NCAA begins inquiry into Penn State child sexual abuse scandal

After weeks of sitting on the sideline, it appears the NCAA is ready to dive headlong into the Penn State child sexual abuse scandal.

NCAA President Mark Emmert sent a letter to newly appointed Penn State President Rod Erickson informing him that the governing body for college sports is looking into whether the school broke any rules during its handling of the case, which cost coach Joe Paterno his job.

Emmert wrote that the NCAA will examine how Penn State operates its athletics program and what role that played in the case of former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, who has been arrested and charged with 40 counts of child sex abuse.

Emmert told the Associated Press this is not a formal investigation, but there is a chance it could develop into one. He has given the university until Dec. 16 to respond to several of his questions.

"We have to examine those facts and make a thoughtful determination of what is covered by our bylaws and what is not," Emmert said.

Joe Paterno gave wife ownership of their home for $1 in July

Less than four months before the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal made headlines nationwide, Joe Paterno transferred full ownership of his house to his wife for $1, according to documents obtained by the New York Times.

The transaction took place in July. Two lawyers who examined the documents for the Times drew different conclusions; one said that "it appeared to be an explicit effort to financially shield Joe Paterno." Another said the transfer appeared "benign."

The documents placed the value of the Paternos' house, which they had previously held title to jointly, at $594,484.40.

FULL COVERAGE: Penn State scandal

The paper reported that one of Paterno's lawyers, Wick Sollers, said in an email that the transfer had nothing to do with the Sandusky scandal, which led to Paterno being fired as head coach at Penn State last week.

Paterno has received intense criticism for telling only his superiors and failing to go to the police after a graduate assistant told Paterno that he witnessed Sandusky, a former defensive coordinator, sexually assaulting a young boy in a school shower in 2002.

On Nov. 5, Sandusky was charged with 40 criminal counts, including six first-degree felony charges, in connection with alleged deviate sexual intercourse.

Some legal experts have speculated that Paterno could be a target of civil actions.

RELATED:

Franco Harris loses job for supporting Paterno

Jerry Sandusky tells Bob Costas: 'I am innocent' [Video]

Penn State's Mike McQueary says he told police of alleged rape

-- Melissa Rohlin

Photo: Sue and Joe Paterno stand on the front porch of their house in front of fans and media members. Credit: Joe Hermitt / Associated Press / The Patriot-News

Mike McQueary did not report incident to us, police chief says

Mike McQueary did not report his allegations of child sexual abuse against Jerry Sandusky to the State College police department, Chief Tom King said Wednesday.

McQueary has stated in a grand jury report that he saw a boy, whose age he estimated at 10 years old, "being subjected to anal intercourse" by a naked Sandusky, then the Nittany Lions defensive coordinator, in a shower at the Penn State football building in March 2002.

Facing public criticism for a perceived lack of action during the incident, McQueary said in an email obtained by the Allentown (Pa.) Morning Call that he "did have discussions with police and with the official at the university in charge of police."

FULL COVERAGE: Penn State scandal

McQueary, who was a graduate assistant at the time of the alleged incident, did not specify which police department he spoke to. Penn State has its own police force, and administrators are looking into whether McQueary made contact with that department.

According to the grand jury report, McQueary left "immediately," was "distraught" and called his father. His father told him to leave the building and come to his home. McQueary did report the incident to his  then-coach Joe Paterno the next day and later met with athletic director Tim Curley and Gary Schultz, vice president for finance and business.

Curley and Schultz have been chargedwith perjury and failure to report. Curley was placed on administrative leave, and Schultz, who oversaw university police, returned to retirement. Paterno was fired last week by the university's Board of Trustees. McQueary, now a wide receivers coach for the Nittany Lions, has been placed on administrative leave.

Sandusky is charged with 40 counts of sexual abuse of children and is free on $100,000 bail.

