STATE COLLEGE, Pa.A Penn State official confirmed that there was a bomb threat received for Beaver Stadium on Friday night while thousands of students and alumni were holding a candle light vigil across campus at Old Main.
Administration officials alerted students about the threat with a text message. Students were also informed that bomb-sniffing dogs and law personnel secured the stadium. The stadium was inspected again Saturday morning.
However, university officials said police and the FBI are investigating the threat and have increased security and police presence on campus. Mounted police guarded several entrances, and state constables were stationed in and around Beaver Stadium.
Wednesday night, students flooded Beaver Avenue just off campus shortly after the Penn State Board of Trustees announced the firing of legendary football coach, Joe Paterno. On Thursday night, the university revealed that multiple threats had been made against wide receivers coach, Mike McQueary, who remains at the center of the ongoing sex-abuse scandal. McQueary was placed on indefinite, paid administrative leave on Friday. It was reported that the receivers coach left State College.
As fans entered Beaver Stadium on Saturday morning, they were greeted by signs at each gate that began with ATTENTION in capitalized red letters. The warning continued:
Penn State received an anonymous bomb threat Friday night (Nov. 11) for Beaver Stadium. Police and FBI have investigated. Police, who have had the same stadium secured since Tuesday, used bomb-sniffing dogs as well as additional personnel to check the stadium and nothing was found. The stadium was searched again this morning, and again nothing was found.
Anyone who sees anything out of the ordinary is urged to contact police immediately by calling 814-863-1111 or 911 or approach any officer in and around the stadium.
Increased security measures are in place for todays game. Inspections at the gates will be more deliberate and thorough. The Universitys regulation on bags will be strictly enforced.
Penn State is scheduled to play its final home game of the season at noon against No. 18 Nebraska.
E-mail John Finger at jfinger@comcastsportsnet.com
E-mail John Gonzalez at jgonzalez@comcastsportsnet.com