Pa. officials seek clarification of NCAA jurisdiction

Pennsylvania lawmakers and the NCAA are at odds over a new law in the commonwealth.

Officials are reacting to the college sports governing body’s lawsuit over the measure.

There are now two federal lawsuits with the NCAA and Tom Corbett as the principal players.

Last month, Corbett sued the NCAA to dissolve penalties agreed to by Penn State in light of the Jerry Sandusky child abuse case.

More recently, the governor signed a law to require one of those sanctions, a $60 million fine, to be spent in Pennsylvania — not nationwide — to help child abuse prevention groups.

The NCAA is now suing to overturn the law, saying it interferes with a private agreement with Penn State.

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, who is named as one of the defendants, says the NCAA jurisdiction needs clarification.

“I think university presidents need to address this in a comprehensive way,” he said.

The same point is being echoed by state Sen. Jake Corman who authored the law the NCAA is seeking to overturn.

Pennsylvania’s state-related and state-owned universities that are members of the NCAA should push for changes to the organization’s leadership and procedures, says Corman, R-Centre.