case judge also awarded an additional almost $5 million to McQueary based on a separate charge that his firing was retaliation for whistleblowing. McQueary eventually settled the case for an undisclosed amount before the appeal was heard.

In November 2016, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it sought to fine Penn State nearly $2.4 million for violating the Clery Act. The violations include failing to alert the public about Sandusky's conduct and other campus dangers. Penn State officials have said that they will not appeal the fine.

Finding #1: Clery Act violations related to the Sandusky matter (proposed fine: $27,500).

Finding #2: Lack of administrative capability as a result of the University's substantial failures to comply with the Clery Act and the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act throughout the review period, including insufficient training, support, and resources to ensure compliance (proposed fine: $27,500).

Finding #3: Omitted and/or inadequate annual security report and annual fire safety report policy statements (proposed fine: $37,500).

Finding #4: Failure to issue timely warnings in accordance with federal regulations.

Finding #5: Failure to properly classify reported incidents and disclose crime statistics from 2008-2011 (proposed fine: $2,167,500).

Finding #6: Failure to establish an adequate system for collecting crime statistics from all required sources (proposed fine: $27,500).

Finding #7: Failure to maintain an accurate and complete daily crime log.

Finding #8: Reporting discrepancies in crime statistics published in the annual security report and those reported to the department's campus crime statistics database (proposed fine: $27,500).

Finding #9: Failure to publish and distribute an annual security report in accordance with federal regulations (proposed fine: $27,500).

Finding #10: Failure to notify prospective students and employees of the availability of the annual security report and annual fire safety report (proposed fine: $27,500).

Finding #11: Failure to comply with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (proposed fine: $27,500).

At the time of the NCAA sanctions, one columnist had characterized them (scholarship restrictions, a bowl ban, loss of revenue) as a fate "worse than death" for the Penn State football program - noncompetitiveness on the field. In addition to the expected damage to future recruiting from those sanctions, the NCAA had enacted a temporary exception to transfer rules which allowed current scholarship players to leave the tainted program.

Only one high profile player left State College, and the football program did not experience a losing season between Paterno's firing and the first post-sanction bowl game. The football team posted winning records of 9-4 in 2011, 8-4 in 2012, 7-5 in 2013, and 7-6 in 2014. In 2015 the arrival of running back Saquon Barkley heralded 11 win seasons in 2016 and 2017.

Penn State's Aa1 revenue-bond rating was "placed on review for possible downgrade" by Moody's Investors Service because of the scandal's possible effects on the university's finances. After the school was removed from the watchlist in February 2012 and assigned a "negative outlook" within that rating class due to its "ongoing uncertainty", Moody's again considered downgrading the bond rating the following July. In October 2012, Moody's downgraded Penn State's bond rating to Aa2 citing "anticipation of the substantial financial impact on the university from the ultimate cost of future settlements and possible judgments". It would not be until February 2016 that Penn State would see its rating restored to Aa1, with Moody's citing a stable outlook and the university's ability to continue operating despite Pennsylvania's delay in enacting 2016 appropriations.

Moushey, Bill; Dvorchak, Robert (2012). Game Over: Jerry Sandusky, Penn State, and the Culture of Silence. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780062201133.

Fisher, Aaron; Gillum, Michael; Daniels, Dawn (2012). Silent No More: Victim 1's Fight for Justice Against Jerry Sandusky. Ballantine Books. ISBN 978-0345544162.

Smith, Ronald A. (2016). Wounded Lions: Joe Paterno, Jerry Sandusky, and the Crises in Penn State Athletics. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-252-08149-1.

Pendergrast, Mark (2017). The Most Hated Man in America: Jerry Sandusky and the Rush to Judgement. Sunbury Press. ISBN 978-1620067659.

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Penn State child sex abuse scandal - Wikipedia

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The Penn State child sex abuse scandal concerned allegations and subsequent convictions of child sexual abuse committed by Jerry Sandusky, an assistant coach for the Penn State Nittany Lions football team, over a period of at least fifteen years.

