Penn State coach Joe Paterno watches his football team practice, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, in State College, Pa. Paterno, who preached success with honor for half a century but whose legend was shattered by a child sex abuse scandal, said Wednesday that he will retire at the end of this season. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Penn State coach Joe Paterno watches his football team practice, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, in State College, Pa. Paterno, who preached success with honor for half a century but whose legend was shattered by a child sex abuse scandal, said Wednesday that he will retire at the end of this season. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Penn State head coach Joe Paterno, right, watches the beginning of NCAA college football practice as Sam Ficken kicks in State College, Pa., Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011. Paterno said earlier Wednesday he will retire at the end of this season. (AP Photo/The Patriot-News, Joe Hermitt)
Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, right, and assistant coach Mike McQueary watch a kick at the beginning of practice, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, in State College, Pa. Paterno said earlier Wednesday he will retire at the end of this season. (AP Photo/The Patriot-News, Joe Hermitt)
Penn State football coach Joe Paterno sits in a cart at the beginning of practice at the fields behind the Lasch Football Building on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, in State College, Pa. Paterno said earlier Wednesday he will retire at the end of this season. At right is Tommy Venturino, director of football operations. (AP Photo/The Patriot-News, Joe Hermitt)
Penn State coach Joe Paterno looks on during football practice, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, in State College, Pa. Paterno, who preached success with honor for half a century but whose legend was shattered by a child sex abuse scandal, said Wednesday that he will retire at the end of this season. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) ? Penn State trustees fired football coach Joe Paterno and university president Graham Spanier amid the growing furor over how the school handled sex abuse allegations against an assistant coach.
The massive shakeup Wednesday night came hours after Paterno announced that he planned to retire at the end of his 46th season.
But the outcry following the arrest of former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky on molestation charges proved too much for the board to ignore.
Speaking at his house to students, Paterno said, "Right now, I'm not the football coach, and that's something I have to get used to."
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) ? Penn State trustees fired football coach Joe Paterno and university president Graham Spanier amid the growing furor over how the school handled sex abuse allegations against an assistant coach.
The massive shakeup Wednesday night came hours after Paterno announced that he planned to retire at the end of his 46th season.
But the outcry following the arrest of former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky on molestation charges proved too much for the board to ignore.
One key question has been why Paterno and other top school officials didn't go to police in 2002 after being told a graduate assistant saw Sandusky assaulting a boy in a school shower.
Paterno says he should have done more. Spanier has said he was not told the details of the attack.
Sandusky has denied the charges.
Defensive coordinator Tom Bradley will serve as interim coach while Rodney Erickson will serve as interim school president.
Earlier in the day, Paterno said in a statement he was "absolutely devastated" by the case, in which Sandusky, his onetime heir apparent was charged with molesting eight boys in 15 years, with some of the alleged abuse 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."
John Surma, the vice chair of the board of trustees said, "these decisions were made after careful deliberations and in the best interests of the university as a whole."
"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," he added.
Sue Paterno opened the door of the Paterno home briefly when a reporter knocked, then closed it and turned off the light.
Associated Pressgreat pumpkin charlie brown the strangers all hallows eve all saints day all saints day bernard madoff dallas cowboys
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.