Organizations get rid of people all the time when they tarnish their image. The Big Ten has an image and reputation to uphold, and serial child rape isn't good for that image/rep.
I think what happened at Penn St. is the most awful thing that has ever happened in NCAA athletics and it isn't even close. If there is a proper punishment and a vast majority of the fan base understands what happened was wrong and disassociates itself from the Paterno era, then go play football somewhere away from me: whatever. I still don't want to be associated with that, but they would be worthy a second chance elsewhere.
Half of their fans don't care. Penn St., obviously, hasn't sorted their demons out or understand the proper moral response to what happened, yet. Even if you hold those accountable that perpetrated the child rape and enabled it, there is still a very confused fan base regarding morality. I am not ok with associating with a fan base where half of them don't care that serial child rape occurred, hold Joe Paterno day or think he is a hero, etc.