RELATED:

John Stewart comments on Jerry Sandusky interview

Joe Paterno gave ownership of their home to his wife for $1 in July

Judge in Jerry Sandusky case may have benefited from Second Mile

-- Chuck Schilken

Photo: Mike McQueary. Credit: Tim Shaffer/ Reuters

Jon Stewart comments on the Jerry Sandusky interview

 

Jon Stewart, host of "The Daily Show," had a segment Tuesday night on the interview disgraced former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky conducted with Bob Costas on Monday on NBC's "Rock Center."

Sandusky, who has been charged with sexually abusing eight young boys, said he showered with a young boys while maintaining that he was innocent. Costas asked Sandusky, "Are you sexually attracted to young boys?"

"Am I sexually attracted to underage boys? Sexually attracted? You know, I enjoy young people. I love to be around them, But, no, I'm not sexually attracted to young boys," Sandusky told Costas.

Stewart could not believe Sandusky's answer.

FULL COVERAGE: Penn State scandal

"You can't even bring yourself to lie emphatically," Stewart said. "'Good God no! Sexually attracted? I'm not!.' It's like in that phone conversation, your actually fighting the urge to come clean."

All in all, it's a funny and sad segment. You have to wonder what Sandusky was thinking with this interview, and you have to wonder why his lawyer, who was sitting next to Costas, would even allow the interview to take place.

RELATED:

Franco Harris loses job for supporting Paterno

Jerry Sandusky tells Bob Costas: 'I am innocent' [Video]

Penn State's Mike McQueary says he told police of alleged rape

-- Houston Mitchell

 

Franco Harris loses job for comments supporting Joe Paterno

Franco Harris' comments in support of his former college coach, Joe Paterno, have cost him his job.

The former Pittsburgh Steeler running back is the latest person to lose his job in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex-abuse scandal, as The Meadows Racetrack & Casino in Washington, Pa., announced Tuesday it was suspending its business relationship with the Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee who played with the Nittany Lions from 1969 to 1971 under recently fired coach Paterno.

Harris, along with fellow former Pittsburgh Steeler Rocky Bleier, was hired by The Meadows in September to help with various outreach activities, charitable events and public appearances.

FULL COVERAGE: Penn State scandal

The Meadows issued this statement Tuesday night: "In light of the recent developments with Franco Harris regarding Joe Paterno’s dismissal, Franco and The Meadows have mutually decided to put their business relationship on hold at this time, while these matters are looked into further."

Paterno and university President Graham Spanier were fired Nov. 9 by Penn State's board of trustees as part of the fallout from the Sandusky scandal. Harris blasted the school for its treatment of the legendary coach.

”I feel that the board made a bad decision in letting Joe Paterno go,” Harris said. "I'm very disappointed in their decision. I thought they showed no courage, not to back someone who really needed it at the time. They were saying the football program under Joe was at fault.

”They really wouldn't give a reason. They're linking the football program to the scandal and, possibly, the cover-up. That's very disturbing to me.... I think there should be no connection to the football program, only in the case that it happened at the football building with an ex-coach. I'm still trying to find out who gave him access to the building, who signed that contract.”

Harris also is one of several high-profile athletes listed as an honorary director of The Second Mile charity, which was founded by Sandusky. Others include Cal Ripken Jr., Arnold Palmer and Andy Reid.

RELATED:

Jerry Sandusky tells Bob Costas: 'I am innocent' [Video]

Bill Dwyre: Penn State scandal can't be swept under a rug

Penn State's Mike McQueary says he told police of alleged rape

-- Chuck Schilken

Photo: Joe Paterno and Franco Harris in 2006. Credit: Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press

Penn State rally comes up short against Nebraska, 17-14

There was plenty of irony in the way Penn State lost its football game, 17-14, to Nebraska on Saturday at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa.

What the No. 12-ranked Nittany Lions had to offer during the game came too little, too late.

Trailing 17-0 midway through the third quarter, Penn State rallied to pull within a field goal with more than five minutes left but No. 19 Nebraska held on.

FULL COVERAGE: Penn State scandal

The Nittany Lions had the ball twice in the last 3 minutes 52 seconds, but couldn’t score.

The way the game ended, perhaps symbolically, was chaotic.

