APRather than punishing Penn State through NCAA sanctions or a football ban, Alabama coach Nick Saban has what he feels is a more productive idea for the Nittany Lions going forward in the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.
Add a tax to ticket sales for athletic events and giving the proceeds to a child abuse charity.
The focus, Saban said, should be on asking “what do we need to do to make it better” rather than making things worse for those who had nothing to do with the Sandusky allegations.
Of course, it would be the fans who have to deal with the financial consequences of Saban’s idea. As was noted in our one-liners last night, ticket sales for Penn State football games are still going strong.
Thoughts, Penn State fans? Would you be okay with a ticket tax for sporting events if the proceeds went to abuse victims?
(Hat tip: AP)
No.
I would be ok with them taking a portion of current ticket prices and using that money towards the victims. Otherwise it is the university once more passing accountability.
Anything to keep the all-important football games going.
Adding a tax on top of the normal ticket price is absurd. Not that the money could be used for charitable contributions, but the ticket holders bear the cost of that extra fee. The university needs to bear the cost and all responsibility for what happened, not the fan base.
The university can certainly donate large sums of money to the organizations that would benefit outside of anything going on with the athletic dept. The Univ needs to pay the price of sorrow, not the fan base.
Nick C’est Bon is one of the very best college football coaches, and one of the best defensive minds in football, but, he did not think this out.
The fans did not cover up anything. The students did not cover up anything. They will bear the brunt of the tax and gifts to charities (hopefully which help victims of sexual abuse such as RAINN). I know Saban does not like the “Death Penalty” to come down on any school, not even SMU, when that happened. So he is coming at this from a point of view established many years ago.
Any penalty should be upon the school or department, not upon the students. Maybe a portion of the ticket price can be set aside and paid from the school to the charity? Otherwise, no tax of any kind on the already high ticket prices which would penalize fans.
A large enough chunk of Penn State fans have shown to be out of touch, delusional, and apologistic (probably not a word) enough through all this it’s the least they can do.
Who’s he think he is Obama? Adding a tax to tickets afffects innocent people and no one else.
For a genius he’s not too smart
As for the out of touch part, the comments saying it wouldn’t be right for the fans and students to pay for the cover up well tough. The tax would go to the victims of child sex abuse. If you have a problem paying a few extra dollars for the cause, well it just shows how out of touch you really are. All you Penn Staters ever talk about is how great a community your school is and all the good Paterno did shouldn’t be completely over shadowed. Well then unite as a community for the sake of the victims then and stop worrying about Paterno’s legacy. You come off as transparent and hypocritical. Pay the few dollars and shut up. It’s the least you can do.
Hey ningenidiot why don’t you just shut your trap
The students will be the ones who will shine in the end. I think they will develop something similar to THON which only raises about $10,000,000 a year for pediatric cancer. Its only like the biggest student run charity in the WORLD.
What have you done ningenidiot to make a difference other than bash bash bash.
By suggesting they add a tax to fans that buy tickets is ludirious… If there is even a PSU football season this year, the ticket holders should not be the ones paying the price/tax. This should strictly come from the Athletic Department and school.
PSU has one of the largest Alumni orgs and donated more than a million to RAINN, which I was one. I would venture to say majority of the Alumni is appalled by the actions of many at our University and unfortunately the Court of Public Opinion is choosing to destroy everyone and everything associated with PSU.
Yes there are some idiot college kids that have rioted and are currently camping out “protecting” the statue, but lets not lump everyone associated with Penn State into this group.
Ticket prices should stay the same and portions should be taken from that. Penalize the schools profits not the fans’ pockets.
Not a Penn State fan, and wouldn’t have been at any of their games anyway, but I agree with prior comments that this was wrongdoing by THE SCHOOL, not the FANS – so the sting of any punishment should be felt by the SCHOOL, not the FANS.
So my idea – let Penn State keep their program, but for the next two years, forfeit 100% (yes … 100%) of all ticket revenue to the victims and childrens’ charities. The fans get to keep their program, the student athletes don’t pay the price, the school doesn’t lose forward momentum like SMU, and all it costs them is a few measly millions, all of which goes to a good cause.
Oh, and melt down the Paterno statue and sell it for scrap metal. That money goes to charity too.
Hey ningenidiot maybe your the one that needs to shut your trap
My opinion is the students and alumni will start something similar to THON or donate some of those funds,which raises $10,000,000 a year for pediatric cancer. I believe that makes it the largest student run philanthropy in the WORLD
Six zeros means 10 million in case you weren’t sure ningenidiot. Im sure you’ll find something negative to write about that too.
