Measure proposed to mandate NCAA hold hearing before imposing sanctions

A congressman from Pennsylvania wants everyone to have a hearing, even if the NCAA eventually lowers the boom. 

U.S. Rep. Charles Dent of the Lehigh Valley says the National Collegiate Athletics Accountability Act would require the college sports governing body to hold a hearing and provide an opportunity for an appeal before handing out any sanctions.

“The time has come for the NCAA to get back to its original purpose,” Dent said. “Our legislation set out concrete steps that can be taken to make sure the NCAA is promoting the health safety and education of its student athletes it purports to protect.”

Dent says the bill also calls for the NCAA to maintain any scholarships it’s given to student athletes in contact sports.

“Student athletes in these sports will no longer have to be afraid that an injury or a new head coach will signal an end to their athletic pursuits,” he said. “Further, if the NCAA is serious about raising graduation rates of its student athletes, our legislation should be the obvious solution.”

The bill comes in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal in which Penn State University was fined $60 million and agreed to a four-year ban on bowl games in addition to a reduction of scholarships — a penalty that came without a hearing.