Police hold back students after they reacted off campus to the firing of Joe Paterno. Photo / AP
After nearly a half-century on the job, Joe Paterno says he is still getting used to the idea of not being Penn State's football coach. So is the rest of the shaken campus, after one of the most tumultuous days in its history.
In less than 24 hours on Wednesday, the winningest coach in major college football announced his retirement at the end of the season - then was abruptly fired by the board of trustees.
Also ousted was Penn State President Graham Spanier one of the longest-serving college presidents in the nation as the university's board of trustees tried to limit the damage to the school's reputation from a child sex abuse scandal involving one of Paterno's former assistant coaches.
Paterno's firing sent angry students into the streets, where they shouted support for the 84-year-old coach and tipped over a news van.
In less than a week since former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was charged with sexually assaulting eight boys over a 15-year period, the scandal has claimed Penn State's storied coach, its president, its athletic director and a vice-president.
"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," Paterno said late on Wednesday night. "Let me think it through."
Paterno had wanted to finish out his 46th season - tomorrow's game against Nebraska is the last at home - but the board of trustees was clearly fed up with the scandal's fallout.
"In our view, we thought change now was necessary," board vice-chairman John Surma said when he announced the unanimous decision to oust Paterno and Spanier.
Defensive coordinator Tom Bradley will serve as interim coach. Provost Rodney Erickson will be the interim school president.
"I take this job with very mixed emotions due to the situation," Bradley said yesterday morning.
As word of the firings spread, thousands of students flocked to the administration building, shouting, "We want Joe back!" and "One more game!" They then headed downtown where witnesses said rocks and bottles were thrown, a lamppost was toppled and a news van pushed over.
Paterno had come under increasing criticism, including from within the community for not doing more to stop the alleged abuse by Sandusky. Some of the assaults took place at the Penn State football complex, including a 2002 incident witnessed by then-graduate assistant and current assistant coach Mike McQueary.
McQueary went to Paterno and reported seeing Sandusky assaulting a young boy in the Penn State showers. Paterno notified the athletic director, Tim Curley, and a vice-president, Gary Schultz, who in turn notified Spanier.
Curley and Schultz have been charged with failing to report the incident to authorities. Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly has not ruled out charges against Spanier.
Paterno is not a target of the criminal investigation, but the state police commissioner called his failure to contact police himself a lapse in "moral responsibility".
Paterno said earlier on Wednesday that he was "absolutely devastated" by the abuse case.
"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."
The Penn State trustees had already said they would appoint a committee to investigate the "circumstances" that resulted in the indictment of Sandusky, and of Curley and Schultz. The committee was to be appointed overnight at the board's regular meeting, which Governor Tom Corbett said he planned to attend, and would examine "what failures occurred and who is responsible and what measures are necessary to ensure" similar mistakes weren't made in the future.
In Washington, the US Department of Education said it had launched an investigation into whether Penn State failed to report incidents of sexual abuse on campus, as required by federal law.
Surma said it was "in the best interest of the university to have a change in leadership to deal with the difficult issues that we are facing".
"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."
Sandusky, who announced his retirement from Penn State in June 1999, maintained his innocence through his lawyer. Curley has taken a temporary leave and Schultz has decided to step down. They also say they are innocent.
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 programmes. Paterno is listed on The Second Mile's website as a member of its honorary board of directors.
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, ranked No 12, is 8-1 this year, with its only loss to powerhouse Alabama.
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 on December 3..
Paterno has raised millions of dollars for Penn State in his career, and elevated the stature of what was once a sleepy land-grant school. Asked why he was fired over the phone, Surma said, "We were unable to find a way to do that in person without causing further distraction."
At Paterno's house, his wife, Sue, was teary-eyed as she blew kisses to the 100 or so students who gathered on the lawn in a show of support.
"You're all so sweet. And I guess we have to go beat Nebraska without being there," she said. "We love you all. Go Penn State."
- AP
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