What have you done ningenidiot to make a difference other than bash bash bash.
And what have you done? The Penn St fan base has come out of this looking like a bunch of idiot children. I bet you morons wouldn’t have trouble paying a ticket tax if your football team needed help with travel expenses to the Fiesta Bowl. I can care less about the cancer research. Many schools do that. But only one harbored a pedophile and allowed him to do what he did in the football facilities. Your ticket money helped build those facilities. Do you have a problem with a tax to help the victims? Sounds like you do. Which is pathetic.
Hey psuravens don’t mention RAINN and all the positive that Penn State alumni and students do it completely interferes with idiots trying to drag everything Penn State thru the mud.
Not too mention the media doesn’t want people to hear that because positive news doesnt draw out the comments and the trolls
How many raise 10 mil. Year? I’ll await your answer.
As for what I do I don’t really m
Leave it to the SEC to come up with a moronic idea. A “tax” is a financial burden added to the current burden of the masses. No Nick, its not OK to have the average guy (who is alreadt paying $70-80 per ticket to see his favorite team) and ask him to pay more because the coaches and administrators of his favorite team commited a crime and covered up Felonies. I have a better idea, From Jan 1,2013 to Jan 30, 2014 ALL proceeds from Ticket sales, concessions, parking, merchandise, etc that relates to the football program should be forfeited to Non-profit groups that help children recover from rape and adult abuse. And Nick, STFU and go back to coaching– you are showing yourself to be a complete jackass. A “tax” to you is nothing because you are loaded, the average guy shouldnt have to shoulder the load.
I dont need to discuss with you what I do
Nick saban isn’t exactly qualified to come up with a solution. That’s why it’s stupid and unnecessary.
I said a long time ago that this is all about revenue for PSU and that it should hit them where it hurts most. Let the program go on and divert any revenue to charitable causes, not only tickets (no stupid tax) but TV revenue, bowl games etc. Let the money flow to where it is needed aqnd appropriate and let the university cough up to save their precious football program. that way the atheletes dont suffer neither do aqnd “die hard” fans.
Saban you stole my idea!
Danny: 10 million = SEVEN zeroes, not six.
I don’t care much for the actual tax… but I definetly like his idea of using psu funds, via sports tickets, for the better good. Obviously this will never make up for what has happened, but it would definetly go a ways in saying “sorry” to abuse victims. The only way this works, is if psu actually gives up a large portion of profit(20-35%), making the attempt to show contrition.
It’s simple, have Penn St. Univ, not the fan, pay a tax for each ticket they sell to a fan.
What a moron! Can you imagine what these guys are telling their athletes on a daily basis…Great solution Saban…Maybe they can just flee the scene like you did in Michigan State and Miami. I want to make sue I attend the Coaches Convention this year to hear from Pinkel, Saban, John L. Smith, and all the other perrennial sophmores coaching college football.
A tax?
Saban must be a Democrat !
Wow, amazing disconnect in the comments between what people think universities are, who/what is responsible, and who has money.
Universities ARE the staff, faculty, alumni, students, and fans…all of that, not just the people on the pay roll. Universities don’t really have any money, that is why they are always “fund raising”, seeking donations, and fighting cuts to their budgets from the state. Educating people is expensive and takes time…it doesn’t create profit for the university.
All the money athletics programs make stays in the athletics programs and they still run in the red and take money from the general fund. Athletics are great PR for universities, but they don’t make money for any of them. Those getting rich off of the NCAA are coaches, NCAA administrators, and media outlets (ESPN, Fox, etc.), not the universities.
The people responsible for the cover up are some combination of dead, on trial, and fired. Yes, others could have done more (by trusting administrators less) to make a cover up more difficult, but other didn’t know what was going on. At least Saban is on the right track by focusing on what should be done…in the end, the fans, students, and alumni are going to be the ones footing the bill, because it is their money that runs the place….public universities don’t have any money of their own (though some have endowments off of which they glean some of their operating budgets).
paperlions says:
Jul 19, 2012 2:37 PM
“All the money athletics programs make stays in the athletics programs and they still run in the red and take money from the general fund.”
===============
Umm, yeah. Not really. You might want to check this out, and pay special attention to the number 3 program on the list:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2011/12/22/college-footballs-most-valuable-teams/
@overratedgators….good link. That was some interesting reading (no sarcasm). Further evidence to how the entire BOT and PSU administration (Spanier..Has this guy been charged yet?) would have been very much concerned with any crimes involving the football program.
..and by ‘concerned’ I mean ‘concerned with the affect on the school’s revenue and reputation’.
Tax? Ridiculous!! No accountability.
