NCAA vs. Governor Corbett in hearing scheduled today

Mon, 20 May 2013 04:55:00 -0400

A federal judge will hear arguments today on the NCAA's motion to dismiss the anti-trust lawsuit Governor Corbett brought against it, to overturn the sanctions against Penn State.

In the 43-page document filed by Governor Corbett in January, it states the NCAA sanctions violated an anti-trust act and, in turn, will affect the economy in Pennsylvania.

Governor Corbett says Penn State had no choice but to agree with the NCAA sanctions or face a death penalty.

He argues the NCAA veered dramatically from its own by-laws when it ordered Penn State to pay $60 million dollars in fines.

The sanctions also imposed a four-year post-season ban on the football team and took away several athletic scholarships.

Governor Corbett felt those restrictions could only harm the economy near Penn State and stated that it violated an anti-trust lawsuit.

The NCAA shot back, disagreeing with the allegations in Corbett's filing, saying the sanctions are not related to the regulation of economic activity; therefore anti-trust does not apply.

Corbett then filed another court document stating a judge should not dismiss the lawsuit, and said the NCAA's request to throw out the suit had a factual error by saying the penalties were voted on by the Penn State Board of Trustees.

Corbett, being the governor, is a member of the Board of Trustees.

Today's hearing will be later this afternoon at the Federal Courthouse in Harrisburg.

It was originally scheduled in April, but the judge had a funeral to attend.

Representatives from both Governor Corbett's office and the NCAA are expected to be at the hearing.

Penn State is not listed as a party in the lawsuit, and reports say University officials have no plans to be a part of it.

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NCAA vs. Governor Corbett in hearing scheduled today