The University of Chicago had a powerhouse football team that was basically a semi-pro part of the Bears. The first Heisman trophy winner was a Maroon. The school was a founding member of the Big 10 conference. Stagg was hired as athletic director two years before the university even had classes. They won 71 league championships (in football and other sports).

But they discontinued varsity football in 1939 to concentrate on academics.

Why? Because they football program had declined and the team wasn't winning. Other reasons, too.

But it wasn't due to reaction to a "scandal". Yes, the decision to do so was widely criticized (see linky below).

Penn State should end their varsity football program. What happened there was not just a "scandal" with "sexual abuse" - there were children being raped by a man who was at or near the top of the football program's management. He should have been arrested. Instead, the people who are involved with it and the aftermath have shown that they think they and their precious football program are above the law. That can't be tolerated. Simply replacing the coaches and managers isn't good enough. It's a cancer that needs to be excised for the sake of the body of the university as a whole.

http://www.chicagoma...Sandusky-Scandal/

And, of course, there are rumors that Sandusky was pimping out the kids in his program to donors - http://www.balloon-j...-spending-cheese/

There was a investigation of similar reports of Sandusky's conduct by the Penn State Police in 1998. He retired in 1999 (Coincidence? Don't think so), but still had unlimited access to the Penn State facilities.

Read the grand jury report, if you haven't already -
http://online.wsj.co...s/Presentment.pdf . The 2002 rape was of "Victim 2". The 1998 rapes apparently were of "Victim 4" which aren't getting as much press at the moment. There are 8 victims listed.

They need to end the varsity football program. There should be no equivocating about this.

My $0.02.

Cheers,
Scott.