Penn State quarterback Matt McGloin completed a pass to Devon Smith in the middle of the field as the final seconds ticked down. The Nittany Lions barely got another play off, but McGloin was rushed and was only able to get off another short pass to the middle of the field that fell incomplete.

The loss was Penn State’s first in Big Ten Conference play after five wins. The Nittany Lions are 8-2 overall but have road games against two tough opponents, Ohio State and Wisconsin, to finish the regular season.

Nebraska improved to 8-2 overall, 4-2 in conference play.

Interim Coach Tom Bradley spoke during a television interview afterward about how proud he was of his team.

“I think you saw a lot of character, a lot of resolve, by this team,” he said. “I liked the way they stuck together … we fought hard.”

He then turned his attention to the alleged victims in the child sex-abuse scandal that has rocked Penn State’s program.

A solemn start to the Penn State-Nebraska game

Football took a backseat before the start of the Penn State-Nebraska football game at State College, Pa., Saturday in the wake of the child sex-abuse scandal surrounding former coach Jerry Sandusky.

Both teams and many others gathered quietly at midfield for a moment of silence and prayer before the start of the game between the No. 19 Cornhuskers and No. 12 Nittany Lions.

There was also an emotional singing of the school's alma mater and senior-day introductions.

FULL COVERAGE: Penn State scandal

Jay Paterno took his father’s spot on the team bus on the way to the stadium. Joe Paterno was fired after 46 years as the team's head coach for his failure to do more to put a stop to the alleged sexual abuse of children by his former assistant coach.

It has been an emotional week at Penn State, with the school's president also fired. Mike McQueary, who witnessed the alleged incident in 2002 involving Sandusky, was also prevented from coaching Saturday, having been put on administrative leave.

Joe Paterno was not at the game. At his home, there were TV crews and reporters, and a few individuals on the sidewalk knelt and prayed.

The stadium was bathed in blue as Penn State fans made the decision to wear blue instead of their traditional white to support victims of the alleged abuse.

Some shirtless students in the front row had painted their chests light blue with white letters that spelled out, at least partially, “For the kids.”

There was no score in the game midway through the second quarter.

RELATED:

Penn State is taking it all personally

Penn State a major topic among readers

Sex abuse scandal just got costlier for Penn State

-- Mike Hiserman and Mike James

Photo: Penn State's Malcolm Willis, left, and Silas Redd bow their heads in silence before Saturday's game. Credit: Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press

 

Fans see a gentler approach to Penn State-Nebraska game

Beaver Stadium fell silent. The sidelines were empty. Players from both Penn State and Nebraska were gathered at midfield, each of them on one knee. At the center of the crowd was Nebraska running backs coach Ron Brown, the director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in his state.

The nation was watching them.

Penn State resumed playing football on Saturday morning, facing Nebraska in their first game since child-sex crime allegations against a longtime defensive coordinator resulted in the firing of Coach Joe Paterno.

FULL COVERAGE: Penn State scandal

There were many familiar sights and sounds. Fans tailgated for miles around. They stood in line to take pictures with Paterno’s statue outside of the east side of the stadium. They performed their traditional call-and-response chant of “We are…” “Penn State!”

But something was different, regulars at the stadium said.

“I think the people are more subdued,” said Alex Levit, a member of Penn State’s Class of 2000.

Longtime fan Robert Tintner said that if not for the scandal, fans would be “a little bit more rowdy” for a game of this magnitude. Tintner said the increased police presence was easily noticeable.

The crowd that waited for the Penn State team bus to pull up to the stadium was said to be larger than usual, as it was a couple of dozen people deep in some areas. When the players arrived, fans pointed their cameras and cell phones at them. Men held up their children so they could see them.

Nebraska fans Robert and Diana Alderson were visiting University Park from Omaha and said they didn’t know what to expect.

“It’s kind of mellow,” Robert said. The Aldersons, who are married, said they usually get heckled when they visit other schools.

“Everyone’s been overly nice,” Diana said.

ALSO:

It was an emotional day after at Penn State

Plaschke: This should be the end of Paterno State

Scandal will have an effect on Penn State program for years

--Dylan Hernandez, from State College, Pa.

