Penn State Slammed with NCAA Sanctions in Wake of Jerry Sandusky Scandal

Sanctions were levied against the Penn State football team on Monday by the NCAA for its role in the Jerry Sandusky sex scandal and while the school avoided the 'death penalty,' it was still hit hard.

The football team was ordered to forfeit all wins between 1998 and 2011 and has also been banned from bowl games for the next four years.

In addition, it will lose 10 initial scholarship and 20 per year over a four-year period. Players currently enrolled at Penn State can transfer to other schools without having to sit out a season, which is typical protocol in the NCAA.

The NCAA also fined the university $60 million, claiming that's how much the football program earns in an average year. The money will go towards charities that help sexual abuse victims.

The decision to vacate all victories from 1998-2011 means former coach Joe Paterno's career win total drops from 409 to 299, which is notable because he had been the all-time wins leader in Division 1 history, a mark that is now washed away,

Penn State will also be on a five-year probationary period.

The NCAA's penalties come one day after Penn State removed its statue of Paterno outside its football stadium.

[Yahoo!]