Paterno fired over Penn St. child abuse scandal

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - In a massive shakeup, Penn State football coach Joe Paterno and school president Graham Spanier were fired Wednesday night by the board of trustees amid the growing furor over how the school handled child sex abuse allegations against an assistant coach.

The longtime coach, the winningest in major college football, was ousted at the end of day that began with his announcement to retire at end of the season, his 46th.

It was not to be.

"The university is much larger than its athletic teams," board vice chair John Surma said during a packed press conference.

After hearing news of the firing, Paterno released a statement, saying: "I am disappointed with the Board of Trustees' decision, but I have to accept it. A tragedy occurred, and we all have to have patience to let the legal process proceed. I appreciate the outpouring of support but want to emphasize that everyone should remain calm and please respect the university, its property and all that we value."

Standing outside of his home late Thursday with his wife, Paterno responded to crowds of students chanting "please don't go" by saying: "You guys are great, all of you. Hey look, get a good night's sleep, study. You still have things to do."

(At left, watch the press conference announcing Paterno's termination.)

A source close to former Penn State Football Coach Joe Paterno tells CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian that the Paterno family is shocked 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.

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

But according to Surma, Paterno and Spanier were informed by telephone of the unanimous decisions to remove them because "we were unable to find a way to do that in person without causing further distraction."

Defensive coordinator Tom Bradley will serve as interim coach while Rodney Erickson will be the interim school president.

"The Penn State board of trustees tonight decided it is in the best interest of the university to have a change in leadership to deal with the difficult issues that we are facing," Surma said.

"The past several days have been absolutely terrible for the entire Penn State community. But the outrage that we feel is nothing compared to the physical and psychological suffering that allegedly took place."

Speaking outside his home after the press conference, Paterno said: "Right now, I'm not the football coach. And I've got to get used to that. After 61 years, I've got to get used to it. I appreciate it. Let me think it through."

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Paterno said in a statement earlier Wednesday that he was "absolutely devastated" by the abuse case, in which his former assistant and onetime heir apparent, Jerry Sandusky, has been charged with molesting eight boys over 15 years, with some of the alleged assaults taking place at the Penn State football complex.

"This is a tragedy," Paterno said. "It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more."

Paterno has come under harsh criticism — including from within the community known as Happy Valley — for not taking more action in 2002 after then-graduate assistant and current assistant coach Mike McQueary came to him and reported seeing Sandusky in the Penn State showers with a young boy. Paterno notified the athletic director, Tim Curley, and a vice president, Gary Schultz.

Paterno is not a target of the criminal investigation, although Curley and Schultz have been charged with failing to report the incident to the authorities.

After the firings, thousands of students descended on the administration building, shouting, "We want Joe back!" then headed to downtown to Beaver Avenue. The mood there was boisterous but not angry — almost all the students were decked out in Penn State gear.

The firings came three days before Penn State hosts Nebraska in its final home game of the season, a day usually set aside to honor seniors on the team.

The ouster of the man affectionately known as "JoePa" brings to an end one of the most storied coaching careers — not just in college football but in all of sports. Paterno has 409 victories — a record for major college football — won two national titles and guided five teams to unbeaten, untied seasons. He reached 300 wins faster than any other coach.

Penn State is 8-1 this year, with its only loss to powerhouse Alabama. The Nittany Lions are No. 12 in The Associated Press poll.

After 19th-ranked Nebraska, Penn State plays at Ohio State and at No. 16 Wisconsin, both Big Ten rivals. It has a chance to play in the Big Ten championship game Dec. 3 in Indianapolis, with a Rose Bowl bid on the line.

After meeting Tuesday, the board said it would appoint a committee to investigate the "circumstances" that resulted in the indictment of Sandusky, and of Curley and Schultz.

Sandusky, who retired from Penn State in June 1999, maintained his innocence through his lawyer. Curley has taken a leave of absence and Schultz has decided to step down. They also say they are innocent.

The committee will be appointed Friday at the board's regular meeting, which Gov. Tom Corbett said he plans to attend, and will examine "what failures occurred and who is responsible and what measures are necessary to ensure" similar mistakes aren't made in the future.

Sandusky founded The Second Mile charity in 1977, working with at-risk youths. It now raises and spends several million dollars each year for its programs. Paterno is listed on The Second Mile's website as a member of its honorary board of directors, a group that includes business executives, golfing great Arnold Palmer and several NFL Hall of Famers and coaches, including retired Pittsburgh Steelers stars Jack Ham and Franco Harris.