Photo: Penn State players walked into the stadium before the game holding hands. Credit: Patrick Smith / Getty Images.

Penn State trails Nebraska, 10-0, at halftime of boring game

Beaver Stadium was shaking. Literally.

The press box on the west side of the stadium shook, as fans responded to seeing receiver Curtis Drake catch a deflected pass and take Penn State into Nebraska’s half of the field midway through the first quarter.

But the fans had little else to cheer about in the opening half, as the Nittany Lions went into the intermission trailing their visitors, 10-0.

Nebraska went ahead, 3-0, on a 41-yard field goal by Brett Maher in the second quarter. The Cornhuskers added to the lead as Ameer Abdullah scored on a two-yard run with 44 seconds left in the half.

RELATED:

Penn State is taking it all personally

Penn State a major topic among readers

Sex abuse scandal just got costlier for Penn State

-- Dylan Hernandez in University Park, Pa.

Photo: Penn State receiver Curtis Drake gains yards after the catch against Nebraska during a Big Ten game on Saturday at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa. Credit: Justin K. Aller / Getty Images

Penn State comment on ESPN raises questions

Just after 8:30 this morning on the West Coast, ESPN returned from a commercial break showing Penn State players who were chanting and moving rhythmically in a large circle, firing themselves up before the game.

Then, from off camera, came the words: "Where's that little kid?"

It sounded like Lee Corso's voice. Corso was with the network's GameDay crew at Stanford, but that unit was commenting on the pregame action in State College, Pa., where Penn State and Nebraska were preparing to kickoff.

Corso wasn't heard from for several minutes while others spoke with shots of Penn State coaches and players in the background.

An ESPN spokesman contacted by The Times' Diane Pucin was not aware of the incident and said he would check into it.

There might be an innocent explanation for it. But the juxtaposition of that camera shot and that off-camera remark was startling.

Someone needs to answer for it.

--Mike Hiserman

Sex-abuse scandal just got costlier for Penn State

The Times' Walter Hamilton is reporting that the Jerry Sandusky sex-abuse allegations at Penn State could prove costly.

Here's a bit of what Hamilton had to report on the Money & Company blog:

Moody's Investors Service announced Friday that it may downgrade the university's credit rating in light of the lawsuits and other "reputational and financial risk" the school is likely to endure. The shocking allegations of abuse may scare away prospective students and anger deep-pocketed alumni who make large donations to the football powerhouse.

"While the full impact of these increased risks will only unfold over a period of years, we will also assess the degree of near and medium term risks to determine whether to downgrade the current Aa1 rating," Moody's said in a news release.

One risk is that Penn State's insurers may balk at footing the bill for settlements with victims. They potentially could argue that top school officials, including its now-exiled president, Graham Spanier, were aware for years of the abuses allegedly committed by the football team's former assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky, but took no action.

How bad will the fallout be at Penn State? Legendary former coach Joe Paterno, fired on Wednesday, has hired a criminal defense attorney for possible representation in civil suits.

MORE:

Assistant coach Mike McQueary placed on leave

Paterno fired: Tom Bradley news conference highlights

Full coverage: Child sex abuse scandal rocks Penn State

--Dan Loumena

Photo: Joe Paterno, who earlier this season became the winningest Division I coach in college football with 409 victories, patrols the sideline during a game in 2003. Credit: Phelan Ebenhack / Associated Press

Former Penn State player sends money to Jerry Sandusky

Sam Stellatella, who played football for Penn State in the 1950s, has donated money to Jerry Sandusky's defense and urged other former players to do the same.

Sandusky, a longtime Nittany Lions defensive coordinator, was charged with sexually abusing eight boys during a 15-year period.

"I told him he's going to need a million dollars to defend himself," Stellatella, who sent $100, told the Associated Press. "He called me back and said, 'What am I going to do with this money?' I said, 'Use it for your lawyer because you're going to need it.' "

FULL COVERAGE: Jerry Sandusky scandal

Stellatella also said he wrote letters to some of his former teammates and asked they also send money to Sandusky.

