upon further review

Yesterday morning I tweeted that the NCAA should consider imposing its "death penalty" on the Penn State University football team in the wake of the sexual scandal surrounding the program. Less than a minute later I tweeted that my first tweet was too harsh. Having spent the day listening, reading and watching news coverage of the scandal, I changed my mind again. Then I woke up this morning, and found myself torn on the issue.

One one hand, Penn State football had nothing to do with Jerry Sandusky being a perverted, lustful predator. The current players and possibly some members of the coaching, training and athletic administration staffs had no knowledge of and took no part in Sandusky's heinous acts or the keeping quiet that allowed his terrorism of pre-adolescent boys to continue for over a decade.

On the other hand, it was the specter of Penn State football and the insane amount of revenue and worship it generates that motivated those with knowledge of Sandusky's criminal acts to remain silent. Sandusky used Penn State football to lure his victims. Protecting the image of Penn State football was the motivation for keeping the scandal a secret for so long. Students rioted in State College on Wednesday night because of their inane devotion to Penn State football and its fallen icon.

Losing football would cripple Penn State University. It would be awful and unfair to the players on the team, and it would enrage and devastate members of its community and people throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And yet, being aware of all that, I can't say it would be the wrong thing to do.

Approximately 100,000 people will gather to watch a football game in State College, PA at noon on Saturday. But that game should not take place.

There was a cancer festering in the Penn State football program - one that infected others in the University's administration. It's too soon to know whether or not all of it has been removed. Penn State needs to hit the reset button on their football program. They need to clean house and start fresh with entirely new coaching and administrative staffs next year.

In the meantime, playing football is of little consequence for Penn State. Football has become far too large a part of its culture - it needs to be diminished and the many positive qualities of the University need to be appreciated. It's harsh and unfair, but maybe letting go of the remainder of the season is the best way to do that.

Should this be what Beaver Stadium looks like on Saturday?