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Title IX compliance poses challenges for institutions with financial constraints, often leading to the elimination of men’s sports or capping rosters to fund women’s programs. Increasing opportunities for female student-athletes is another strategy. The 2010 Biediger v. Quinnipiac University case addressed roster management and gender equity, ruling in favor of female athletes seeking equal opportunities.

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The Annual Race and Gender Report Card, published by the University of Central Florida, assesses diversity in college athletics, focusing on hiring practices for athletic directors and coaches. It highlights challenges in achieving diversity in both racial and gender representation. The report tracks changes over time and calls for more equitable opportunities for underrepresented groups.

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University of Central Florida News | UCF Today

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Making the Grade: Gender and Racial Report Cards Hold Sport Organizations Accountable for Hiring Practices

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The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport has recently released its 2021 Complete Racial and Gender Report Card.

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Issue: Diversity in Division 1 Coaching/Staff

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Issue: Diversity in Division 1 Coaching/Staff

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In 2012, the Annual Race and Gender Report Card revealed that only 12.5% of FBS head coaches and 18.6% of Division I men’s basketball coaches were African American, the lowest in over a decade. Women represented just 8.2% of Division I athletic director positions, and 100% of FBS conference commissioners were white men.

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Mar 22, 2023

Richard LapchickContributing Writer, ESPN.com

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American leader of the sports boycott of South Africa from 1975 until the end of apartheid

Chair of the DeVos Sport Business Management Graduate Program at the University of Central Florida

Author of 16 books and the annual Racial and Gender Report Card

Directs UCF's Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport

Director of the National Consortium for Academics and Sport

Editor's note: Richard Lapchick is a human rights activist, pioneer for racial equality, expert on sports issues, scholar and author.
March might signal the time when college sports looks to be at its best. With March Madness under way for both men's and women's basketball, the excitement is palpable.

That is why we are releasing today the 2022 College Sport Racial and Gender Report Card, which is produced by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) at the University of Central Florida (UCF). While college sport certainly shines on the courts and playing fields, it has a long way to go to match that excellence in its hiring practices. So many fans root for the underdog in a game, but university leaders continue to go with the long standing power structure: white men. Women and people of color are too often on the sidelines.

College sports received a C for racial hiring practices when it decreased slightly from 75.1% in 2021 to 73.3% in 2022. College sports also received a C for gender hiring, with 74.1%, which was a slight increase from 2021 when it was 72.8%. The combined grade was a C with 73.7%. That was down from 74.0% in 2021. In other words, overall, equal opportunity hiring practices are getting worse instead of improving.

As we look at the sidelines in the tournament, we see the best record for hiring of people of color and women as head coaches. But the coaches of color represent a fraction of the student-athletes on their teams. In 2021-22, Division I men's basketball Black student-athletes made up 52.4% of the total, compared to the 24.8% of Black head coaches. We have a smaller percentage of Black head basketball coaches now than we had 17 years ago, when 25.2% of the Division I head basketball coaches were Black.

"The imbalance between campus leadership and student-athletes has been and is a major concern," Arne Duncan, the former Secretary of Education who now chairs the Knight Commission, told me. "The disparity certainly does not reflect the stated commitments of those institutions to diversity, equity and inclusion. For collegiate athletics to thrive and grow, leaders of these institutions must embrace diversity and inclusion at a higher level. Our coaches should better reflect those student-athletes who play for them."

In 2021-22, white people still dominated the head coaching positions, holding 84.1%, 85.2% and 89.0% of the positions within men's sports in Divisions I, II, and III, respectively. Opportunities for Black head coaches continued to be poor in 2021-22. Black head coaches held 9.9%, 6.7% and 6.3% of the men's head coaching positions in Divisions I, II, and III, respectively.