"I know some of the guys sent money," Stellatella said. "Here's the thing, these are horrendous charges against him. But he's still entitled to his day in court. Everybody's prejudged him. He's done horrendous damage to [Coach Joe] Paterno and [athletic director Tim] Curley and the football program.

"I don't listen to the news and I don't read the reports of what he did because I would get too upset. But he's still entitled to his day in court."

RELATED:

Ashton Kutcher says he fumbled tweet after Paterno fired

Paterno fired: Tom Bradley news conference highlights

Full coverage: Child sex abuse scandal rocks Penn State

-- Houston Mitchell

Photo: Jerry Sandusky. Credit: Harry Cabluck / Associated Press.

 

 

 

Jerry Sandusky could get 460 years in prison if convicted

Former Penn State assistant football Coach Jerry Sandusky could face a maximum prison sentence of 460 years if convicted of sexually abusing or molesting eight underage victims over a 14-year period, according to a criminal complaint filed last Friday that myfoxphilly obtained.

The complaint against Sandusky lists 37 alleged offenses resulting in 40 criminal counts, including six first-degree felony charges in connection with alleged deviate sexual intercourse. 

"Completely floored. I would've never imagined this," said Buffalo Bills safety Bryan Scott, who played at Penn State from 1999-2002 and roomed with Sandusky's son, Jon, on road trips his freshman year.

"He was a stand-up guy the way he interacted with the team and even around the kids," Scott added.

Sandusky was part of Paterno's staff for three decades, beginning in 1969.

MORE:

Paterno fired: Tom Bradley news conference highlights

Full coverage: Child sex abuse scandal rocks Penn State

Ashton Kutcher says he fumbled tweet after Paterno fired

--Melissa Rohlin

 Photo: A woman holds a sign in front of a man who is painting over Jerry Sandusky's face, which was featured prominently in a mural. Credit: Pat Little / Reuters.

 

Penn State sex-abuse scandal spreads to Texas

It appears the Penn State child sex-abuse scandal is no longer confined to State College, Pa.

Texas authorities announced Thursday that they are looking into whether an offense occurred during Penn State's trip to the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio in 1999.

Former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, who was still with the Nittany Lions during their bowl game that year, was arrested Saturday on charges he sexually assaulted eight boys over a 15-year period. Sandusky has denied the allegations.

San Antonio Police Sgt. Chris Benavides told reporters Thursday that his department is "looking into the possibility that an offense may have happened" during the Penn State football team's time in town.

The 1999 Alamo Bowl marked Sandusky's final appearance as a Penn State coach.

Joe Paterno, the longtime Penn State coach and winningest coach in college football, was fired by the school Wednesday for failing to contact authorities in 2002 after being told a graduate assistant saw Sandusky assaulting a boy in a school shower.

RELATED:

Document: Grand jury report on alleged Penn State sex abuse

Paterno fired: Tom Bradley news conference highlights

Full Coverage: Penn State scandal

-- Austin Knoblauch

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky is led away by police after being arrested on molestation charges Saturday. Credit: Reuters

Penn State student defends firing of Joe Paterno [Video]

During an ESPN interview, a Penn State student stood up to the mob and defended the firing of Joe Paterno, only to be interrupted by an emphatic Paterno supporter.

"It's a terrible situation, but he should have done more," said the student. "I'm embarrassed for the university, for Joe Paterno, for everyone."

In the background, thousands of students were chanting, "We want Joe." The interviewee consented that he was among a small minority.    

Before long, another man shouts into the microphone, "Joe Pa should be here until the end of time. Joe Pa should be here for life."

The reporter then asked the student who was defending the dismissal of Paterno whether he feared for his safety.

"Absolutely," he said.

RELATED:

Penn State students stage mini-riot after Paterno fired

Paterno fired: Tom Bradley news conference highlights

Ashton Kutcher says he fumbled tweet after Paterno fired

-- Melissa Rohlin

Penn State students stage mini-riot after Joe Paterno is fired

Thousands of Penn State students staged a mini-riot Wednesday evening after Penn State football Coach Joe Paterno was fired by the school's Board of Trustees.

