NEW YORK (AP) — Penn State’s trustees are on a mission topromote the reforms they have enacted as
a result of the Jerry Sanduskychild molestation scandal, hoping their record might persuade the NCAAto
reconsider its crippling penalties against the university before theyare due to expire in 2018.In an
hour-long interview Wednesday inNew York with The Associated Press, board Chairman Keith Masser andlongtime
board member Joel Myers did not offer a time frame forapproaching the NCAA, but they noted the university’s
consent agreementwith the NCAA allows it to be reopened if both sides agree.Theysaid the school is still
working to implement a long list of governanceand oversight changes suggested a year ago in a report from
the team ledby former FBI Director Louis Freeh."You’ve got to serve somejail time before you get
probation," Masser said. "Everybody wants toget this behind us as soon as possible, so we want to
do whatever we cando to get this behind us as soon as possible."He said the schoolis now trying to
demonstrate "to the NCAA and the entire world" that itaims to embody the highest moral and ethical
standards in collegesports.The NCAA agreement, signed in July, includes a $60 millionfine, a four-year ban
on post-season play, a loss of scholarships andthe invalidation of 112 wins from the final years of the late
head coachJoe Paterno.Their public relations push comes a month afteruniversity alumni elected three
trustees who were endorsed by an alumnigroup critical of university leadership, and less than a week
afterPaterno’s family and others with Penn State ties — including fivecurrent members of the board of
trustees — sued in an effort to overturnthe sanctions.Masser, a farmer, said he was concerned the trustees’
participation in the lawsuit might run counter to that goal."The message we sent to the NCAA is that
Penn State University is not a part of this lawsuit," Masser said.The board was studying the legal
issues that the case has raised, he said."Ibelieve there’s certain things you can do as individuals,
but when youbecome a member of the board of trustees, there are other obligationsyou have," he
said.Anthony Lubrano, one of the five, said they do not consider that to be a legitimate concern.The five of
them, he said, "believe that we are acting in the best interests of Penn State. It’s really that
simple."PaulKelly, the lawyer handling the lawsuit for the plaintiffs, said theNCAA’s record regarding
relaxation of sanctions should not give theschool much hope. He said the five support the reforms, but
whether theNCAA penalties were proper is a separate question.Myers said the university needs to keep its
focus on exceeding the terms of the NCAA agreement."Wefeel that we’re close, if not there, and other
universities should andwant to follow us," said Myers, a 32-year trustee who foundedAccuWeather Inc.The
men touted the changes at Penn State sinceSandusky’s arrest in November 2011, a long list that includes
trainingstaff in child abuse recognition and reporting, as well as cutting thegovernor and university
president from the board.As examples ofthe improvements, Masser said Penn State has hired an
athleticsintegrity officer, trained 16,000 on child abuse reporting and 3,000 onthe federal law that
requires reporting campus crime.He said Penn State has already fully implemented 76 recommendations in the
Freeh report and is working on 27 others.Myers described board critics as "a vocal minority that are
extremely disappointed, discouraged.""Ithink the outspoken people do not represent the Penn State
community,"Myers said. "And I think it’s important for all of us to get behindcoach (Bill)
O’Brien, get behind the university. Divisions don’t help."Ina separate interview, Penn State athletic
director Dave Joyner told theAP that he has been given no indication by the NCAA that it mightreconsider the
penalties."If they’re looking at us and looking athow well we’re doing and how well we’re paying
attention to the thingswe have to do, I think that’s the best way for us to have a hope, if youwill, of
something happening down the line," Joyner said. "And if itdoesn’t it doesn’t."Sandusky’s
arrest on allegations that hemolested several boys over a period of years tarnished Penn State’srespected
football program and led to the firing of Paterno, who wasfired when the scandal broke in late 2011 and died
of lung cancershortly afterward.One year ago, jury selection was well under wayfor Sandusky’s trial in the
courthouse located several miles fromcampus, which ended with a 45-count guilty verdict against the
NittanyLions’ former defensive coach. Sandusky is currently serving a 30- to60-year state prison
sentence.The trustees’ handling of Paterno’sfiring soon after Sandusky’s arrest, the Freeh report’s findings
andthe NCAA agreement have generated a backlash from alumni. Masser saidthe decision to agree to the deal,
and avoid a shutdown of the footballprogram, was the better of two bad options."My sense is yes,
there’s an ample majority of the board that supports the decision," he said.The two trustees said the
school still intends to honor Paterno but hasn’t decided how or when.___Associated Press college football
writer Ralph D. Russo contributed to this story.Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.