All this talk about the NCAA handing down the "stiff" penalty where Ohio State is required to vacate wins has me confused.  I just don't understand how that has any impact on the people who commit these violations.

The actions by Jim Tressel were made to impact the immediate and the future of his program (i.e. the next upcoming game, or future seasons).  I don't see a guy like Jim Tressel caring too much about what is happening in his rear-view-mirror.

If Ohio State is forced to vacate its 2010 win against Penn State, I'm not going to celebrate the sudden change of fortune.  All I will remember was the sting of losing the lead and how the sure interception slipped through the Penn State defenders hands into Sanzenbacher's while standing in the end zone (etc, etc, etc.). 

In 20 years we're not going to talk about that amazing win we had against Ohio State in 2010 (that we officially won in 2011 or 2012 whenever the penalty is handed down), and I highly doubt any Ohio Staters will be tormented by the "losses" they had to endure (years after they WON THE GAMES ON THE FIELD).

I can only imagine this thinking being applied to everyday life... a parent punishing a child for some wrong-doing by forcing them to "vacate the fun you had last weekend with your friends".  Really?

If the NCAA really wants to deter this behavior, they need to provide penalties that mean something... something in the future.  Loss of scholarships, no bowl games for X years, no non-conference games (which means the loss of millions for that school), no championship games, etc.
 
Am I missing something?