The investigations appear to be complete.

Jerry Sandusky is behind bars for the remainder of his days . A number of high-ranking Penn State University officials, including late coach Joe Paterno, are apparently guilty of covering up Sandusky’s years of child molestation, on campus and off.

So what’s next?

Some people are calling for the NCAA’s infamous “death penalty,” which leveled SMU’s once-proud football program years ago, to be levied on Penn State.

I am not among them.

The “death penalty” bans a school from competing in a sport for at least one year. Repercussions such as maintaining scholarships, quality athletes and coaches basically force a program to start over once that penalty is lifted.

Penn State is already starting over.

What happened in State College was an atrocious criminal act, followed by a poor decision to try protecting the image of the university.

But that’s just it.

It was a crime.

Sandusky has been punished by the fullest extent of the law. Others will face their day in court as well.

Then it’s over.

Banning football at Penn State would only punish a number of coaches and players who had nothing to do with this crime, let alone the trickle-down affect the disappearance of football-generated funds that could destroy some of the school’s minor sports.

There have been enough innocent victims affected by this case. There’s no need to create more.

Penn State’s football reputation has taken a heavy hit as it is. Anyone from Paterno’s staff should not be permitted to coach there any longer. A fresh start should be a clean start.

There is no way to know for certain which coaches knew what when it came to Sandusky’s inexcusable actions. Therefore, all should go.

We may never know the full extent of what Paterno knew about the Sandusky situation. But we do know he knew something.

Inaction on Paterno’s part and others enabled Sandusky to molest children for a very long time.

Paterno did a whole lot of good for a whole lot of people in State College for decades. He won more college football games than any other coach ever.

As time passes on, few will remember the good.

Paterno’s name will forever be associated with the most heinous crime in the history of college athletics.

His legendary status has been destroyed.

While that is a side tragedy in all of this, it pales in comparison to what those abused kids have been forced to live with for years.

Convict and imprison those who failed to protect those young people.

But the Penn State football community has bled from this open wound long enough.

Let the healing process begin.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle

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