STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Two Pennsylvania congressmen want the NCAA to restore football scholarships taken away from Penn State as part of sanctions for the child sex abuse scandal involving retired assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

Reps. Charlie Dent and Glenn Thompson wrote in a letter sent Monday to NCAA President Mark Emmert that taking away up to 40 scholarships harmed players who had nothing to do with the scandal.

Dent and Thompson wrote that denying student athletes access to higher education does nothing to account for Sandusky’s crimes.

Sandusky has been sentenced to at least 30 years in prison after being convicted last summer on dozens of criminal counts. The scandal cost Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno his job.

Gov. Tom Corbett’s has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn the NCAA sanctions.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)