Sorry, tried to post this in a different thread and half of the text didn't make it.
If Pettiti issues a two game suspension tomorrow, one thing to ask yourself is, "what kind of two game suspension is this?"
Let me explain. Per Big Ten rules, if the commissioner decides a sportsmanship violation has occurred, he can take a "standard disciplinary action" or a "major disciplinary action."
A "standard disciplinary action" is anything up to 2 games and/or a $10,000 fine. The commissioner doesn't need anyone's permission to do this. He is quite literally judge, jury, and executioner in a "standard disciplinary action." Hell, you might even say he's also the police because he directs the investigation. If he imposes a "standard disciplinary action", it's final. It concludes that investigation and can't be appealed to the Big Ten.
A "major disciplinary action" is any punishment that goes beyond 2 games and/or $10,000. But to do that, the commissioner must receive permission from the Joint Group Executive Committee. And the Big Ten rules state the commissioner has to give the JGEC enough time to read through the response from the accused.
But it turns out there's a third option for the commissioner. He can impose what's called an "interim suspension." An interim suspension starts off with a "standard disciplinary action" of up to 2 games/$10,000 but isn't final. It lets the commissioner start with 2 games and then impose more after waiting for the JGEC to get caught up.
So if/when a 2 game suspension is imposed, look for what kind of 2 game suspension it is. If it's a "standard disciplinary action", that means the Big Ten wants to be done with it. If it's an "interim suspension", that means the Big Ten is just getting started.
If Pettiti issues a two game suspension tomorrow, one thing to ask yourself is, "what kind of two game suspension is this?"
Let me explain. Per Big Ten rules, if the commissioner decides a sportsmanship violation has occurred, he can take a "standard disciplinary action" or a "major disciplinary action."
A "standard disciplinary action" is anything up to 2 games and/or a $10,000 fine. The commissioner doesn't need anyone's permission to do this. He is quite literally judge, jury, and executioner in a "standard disciplinary action." Hell, you might even say he's also the police because he directs the investigation. If he imposes a "standard disciplinary action", it's final. It concludes that investigation and can't be appealed to the Big Ten.
A "major disciplinary action" is any punishment that goes beyond 2 games and/or $10,000. But to do that, the commissioner must receive permission from the Joint Group Executive Committee. And the Big Ten rules state the commissioner has to give the JGEC enough time to read through the response from the accused.
But it turns out there's a third option for the commissioner. He can impose what's called an "interim suspension." An interim suspension starts off with a "standard disciplinary action" of up to 2 games/$10,000 but isn't final. It lets the commissioner start with 2 games and then impose more after waiting for the JGEC to get caught up.
So if/when a 2 game suspension is imposed, look for what kind of 2 game suspension it is. If it's a "standard disciplinary action", that means the Big Ten wants to be done with it. If it's an "interim suspension", that means the Big Ten is just getting started.
