Saban: Tax Penn St. to help abuse victims

Associated Press
Posted: July 20, 2012

HOOVER, Ala. - Nick Saban said one option to address the Penn State tragedy might be a ticket tax on athletic events and giving the proceeds to child-abuse funds.

The Alabama football coach said the priority should be the same as in disciplining a player: Try to produce some good from a negative situation.

Longtime Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky was convicted last month of sexually abusing 10 boys.

"This is a very, very criminal situation that probably reflects poorly on a lot of folks," Saban told a small group of reporters Thursday before speaking at Southeastern Conference media day. "It's probably too almost raw to really have a feeling that I can express. I think that what we all should probably be thinking a little bit more about is what do we want to be the outcome of this? Something that's a win-win type thing, for kids in the future, the people that are there now, the players that are there now.

"Maybe they ought to tax all the tickets that they sell on athletics and give the proceeds to some child-abuse organization. Or something like that, rather than worrying about some punishment that is really going to have no positive affect on anything."

The Alabama coach didn't go into details of how a tax would be implemented. He stressed his comments had to do more with philosophy than a real recommendation.

Meanwhile, an attorney for the city of Grambling, La., the home of Grambling State University, has asked the NCAA infractions committee to vacate some of Paterno's record 409 Division I victories.

Coach Eddie Robinson led Grambling to 408 victories during his career with the Tigers, a total that was passed by Paterno less than two weeks before he was fired. City attorney Pamela Breedlove said she filed the request with the approval of Mayor Edward Jones because the university is such a valued and important part of the city. The Shreveport (La.) Times first reported the request.

NCAA spokesman Amy Kudwa Dunham confirmed that the letter had been received, but added that the "issue is not before the infractions committee at this time."

She declined additional comment.

Grambling plays in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA), a step below the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A), which is where Penn State competes.

Index by Keyword
|
Index by Date
|
About Philly.com
|
Contact Us
|
Terms of Use & Privacy Statement
|
Copyright 2013