The students assembled two blocks from campus and chanted, "We want Joe! We want Joe!" Some threw rocks and bottles. A TV news van was tipped over and its windows were kicked in and a lamppost was toppled.

About 100 police wearing wearing helmets and carrying batons arrived at the scene around midnight and used pepper spray to break up the crowd. The officers announced into megaphones that the students would be breaking the law if they did not leave the area.

PHOTOS: Riot at Penn State

Paterno, 84, was fired after reports surfaced that he didn't alert police when a graduate student came to him in 2002 and told Paterno that he had witnessed assistant coach Jerry Sandusky engaging in inappropriate behavior with a 10-year-old boy in a school shower.

Paterno announced earlier Wednesday that he would retire after finishing the season, but an outraged Board of Trustees was not satisfied and dismissed the storied coach effective immediately.

Dustin Morgan, 20, a junior from Scranton, Pa., told Bloomberg that he thought the decision was "a little harsh."

“They’re just allegations,” Morgan said. “A lot of people were saying Joe didn’t make the right choice and morally he didn’t do the right thing, but to just fire a man who’s been here for 46 years and pretty much made this campus what it is now, I think is a little harsh.”

James Choi, 18, a freshman from Baltimore, also thought the way Paterno was fired was unjust.

“He shouldn’t have to go out this way,” Choi said. “They should let him leave with his dignity.”

MORE:

Joe Paterno fired

Chris Dufresne: Penn State ruined for years to come

Full coverage: Child sex abuse scandal rocks Penn State

-- Melissa Rohlin

Photo: Penn State students smash a TV news van after Joe Paterno was fired. Credit: Michael Henninger / Associated Press

Joe Paterno fired: Tom Bradley news conference highlights

Tom Bradley, who was named interim head football coach at Penn State after Joe Paterno was fired Wednesday night, held his first news conference Thursday morning. Some highlights:

Bradley said Mike McQueary, the former graduate assistant who reported the 2002 Jerry Sandusky allegation to Paterno, will remain in his capacity as an assistant, but didn't say where he'd be positioned in the stadium. He also declared Larry Johnson and Ron Vanderlinden will take over as co-coordinators on defense.

“I take this job with very mixed emotions, due to the situation,” Bradley said.

PHOTOS: Riot at Penn State

“I grieve for the victims. I grieve for the families … Our thoughts and our prayers are with them,” Bradley said.

Bradley says he called Joe Paterno on Wednesday night, but would not say what they talked about.

Bradley, who replaced Sandusky as defensive coordinator in 1999, repeatedly declined to answer any questions about Sandusky, noting that the investigation against him is ongoing.

"The football part, we'll get working on that right away," Bradley said, "For now, you should know our team's thoughts and prayers are with those children and their families."

He said that, despite the protests Wednesday night in State College, Pa., he is not concerned about the safety of his players at the game on Saturday. He does not think the events of the last week will distract them. “It’s a very resilient group,” he said.

When asked about his thoughts on Paterno, Bradley said: "Joe Paterno has meant more to me than anybody but my father.... Coach Paterno will go down in history as one of the greatest men -- most of you know him as a football coach -- I've had the privilege to work with him. He's had a dynamic impact on so many, so many -- I'll say again, so many -- people and players lives. I'm proud to say that I worked with him."

RELATED:

Penn State students stage mini-riot

Chris Dufresne: Penn State ruined for years to come

Full coverage: Child sex abuse scandal rocks Penn State

-- Houston Mitchell

Photo: Tom Bradley was appointed interim head coach at Penn State after Joe Paterno was fired. Credit: Doug Benc / Getty Images

Jerry Sandusky to disappear from mural near Penn State campus

Jerry Sandusky's image will be removed from a prominent mural near the Penn State campus, the mural's artist, Michael Pilato, says.

The mural, "Inspiration," is outside the student book store near the Penn State campus. It contains faces of notable figures in State College, Pa., history, including Sandusky, the former Penn State defensive coordinator who was arrested last week on charges that he sexually abused eight boys.