Fans paying for everyone else’s mistakes. (status quo?)
Take it out of the guilty’s hide … then there will be change … when & ONLY WHEN … it COSTS THEM!!
how about no games and no tickets.
DEATH PENALTY is in order.
Cut ticket prices in half then PSU can make up the difference out of the former President, Vice President ND AD’s pensions and donate that to child abuse victims funds.
Shut the program down. These fans still supporting the school make me sick as long as PSU still honors Paterno.
Just like alot of folks in here i would say no to ticket raising,just another way the school gets off.Why should the fans have to pay the price.Start a donation through out the school and if those that want to give then fine.IMO it should be the school to cover what Joe and buddys did wrong.Saban why didn`t you help the homeless more with all the millions you have that you gained from Alabama to build homes for tornado victums…
Yeah Nick Saban let’s add a ticket tax to Pedophile State football tickets and force the fans to pay for Sandusky and Paterno’s evil sins! Makes me wonder what Saban has to hide if he’s wanting to see a really drastic reduction of penalty for a truly horrific set of crimes, Sandusky’s perversion and Paterno’s aversion to protecting the abused children.
Sorry but Pedophile State football fans are going to have to eat it for quite a few years and suffer for supporting a bunch of perverts and criminals. TCU football had the death penalty applied and it’s back and doing well. Whatever TCU did for that death penalty pales in comparison to what happened at Pedophile State.
Pedophile State Tear Down That Statue!
(Shame on the pervert protectors protecting it)
NCAA Give Pedophile State the Death Penalty!
ningenito78
Just a quick note – a tax will hurt the folks who did nothing. The fans did not harbor a pedophile; the fans did not give Sandusky access to the football building, so why should the fans pay for it. Keep the football program going – use a percentage of the income to fund programs for abused children and adults. I said a percentage, because football revenues fund other sports. Closing down the football program will hurt centre County – a rural area – where a great number of businesses make the majority of money during football season. these folks and the fans did nothing.
Since you make a statement are you sure only one university harbors a pedophile? You know this because? Rather than rant and look like an idiot try to think through what you are saying and make sure you know the ramifications of what you propose.
No need to burden the fans with a tax, when the school will be paying millions of dollars to settle lawsuits. Again–shut down the football program indefinitely and rebuild your reputation with a focus on academics. Demonstrate to the victims that there are more important things in life than football.
Here’s an idea it’s only been about a wek since the $h!t hit the fan. Why don’t you give the people thatTRULY care and represent the true Penn State (alumni,students,faculty,fans) a chance to work on coming up with ideas and also pressuring the administration to do the right thing. Joe paterno may have screwed up royally but thru football brought a lot of good people to Penn State. We will get through this painful,embarrassing chapter
And hopefully become better for it.
Its OK to not like a suggestion. How about coming up with your own?
Everybody is rightfully upset, and looking for blood. But we cant come to the rescue of that kid in the shower. All we can do is make sure that it never happens again. Ideas anyone?
Make the board of trustees and admins pay this tax…then fire them all.
Nick Saban thats a very productive idea and did you have the same type productive idea when you wanted a big raise from Alabama.Nick please shut-up,these kids and familys these days don`t make hardly enough to go to games anymore.God help us if you ever go into politics.
Sorry….no.
The people that created the problem were all adults and should have to pay for the consequences of their actions. Football is a wonderful game, and I have spent a great deal of money and time at a certain SEC football stadium on Saturday nights. However, no football team, no university, no game is worth ruining the lives of a kid. I believe the following should occur:
1. The people that knew about Sandusky’s actions and did nothing must have formal charges filed against them.
2. Paterno’s statue must be removed from the football stadium.
3. Penn State must make the decision that they will not pay football in 2012. They must make the decision, and not wait on a decision by the NCAA. The student athletes should be allowed to transfer to anther school without losing a year of elegibility.
Hands down the best suggestion is the very first post in response to this article: no to a tax, force PSU to hold ticket prices at their current level for “x” number of years, and take a sizable percentage (20%-25%) of the ticket revenues for the charitable contribution. Also, this applies to ALL sports, NOT just football.
As mentioned previously, the problem with Saban’s idea is that it pushes responsibility to the fan. Yet again, no accountability to the university. But give Saban credit… at least he came up with an idea (no one else has) that can be modified to make sense. At least he put some thought to doing something for the victims and their families.
@727
That was no idea from Saban but a slap in the face of the fans.IMO Saban just wants to speak up so his name will not be forgotten and hope it will help his recruiting.He cares less about Penn st. and only himself.You see he`s falling behind in the rankings and got to get into the media somehow.