Source: Penn State told Paterno of firing by letter

By: Armen Keteyian
Topics: News

Joe Paterno

A source close to former Penn State Football Coach Joe Paterno tells CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian that the Paterno family is stunned and outraged over the university's handling of the firing.

The source claims a university employee hand-delivered a letter about the firing to the family home a mere 15 minutes prior to the press conference. According to the source, the reason for the letter was that the university employee said the board was unable to locate Paterno during the day.

Paterno fired over Penn St. child abuse scandal

"The family has lived in the same house for more than 40 years, and they can't find him?" said the source. As of an hour after the university press conference announcing the firing, the source told Keteyian no one from the board of trustees had spoken to Paterno.

Said the source, "You give your life to this place, and that's how you're treated."

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by kimlee66 November 11, 2011 9:31 AM EST: Paterno is a dirty pig that was probably sticking little boys as well.; Reply to this comment


by kimlee66 November 11, 2011 9:29 AM EST: I think sanduskys wife knew and furthermore adopted children for his sick pleasure. they need to interview his adopted children to see what tortures they endured. anyone who thinks he did not molest his children is naive,.he is a predator. the same reason he started a childrens charity is the same reason he adopted children. to get near them to molest them. the wife belongs in prison too i suspect what say you?; Reply to this comment


by Rourk77 November 10, 2011 7:43 PM EST: @ gilcneth For some reason I wasn't able to directly reply and had to start a new comment...

Anyways.. I'm not suggesting Paterno didn't know about the accusations. I really don't know whether he did or didn't, nor do I know exactly what those accusations were. Knowing about accusations though is not necessarily something one should act on. Everything is situational. If Paterno knew that Sardusky was abusing children for sure and didn't act, well that's a whole nother story. Paterno would be a pile of rotten poo to put it nicely if that were the case. I doubt though that Paterno personally thought Sardusky was abusing children.

Given the facts that have come to light I do personally think that Paterno did the right thing. Some things really don't make sense though, such as Mike McQueary saying he saw Sardusky perform a sex act, and all he did was tell Paterno. What was the sex act? Why didn't Mike go directly to the police, let alone tackle Sardusky and pound him into mush right then and there if he actually saw Sardusky do something sexual. I know I personally would have turned Sardusky into pulp if I personally saw him sexually assaulting anyone (especially a kid), then made sure the kid was ok, then contacted the police. I think just about any physically capable adult male with even a shred of morality in their bones would.

Why the heck does Mike McQueary still have his job but Paterno doesn't? There's more to all this than has been made public so far and all that has been made public is a bunch of accusations.

What I am suggesting though is that none of the above mattered to the board of trustees. All that mattered to them is protecting their own public image and the brand that is Penn State. They knee jerk reacted to some perceived public pressure when the public pressurizing doesn't know all the facts.

I think you're likely right when you say Paterno "is the victim of his own loyalty to the University--that his expectation that the University would take appropriate action has now been used against him."; Reply to this comment


by TheTaxmanJones November 10, 2011 11:59 AM EST: As a strong supporter of the Paternoi family I think we need to fire the PSU trutee Board by phone and kicked them where the sun does not shine. These cowardly backstabbibg people claimed they did not know where the Paterno family lived. I happen to know that the Paterno family has lived the in the same family homestead forthe last forty years. The PSU Trustee Board are a bunch of bloody liars. This July 14, 1789 and it is time for real action.; Reply to this comment


by c3pee0h November 10, 2011 9:25 AM EST: Did we learn nothing from the incident at Duke? If he were in charge of 10 year old children I could see suspending him pending an investigation and trial. I don't feel comfortable with trials by the press.; Reply to this comment


by kalifani November 10, 2011 5:02 AM EST: That anonymous source is lying or he has made a liar out of Joe Paterno[once again].

I just saw him on ABC News ******* to the 'evil' press that a "phone call was a lousy way to find out."

Enough with the BS.

He's toast.

Deal with it freaks.; Reply to this comment

by Rourk77 November 10, 2011 4:59 AM EST

To all those who think Joe didn't do the right thing. You don't know all of the details. Based on what's been released to the media Joe did indeed do the right thing.

That aside. Penn State's firing of Paterno had nothing to do with right or wrong, or Paterno's guilt or innocence. The University fired him because it perceived it's image to be tarnished. The boards of your typical university are generally made up of spineless self important superficial sycophants. I've dealt with them and have seen them in action at other big named institutions. There is absolutely zero loyalty to any employee, alum, or student. If the institution's self perceived reputation might be damaged. it'll throw anyone under the bus in a heartbeat (or kick a 60+ year super valuable and loyal employee to the curb in less than a week over allegations). Right or wrong is not ever a consideration. The manner in which this article says that the Paterno family received the news is no surprise to me and is typical of the spineless behavior of many university trustees.

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by gilcneth November 10, 2011 8:33 AM EST: Rourk77,

I agree with much of what you say. It is likely that Penn State (or most any other institute of higher learning) has little or no loyalty for its staff or students. As you mentioned, the University demonstrated this via their handling of the matter. The trustees are often no different than the board members of large fortune 500 companies--I expect they're the same people in many cases.

Unfortunately, I can't see that changing any time soon.

But I'm not certain I'm understanding you correctly. Are you suggesting that Mr. Paterno did NOT have knowledge of McQueary's behavior? Or are you suggesting that he is the victim of his own loyalty to the University--that his expectation that the University would take appropriate action has now been used against him?

-- C.A.N.


by gilcneth November 10, 2011 8:44 AM EST: Let me correct that...meant to say "Sandusky's" not "McQueary's"


by andoniadis November 10, 2011 1:59 AM EST: "You give your life to this place, and that's how you're treated."

"I'm only 10 years old and I'm some monsters ho because Joe Paterno can't call the cops and DO THE RIGHT THING!"; Reply to this comment


by gilcneth November 10, 2011 1:25 AM EST: "You give your life to this place, and that's how you're treated."

Newsflash for ya'. The University probably made the logical assumption that you knew the difference between right and wrong when they hired you. The fact that you didn't isn't their fault. It is yours.

As the father of two boys, I would risk anything and everything to protect the safety of a child. Simply stated, nothing else matters. That you didn't feel the same way is morally reprehensible, Mr. Paterno. Don't you see that? If you don't, you must ask yourself why, rather than spend the rest of your life trying to blame the university administration.

In the end, it is never too late to learn from your mistakes. Take some responsibility, and perhaps you can try to change this dark stain into something positive.

As a coach, you, no doubt, taught your players to improve their game by learning from their mistakes. I implore you, Mr. Paterno, take that advice to heart.

Whether you recognize it or not, you're at a moral crossroads. You could proceed with the most meaningful chapter of your life or you could end your career in controversy. The choice is yours. My advice? Go with your heart, not your attorney.

-- C.A.N.; Reply to this comment