NCAA Removes Penn State Postseason Ban

The NCAA has removed the final two years of Penn State's football postseason ban while restoring the program to a full allotment of scholarships beginning with the 2015-16 season. In a  statement released Monday, the NCAA executive committee said it witnessed significant progress made by Penn State to comply with the sanctions it imposed on the athletic department in July of 2012 for its role in the child molestation scandal involving former assistant football coach Jerry  Sandusky. The Nittany Lions are now eligible to participate in both a bowl game as well as the Big Ten Championship Game this season. Penn State had previously been forbidden from postseason play in 2014 and 2015 as part of the penalties levied against the school by the NCAA. Penn State still must vacate all its football wins between 1998 and 2011 and remains on probation through the 2016-17 academic year. The $60 million fine the university was handed by the NCAA also still remains in effect.

                                     
Southern California AD, Head Football Coach Fined

Southern California athletic director Pat Haden and head football coach Steve Sarkisian have  been fined and reprimanded for their sideline actions during the Trojans' 13-10 win over Stanford on Saturday. The Pac-12 announced Monday that the conference has levied a $25,000 fine on Haden and imposed an undisclosed penalty on both men for a "lengthy and inappropriate" argument with officials in the third quarter over a sideline encroachment penalty. During the game, Sarkisian summoned Haden to join him on the sideline and to act as an intermediary in dealing with the Pac-12 officials during the game. Haden then confronted game officials regarding the management of the game and also conducted a television interview on the sideline during the game with comments relative to  the officiating. Haden has since implemented a self-imposed two-game sideline ban on himself for his actions.

                                    
June Jones Quits As SMU Coach

June Jones announced Monday he will no longer serve as head coach of the SMU football program, citing personal issues. The decision comes two games into the young season and less than nine  months after Jones signed a contract extension through 2017. Associate head coach/defensive coordinator Tom Mason will take over the head coaching reins. Jones' Mustangs lost 45-0 to Baylor in their season opener and were hammered at North Texas, 43-6, last Saturday. SMU went 1-11 in Jones' first season of 2008, then reached four straight bowl games before last season's squad finished 5-7. The Mustangs last reached a bowl game in 1984 before Jones' arrival.