Penn State Football Program Faced Potential Four-Year Ban, According to University President

A spokesman for Penn State president Rodney Erickson says the university faced a potential four-year ban on playing football before the NCAA issued its punishment for how the school handled the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal.

Erickson spokesman David La Torre disclosed the possibility of a four-year ban Wednesday, after Erickson met behind closed doors with the trustees to discuss the sanctions the NCAA imposed earlier in the week.

College sports’ governing body on Monday handed down a $60 million fine, imposed a four-year bowl game ban, reduced football scholarships and negated 111 wins under former coach Joe Paterno.

NCAA president Mark Emmert said this week that if a total football ban had been imposed, other penalties would have accompanied it.

The potential four-year ban was first reported by ESPN.