The NCAA is the governing body of collegiate sports. Because of that charter, they have the power and the responsibility to make sure that these programs are run responsibly, legally, ethically and with the needs of the students as foremost in those decisions.
I think they got off easy as well! Unlike SMU, who got the death penalty for paying students, children were harmed in a most heinous fashion, scarred for the rest of their lives! The men responsible made a conscious decision to put themselves, the football program and the university above the safety of children that had no chance to defend themselves.
I'm just pissed as a Michigan boy that they didn't throw them out of the Big Ten as well! They just don't belong...
They should also install a Port-o-let over Paterno's grave site...