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Just a bit ago Penn State was handed crippling sanctions from NCAA president Mark Emmert. The damage: Four-year postseason ban, $60 million fine towards an endowment for children's charities, loss of 10 scholarships in initial year, loss of 20 scholarships each of the next four seasons, all wins vacated 1998-2011, five years probation, and players can transfer without penalty.
Wisconsin will receive some ancillary benefit from a weaker Leaders Division and maybe a transfer. No, there's no real comfort to take in that. Whether you agree with Emmert's decision to unilaterally filet the football program, the entire process has been decidedly not fun. Certainly not in the way we hope sports can be.
Wisconsin has other realities to deal with, however. Over the weekend, UW announced that Jordan Kohout's football career will be cut short due to migraine headaches that caused two minor strokes during spring practice. Kohout finished with 22 tackles, 2.5 for loss, last season. He also earned a letter as a contributor during the 2010 Rose Bowl season.
His loss is certainly a blow to the depth chart at defensive tackle, but if we're being honest it should be said that the Badgers will likely be fine at the position. Beau Allen and Ethan Hemer were set to start, and sophomore Warren Herring had apparently been coming along strong. Still, you never like to hear about anybody having to quit anything before they have to, especially for health reasons and especially when they are as hard-working as Kohout.
But at least that's the worst of our problems.
Links after the jump:
Wisconsin was voted to win the Leaders Division by a poll of 24 media members.
Minnesota guard Riley Dearring commits to Bo Ryan and the Badgers.
Barry Alvarez is not a fan of the 9-game conference schedule.
Nice profile on the James brothers, my good friends and competitors in the 2012 London Olympics.
Since PSU gets to play football next season, this is now relevant.
BHGP on the best randomly generated names in NCAA Football history.