The Penn State University Board of Trustees met tonight and came to the much needed conclusion to fire head football coach Joe Paterno and school president Graham Spanier.
The news came down minutes ago in a press conference held by the Penn State BOT. John P. Surma, Vice Chairman fo the Board of Trustees, made the announcement at a 10:00pm ET presser.
The Board told Paterno via phone. The vote was unanimous.
Joe Paterno announced earlier today that he would retire at the end of the season. That simply wasn’t good enough or fast enough. Paterno never seemed to grasp the extreme nature of what had happened or his role in it.
Paterno lost his job for not doing enough when he learned that former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was caught having sex with a 10-year old boy in the Penn State locker room. A 28-year old assistant coach told Paterno of what he had witnessed after walking in on Sandusky violating the boy. Paterno claims he told his Athletic Director and that was it. He never followed up on it or reported it to the police.
The Illicit Jerry Sandusky Grand Jury Report (Rated X – Full Text)
Many believe that was an epic failure by Paterno considering he is the most popular and important person at Penn State. The AD has answered to Paterno for decades.
Sandusky has been indicted on over 40 counts of sexual abuse against children. He was seen, as late as last week, working out in the Penn State weight room. His football camp has been held at a Penn State satellite campus since his stepped down as defensive coordinator back in 1999.
Paterno’s first words, according to the AP, upon being asked about the Board’s decision, “Right now, I’m not the football coach, and that’s something I have to get used to.”
Penn State didn’t ban Sandusky from the campus until November 6, 2011.
Current defensive coordinator Tom Bradley has been named as the interim head coach for the Nittany Lions.
UPDATE: Thousands of students have gathered in what looks like could evolve into a riot scene. One report states that they have already claimed one light post by bringing it down.
UPDATE 2: Mark Madden tweeted earlier that this thing is about to get even worse: RT @MarkMaddenX Don’t believe it can get worse? Give it 72 hrs. People really digging into 2nd Mile. Even more shocking revelation ahead.
Penn State Student Riot Photos
RELATED: Joe Paterno’s Ego Dominates Over Sexual Abuse Victims (Video)
It is a shame that Joe Paterno lost his life’s vocation, because he “didn’t do enough”. He was told second hand about one incident. He then reported it to his superiors. Jerry Sandusky did not work at the university by that time. He fooled many people for a very long time with his foundation and camps. Why didn’t the graduate assistant who witnessed the abuse report it to the police. Joe Paterno is taking the blame for everyone who did not act. The university trustees are just trying to save face. They are just as guilty of hypocrisy.