In 2021-22, women held 42.0% of head coaching positions at the Division I level for women's sports, while they held only 4.9% of the head coaching positions at the Division I level for men's sports. In Division II, women comprised 35.6% of the head coaches of women's teams. At the Division III level, women held 43.8% of all head coaches for women's teams. Overall, women held 40.5% of the head coaching positions for women's sports for all three divisions combined. While some categories did increase slightly, they are all reflective of how far women must go to achieve equality under Title IX more than five decades after its adoption.

Looking at women's teams, white people held 80.6%, 84.5% and 88.1% of the head coaching positions in Divisions I, II, and III, respectively. Black head coaches held 10.2%, 6.4% and 6.3% of the women's head coaching positions in Divisions I, II and III, respectively.

"Reflecting on this TIDES report card, and our own extensive research, the intersection of gender and race exposes the greatest disparities," said Danette Leighton, CEO of the Women's Sports Foundation. "Leadership positions on and off the field of play should reflect the vast diversity of our country and those playing the game. This report series shines a light on the changes needed to reach true equity in coaching, the front office, the boardroom and beyond."

Among the reasons for this overwhelming number of white people and men is who controls the position of athletics director. In 2021-22, excluding HBCUs, white people held 78.6%, 90.4% and 89.4% of the athletics director positions in Divisions I, II and II, respectively. Black athletic directors in each division, they held 14.3%, 5.7%, and 7.2% of the athletics director positions in Divisions I, II and II, respectively. That was a slight increase in each division for Black Ads.

The percent of women athletics directors in Division I slightly increased, from 14.0% to 15.0% in 2021-2022. Women continued to remain very underrepresented in the athletics director position. It was better in Divisions II and III, where women held 25.0% and 33.0% of the AD positions, respectively. Among the women who are Ads, white women made up 10.7%, 22.9% and 28.5% of the positions. Black women held 2.1%, 1.4% and 3.6% of the AD positions in Divisions I, II and III, respectively.

But as one can see, as you go to Divisions II and III, opportunities for Blacks ADs get slimmer. This is also reflected on men's and women's teams. On the other hand, opportunities for women as athletics directors increase in Divisions II and III, respectively.

While the opportunities for women increased as you went below Division I, they decreased for people of color in general.

"In the aftermath of the so-called 2020 racial reckoning, we were told that change was inevitable regarding the leveling of the playing field for coaches and AD's in college athletics," said Dr. Jeff O'Brien, the CEO of the Institute for Sport and Social Justice. "The data in this Racial and Gender Report Card make clear that this change has not occurred. The abysmal percentages of women and people of color in head coach and athletic director roles provide us with the tip of the iceberg. The real story lies beneath the surface, in the darkness, where systemic racism and sexism thrive and ensure the status quo is maintained. But, bemoaning this dynamic or promising to do better in the future are not adequate. A true reckoning, with clear expectations and consequences, is required if we intend to manifest an equitable tomorrow."

In 2021-22 there were nine women and seven people of color as conference commissioners in all of Division I out of 30 conferences, excluding the HBCU conferences. However, in the FBS there remained only one woman serving as commissioner and two commissioners of color out of 10 conferences. The appointment of two Black FBS commissioners three years ago marked a significant breakthrough. However, in January 2023, the Chicago Bears hired Kevin Warren as their president after he had been commissioner of the Big Ten. Gloria Nevarez became the first woman of color to head an FBS conference when she was named commissioner of the Mountain West Conference in November 2022.

At the NCAA national office, the total percentage of women serving in full-time staff positions was 54.5%, down slightly from 54.6%. For senior leadership, women held 41.2% and people of color represented 23.5%. Women held 57.9% of the professional administrative positions. People of color held 25.5% of the professional administrative positions.

The percentages of people of color in the positions of executive vice president, senior vice president and vice president decreased from last year's report at 31.6% to 23.5%. However, women in those positions increased in 2021, from 36.8% to 41.2%, respectively. The four people of color to hold these positions were Black.