[john-marg]

i am really sick and tired of the whole mess. Joe Paterno is and always was one of the great coaches in football. He is not a Homosexual nor a child molester. and he is not responsible because someone else is or was.
Every one of the Hippocrits who is harpping about this that or the other thing in some type of Sex scandal IMHO should find a nearby cliff and do the world a big favor by jumping off it. I have had more than enough of it. The newsies salivate because the word "sex" any type of sex, sells papers. whether it is some teenage girl posting nudie pictures on facebook, or some guy boffing someone he is not married to, there has to be this big whoop de do.
And this whole homosexual thing is nuts. If you dare to criticize some guy doing the nasty with another guy who is 18 years and one second old then you are a **** phobe who deserves to be crucified DRAWN AND QUARTERED. On the other hand if now you ever even heard a rumor that tone of the two guys was under that magic age. and you don't call the cops, then you are supposed to be some kind of an accomplices to child rape.
I have an announcement to make when my children reached the magic age of old enough, I decided that their sex lives were their business, not mine. Yes I am a Christian and I am totally against homosexuality, and thanks to the Lord AND MY TAKING THEM TO CHURCH AND PRAYING FOR THEIR GUIDANCE, none of them have ever been inclined that way, But I realized long ago that the only help I can give others is to tell them to take their troubles to the Lord.
I am not the judge of other peoples moral conduct, and outside your own family, neither are any of you. Sanducky is responsible for his own conduct, Paterno is not, and firing him is a CYA move by a bunch of politicians none of whom is anywhere near as great a man as Paterno, and none of whom, I would trust one bit. It is time for some one with some intestinal fortitude to stand up for Joe and tell these ( unprintable) holier than thous, exactly where to get off. Be specific and detailed and hopefully very personal and explicit in telling all the Hypocrites exactly what they can do with their ignorant biased and unwanted opinions. and for sure include the reporters who gleefully profit off all this where they can go also. I would do so here but you all will just have to use your imagination because for sure if i did so I would be blocked

[piblogger]

. . . upon discovering irrefutable evidence of Sandusky's crimes they (being Paterno and school officials) had given him the option of retiring or face prosecution, and in the process bringing his abuses to public light.

http://piwindowonbusiness.wordpress.com/2011/11/12/is-paterno-as-guilty-as-sandusky-what-may-have-really-happened-to-an-honourable-man-caught-up-in-a-predators-web/

[Erin205]

Screw the chain of command BS comments. Paterno knew about it, McQueary witnessed it, all that knew should be fired immediately. How many kids' could've been saved had Paterno the same sized balls he had as a fervent warrior of football, had he involved the police early on? There is no chain of command when it comes to doing the right thing, and Paterno chose football, money, and his school over reporting the rape of a child to the correct authorities - the police. Why did McQueary run to his father instead of the police? People, these are adults, who knew about, witnessed the rape of a child, but adhered to chain of command BS instead of bringing a rapist to justice. What is wrong with you people for defending Paterno?

[matteltalkerscom]

I live in PA and I'm puzzeled as to why everyone is so upset about Paterno being fired. I keep hearing that Paterno did what he was supposed to do and it was up to the higher-ups to take it further???? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? If I were McQueary, I would have beat the living &#$* out of Sandusky on the spot! Well, he told paterno instead. ANYONE who knew about this should have reported it to the police IMMEDIATELY! How could Paterno just tell his bosses and let it go at that??? How could he watch this sick &%#* continue with his charity events for children, knowing what he was doing TO children? I know I would make it my mission to see that Sandusky paid dearly for his crimes. Fired?? He got off easy!

[morality2day]

OK PENN ST...ITS GREAT TO HAVE SUCH A GOOD DEVOTED COACH THATS WONDERFUL HE MENTORED MANY OF YOU IN PENN ST UNIVERSITY ..ITS JUST REALLY SAD TO HEAR THOUGH THAT HE DID REPORT THIS BUT DIDNOT FOR SOME REASON OUT OF MY COMPREHENSION STAYE RIGHT WITH IT TO MAKE SURE THIS DIDNOT SLIP AWAY ...DARN HOW LONG ARE US AS ADULTS GOING TO TURN OUR HEADS ...IS IT NOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF ...JUST ...ONE ..ONLY ONE ...PERSON OPENED THERE MOUTH TO AUTHORITY MEANING ...COPS...MANY OF THESE KIDS STEPPING UP NOW TO SAY THAT THIS SADUSKY GUY ABUSED THIS GUY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN JAIL.. ALL THESE OTHER PENN ST PEOPLE COCHES PRESIDENT AND ALL OTHERS WOULD HAVE THIER JOBS AND THIS SCANDEL WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS THEN WHAT IT IS.. SAYING THIS NOT MINIMIZING THAT IF IT WAS SAID THEN IT STILL WOULD HAVE BEEN SHOCKING ANYHOW ..AND MOST OF ALL ALL THESE LIVES COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED ..MEANING THAT SEX ABUSE RUINS YOUR LIFE ...CANT PENN ST STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THIS ...JUST ...ONE...ONLY ONE VOICE.. COULD HAD DONE SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE ....ONE PERSON.. AND IT WOULD HAVE MADE AN IMPACT..

