This is exactly it. They had knowledge of the cheating and allowed it to continue. WHILE ALREADY UNDER NCAA INVESTIGATION. They, at an absolute bare minimum should have told the coaches to shut down the sign stealing operation NOW. But nope. They decided they were just gonna try to race to the finish line before it was exposed. Zero integrity. They are, by any definition, the most corrupt program we've seen since the heydays of dirty/rogue CFB programs in the 1980's.
Death penalty? Is it warranted? I'd say given the size and scope of the operation, and the inaction of the school administration...if ever it was warranted, this, along with the ped aggy saga in 2011/12 are the cases for it. Unfortunately, the NCAA has said it is not something they will ever do again. However, they need to exact vengeance at a level that leaves their program crippled for years to come.