The percentage of executives at the managing director/director positions who were people of color was 25.0% in 2022, an increase of 4.3 percentage points from 2021.

While the NCAA national office does significantly better than college sports overall, even it has a long way to go to be in a position where women and people of color share the leadership.

We need help to change this. As O'Brien pointed out, the hopes for change emanating from the racial reckoning with heightened awareness so far have not hastened change. But I believe that athlete activism taking aim at the hiring practices would be a real catalyst. I have been suggesting that they could pressure corporate partners to pressure the universities.

After seeing the results in the first year of the Russell Rule (named after the legendary Bill Russell), I am even more convinced that we need what I have been calling the (Eddie) Robinson and (Judy) Sweet Rules. The Robinson and Sweet Rule(s) would, if adopted, make all openings for senior positions as well as coaching positions require at least two diverse candidates in the final selection process. The Russell Rule called for one diverse candidate and in its first year more than half of the senior openings in the West Coast Conference were filled either by a woman or a person of color. I don't care what we call the rule, but university leaders need to be required to have diverse pools of candidates.

Those seeking change can join me and other leaders like the Rev. Jesse Jackson, founder and director of Rainbow PUSH, and must hit harder to resurrect the momentum created by the racial reckoning.

"I am always so excited to watch all of the amazing drama on the court during March Madness," Jackson said. "This is the annual showcase of tremendous talent in NCAA basketball, and a way to highlight dozens of colleges where lives are being shaped for the future."

Jackson said the report card "again raises a concerning reality that ethnic minorities in the coaching ranks represent a small fraction of the student-athletes we see on the court. With so many players of color on the court, one would be hopeful to see more people of color working off the court. An intentional plan to increase minority leadership in those various institutions of higher learning is critical to ensure that equity and equality is present throughout management, administration as well as coaching in the college ranks."

Jackson said Rainbow PUSH Sports would take an aggressive approach to addressing this issue by creating sports career fairs throughout the year, inviting sports professionals and decision makers to interact with student-athletes, college students and career seekers to develop more pipelines while providing exposure and meaningful connections. He said during this year's men's Final Four, the group will be present to engage the NCAA, while also supporting the 2nd Annual HBCU All Star game that weekend in Houston.

Said Jackson: "There has never been a talent deficit, but an opportunity and exposure deficit that perpetuates these unfortunate issues in hiring. I feel it's my duty to ensure that we can bring both sides together to improve the game and fill March Madness with even more GLADNESS."

This is a time when our voices need to be amplified and our messages for diversity, equity and inclusion to become operating principles in our athletic departments and at the NCAA headquarters.
Richard E. Lapchick is the Director of The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) in the College of Business Administration at the University of Central Florida. He is the author of 17 books and the annual Racial and Gender Report Card and is the President of the Institute for Sport and Social Justice. He has been a regular commentator for ESPN.com on issues of diversity in sport. Follow him on Twitter @richardlapchick and on Facebook.

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College sports' racial, gender hiring practices getting worse instead of improving

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Mar 22, 2023 Richard LapchickContributing Writer, ESPN.com Close American leader of the sports boycott of South Africa from 1975 until the end of apartheid Chair of the DeVos Sport Business Management Graduate Program at the University of Central Florida Author of 16 books and the annual Racial and Gender Report Card Directs UCF's Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport Director of the National Consortium for Academics and Sport Editor's note: Richard Lapchick is a human rights activist, pioneer for racial equality, expert on sports issues, scholar and author.

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In 2009, former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon sued the NCAA, EA Sports, and the Collegiate Licensing Company, alleging antitrust violations for using athletes’ likenesses without compensation. The lawsuit expanded to seek 50% of conference TV revenues. In 2012, only 23 of 228 Division I athletic programs reported a budget surplus, highlighting financial challenges in collegiate sports.