Milato got the idea after the mother of one of Sandusky's alleged victims emailed him and asked him to do it.

FULL COVERAGE: Penn State scandal

"I believe in due process. I do," Pilato told CNN. "But with all the evidence in the news right now and some of the victims living here, it kills me to think of the victims having to walk past this. It saddens me to do this. When I first met Jerry, I thought he was a great man. He fooled me like he fooled everyone."

He is replacing Sandusky with a blue ribbon to represent the victims.

Penn State football Coach Joe Paterno also appears in the mural, Milato said he was going to paint a blue ribbon on Paterno's shirt.

RELATED:

PHOTOS: Penn State football rocked by sexual abuse scandal

Not the ending anyone could have foreseen for Paterno

Joe Paterno says he will retire after season

-- Houston Mitchell 

Photos, from top: Michael Pilato paints over Jerry Sandusky's image; the mural features prominent people in State College, Pa., history. Credit: Pat Little / Reuters 

Should Joe Paterno be allowed to coach Penn State on Saturday?

Penn State Coach Joe Paterno has announced he will retire at the end of the football season in light of the sex-abuse scandal involving his former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. But should he still be employed by the university even that long?

Writers from around the Tribune Co. discuss whether Paterno should be with the Nittany Lions when they host Nebraska on Saturday. Check back throughout the day for more responses and join the discussion by voting in our poll and leaving a comment of your own.

Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times

It's incredible to think the best deal Joe Paterno could cut for himself at the height of this scandal was announcing he would retire at the end of the season. A man who talked only weeks ago about having no intention of retiring actually had to get out in front of a Penn State Board of Trustees that might want him to step down immediately.

FULL COVERAGE: Penn State scandal

Yet, allowing Paterno to coach the next three games and a bowl game is going to be huge distraction. Paterno should probably be allowed to coach his final home game at Penn State and then step aside for remaining away games at Ohio State and Wisconsin. But even that might not sound like a good idea by the time this day, or week, is over. Things are moving that fast.

Matt Murschel, Orlando Sentinel

Joe Paterno is one of the greatest coaching legends in college football. He has done more for Penn State University in the 46 years that he has been coaching than anyone else. Until this point, his programs have remained clean during a time period when others have failed and his donations to help further education are legendary.

With his iconic black glasses and black sneakers, he is the face of Penn State. That’s why he should be allowed one last chance to say goodbye on Saturday. To walk the sidelines at Beaver Stadium and hear the cheers one last time. There will be boos, reminders of the mistakes he made being complacent instead of vigilant, and there will be protests. Wins and losses won’t matter in the end, and a legacy that had once written itself will now be forever tarnished. A legacy that started on a football field 46 years ago, should end on it as well. 

Are you satisfied with Joe Paterno retiring after this season?

Joe Paterno's 46-year run as head coach of Penn State football is coming to an end -- but maybe not as soon as some people might like. And, of course, there are others out there who don't want it to end at all.

Paterno has decided to retire at the end of this season in light of the sex-abuse scandal involving his former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.

While Paterno is not under investigation in the case, he has been criticized for apparently not following up on a report of a 2002 incident involving Sandusky and a 10-year-old boy in the showers at the team's complex.

 FULL COVERAGE: Penn State scandal

There had been reports of eroding support of the legendary coach, with pressure mounting for Paterno to retire or be removed from his post.

But he also has supporters, particularly among the student body. A large group of students held an impromptu rally at Paterno's house on Tuesday night, chanting, among other things, "Let Joe stay!"

What do you think of Paterno's decision? Does he deserve a graceful exit? And do the players for the 8-1 Nittany Lions deserve to keep their coach as they finish out the season and prepare for a bowl game?

Or should he retire or be removed immediately?

Or do you think he should remain Penn State's coach beyond this season?

Vote and leave a comment explaining why you voted the way you did.

RELATED:

Bill Plaschke: Joe Paterno should resign

Penn State scandal: Awaiting more answers from Joe Paterno

This isn't the ending anyone could have foreseen for Joe Paterno

-- Chuck Schilken