According to several published reports, Penn State president Graham Spanier has resigned and head football coach Joe Paterno has been ordered to step down in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.
WPVI-TV in Philadelphia reports that Assistant Coach Tom Bradley will take over the team for the rest of the season. According to the school's Board of Trustees, Paterno was notified of their decision over the telephone. The board's president, John Surma, the president of U.S Steel who's son played at the school, added "We made a decision based on what we felt was the best long-term interests of the University."
The station is also reporting that Spanier tendered his resignation to the Board of Trustees Wednesday evening.
The question now is the status of Assistant coach Mike McQuerey who was the graduate assistant who reported about Sandusky's behavior in 2002. There is a large outcry he shouldn't be allowed to be on the sidelines either. The Board has not elaborated on McQuery's status.
Adding to the surrealness of the scene is the local reporters who are struggling to grasp why Paterno got fired. The press conference late Wednesday night became somewhat chaotic as some students crashed the event and tried shouting down the Board as they spoke.
This all comes on the heels of another crazy day in State College, PA which included Paterno announcing his retirement at the end of the season and the Federal Government announcing they too would be investigating the entire episode.
This puts an end to one of the longest and storied careers in the history of college sports. Paterno coached at Penn State for 46 years and leaves at the age of 84, disgraced and attached to a scandal that didn't originally initiate with him, but with his lack of follow through, ended up costing him his career.
Students are congregating on the central commons and main building ("Old Main") on campus in an attempt to show their support for Paterno and do their normal amount of cheering and chanting which include a somewhat-ironic chant involving Sandusky and what he can do with himself in an anatomically-impossible manner.
Paterno was quoted as saying: "Right now, I'm not the football coach, and that's something I have to get used to"
The Penn State trustees chose Rodney Erickson as interim president at the school...
Here's the announcement by the Board...
((HT: MyFoxPhilly))
Video: Penn State Board Fires Paterno: MyFoxPHILLY.com
Paterno would release a statement...
“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.
I have been incredibly blessed to spend my entire career working with people I love. I am grateful beyond words to all of the coaches, players and staff who have been a part of this program. And to all of our fans and supporters, my family and I will be forever in your debt.”
More when we know more...
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