[JeffreySpangler]

I knew Wendell Courtney from law school when we "gathered 'round the peace pipe" together. Having seen his name in the Sandusky matter this week, my question on first impression is whether, as counsel to Second Mile, he had a legal conflict of interest with his firm's role as counsel to the University. At some point, the interests of Second Mile and Penn State diverged, and representation of both by the same firm was improper. Don't hold your breath waiting for the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to act, unless someone files a complaint with them. I expect that 'Dell has lawyered up by now, or should if he hasn't.

[dodoe1]

It appears to me Joe did exactly what he had to do in light of the circumstances. Reported it to the people who should have done something about it. Actually, the real person at fault is the CENTRE COUNTY DA at the time, who heard the incriminating conversations with a victims mother in 1998 and dismissed charges. That appears to be the root of the problem and could have been the end.PERHAPS HE SHOULD BE ARRESTED. Joe, I believe, is a very moral, caring person as isevident by his players and his stable family life..as well as his appearances and supportat the Special Olympics State Games held in June every year/What a sad, tragic. senseless, unfair end to a wonderful career\

[socialjustice1961]

dodo1-if you or your 10 year old son was being raped by a perverted old 'ole pedaphile, would you trust the Coach Joe had your back? What a freak you are...those children have been ruined for life, and Joe did ALL he could? What a strange comment!

[opininatedinflorida]

OMG.... call your local police and ask them if a third part tells you they witnessed a crime can you report it for them. YOU CANNOT it is heresay. Only the person who saw the crime can tell the police. Paterno did the best he could he relayed what another person told him. He did not do this he did not witness it and he had no first hand knowledge that it was going on, that anyone has shown or written about. I am not even a football fan or Pnen state fan but I hate to see an innocent man hungout to dry. I am a young rape victim I can attest to knowing the pain of being a victim and i am survivor. I never want the wrong person accused or people picked on by a mob. Please this is wtong. It is right now the police and the DA not Mr Paterno. Please do not make people afraid to report this type of information. He followed the rules as he should of.

[midwestkris]

Of course you can report it. Hearsay is not generally allowed when someone is testifying under oath. It does not preclude reporting a crime. You are absolutely wrong when you say only the person who witnessed a crime can call it in. Only a person who witnessed a crime can testify in court that a crime happened. Big, big difference.

Mr. Paterno is not being accused of a crime. He was fired for not living up to his obligation as a member of the PSU faculty, which is responsible to the People of Pennsylvania who pay their salaries. He had an obligation as a coach, a faculty member, a highly paid (possibly the highest paid) member of the PSU faculty, to uphold the core values of the University. As an educational institution, there is an obligation that goes even beyond the obligation of the ordinary citizen to protect youth. The legal issues will be dealt with in the courts, and it is unclear whether Paterno will be in involved, although it seems likely that at least a civil suit could name him. But this sin't about breaking the law, this is about living up to the expectations of his employers...who are the people of Pennsylvania.

[opininatedinflorida]

Paterno followed the rules and protocol. The district attorney and campus police sat on this. He DID NOT LIE, HE DID NOT COVER UP ANYTHING.... THIS IS POLITIC AT ITS WORST. SHAME ON PENN STATE. GOING AFTER THE ONE PERSON WHO DID THE RIGHT THING. This is disgradeful. Here is aman who did everything right and is now getting hungout to dry by the very people he gave everything to. I hope alumni money dries up and students protest and lawsuits are filed. If anyone is innocent here it is this man. The district attorney should lose his license for not pursuing this and the campus police for not investigating. SHAME ON PENN STATE AND ITS TRUSTEES.

[codyt27]

You are absolutely living with blinders on. Joe knew there were problems with Sandusky in 1998,,uhm thats why he left coaching in 1999. Then three years later you hear about him sodomizing a young boy in your locker room showers and do nothing more than tell you boss!!! your amazing. Then he is allowed to continue to go to bowl games and practices with new young boys for years after...Joe pa took a blind eye like the Catholic church has done with priests. Joe figured, "hey, he's lost his job, don't do that around here." Yet he did..how sad. Pull your head out.

[socialjustice1961]

opininatedinflorida-you suffer from having your head-up your #ss! If you were the 10 year old boy that was being raped by a big 'ole pedophile - - I am sure you would forgive good 'ole Joe for ALL he did for you!!! You are a fool, keep your foot in your mouth...

[lizw123]

Everyone knows campus police are worthless.Telling them and washing his hands of it is no excuse. Yes, pray for the victims after everyone turned their backs on them. Joe is no saint.

[amvetru12]

Since Paterno has been willing over the years to take almost all of the credit for success then he can certainly share part of the blame for failure.