A little over a year ago, I authored a Forbes Sports Money piece talking about the importance for the NCAA to penalize cheating institutions by targeting their pocketbook as well as the standard punishments of scholarships, post-season bans, and forfeiture of victories.

Of course at that time, none of us had any idea that the walls – and now statues – at Penn State University would come crashing down in the midst of arguably one of the ugliest collegiate athletic scandals ever involving an assistant coach turned pedophile and a legendary head coach that turned the other way.

Though no recruiting violations took place and no improper benefits were received by student-athletes, the NCAA has decided to take swift action in the aftermath of The Freeh Report and bypass the customary internal procedures in meting out institutional punishment for an athletics department that clearly lost institutional control.

And more importantly and tragically, lost sight of the difference between right and wrong for the sole purpose of protecting the reputation of an otherwise historic and respected football program.

First and foremost, I praise NCAA President Mark Emmert for acting authoritatively on this matter.  Historically, cases before the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions can take months if not years to investigate, explore, and resolve matters that involve NCAA violations.  Many pundits in the media routinely take shots at the NCAA for the slow pace of its actions, as well as the inconsistency of their rulings.

In this instance, Mark Emmert is pulling a Roger Goodell.  Given the circumstances, I’d say he’s spot on for doing so.

Second, the sanctions must include at least a 2-year loss of a select number of scholarships and at least a 2-year ban from the Big Ten championships game and the bowl season.  I know this penalizes individuals that had nothing to do with the misdeeds of Mr. Sandusky, Mr. Paterno, and others, but unfortunately, a failure to levy some penalties in this realm would underscore the severity of the crimes – literally crimes – that took place here.

Here’s a case where, if you’re the NCAA, you’d rather err on the side of excessive penalties rather than soft sanctions.  The NCAA has to set a precedent and a deterrent for these unprecedented actions which could have easily been deterred had a few select individuals had more backbone.

Third, the current PSU football players must be allowed to immediately transfer if they so choose.  Consider that part of the penalties for the football program.  You can’t penalize these kids for getting caught in the middle of this human tragedy.

But most importantly, you have to hit the Penn State football program in the wallet…and then earmark those fines to assist either the Sandusky victims specifically or make donations to Child Abuse Centers within the state of Pennsylvania.

If I’m Mark Emmert on Monday morning, I’m making these announcements:

– Loss of 15 football scholarships for each of the next 3 football seasons;