STATE COLLEGE, Pa.Joe Paterno's 61-year career as a coach and teacher at Penn State is over, effective immediately. The university's board of trustees made the announcement at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center on Wednesday night.
The Board also fired university president Graham Spanier.
The decision to remove the iconic football coach came in the wake of the sexual abuse scandal involving Paterno's trusted assistant, Jerry Sandusky. The former defensive coordinator and Penn State linebacker was charged with 40 counts of sexual abuse against eight boys over a 15-year span. Two top university officials (Tim Curley, the athletic director, and Gary Schultz, the senior vice president for finance and business) have been charged with perjury and failing to report to authorities what they knew of the allegations against Sandusky.
When asked why the board chose to remove Paterno on Wednesday night rather than wait until after Saturday's final home game of the season, Vice Chairman John Surma said, "the situation we're in today was not in the best interest of the university...our job was to make this determination."
Surma added that the Board's vote was unanimous.
Defensive coordinator Tom Bradley will replace Paterno, and Rodney Erickson will replace Spanierboth on an interim basis. Bradley took over from Sandusky when he retired in 1999. Former graduate assistant and assistant coach, Mike McQueary, remains on the staff.
Shortly after midnight, Paterno issued the following statementhis second of the day:
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I am disappointed with the Board of Trustees' decision, but I have to accept it, Paterno wrote. 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.
Earlier Wednesday, Paterno issued a statement announcing his plan to retire at the end of the season. The Board of Trustees, however, felt it was prudent to relieve Paterno immediately.
The past several days have been absolutely terrible for the entire Penn State community, Surma said. But the outrage that we feel is nothing compared to the physical and psychological suffering that allegedly took place.
Penn State is 8-1, ranked No. 12 in the country and leading the standings in the Big Ten. A bid to a BCS Bowl game is nearly assured. However, Penn State is scheduled to face No. 18 Nebraska on Saturday in what was to be Paternos final game at the universitys Beaver Stadium.
The press conference where the Board gathered to release its decision quickly turned unruly and confrontational. Local and student media, clearly angry with the decision to remove Paterno, shouted questions at Surma. Paterno, meanwhile, was informed of his firing via a telephone call from a member of the Board.
The first question after the announcement of Paternos ouster was, Who will coach the team Saturday?
On campus, a small group of students gathered at the statue of Paterno at the football stadium where they kept a quiet vigil. Some students, in tears, hugged the statue and then moved back to their place in the group.
Beneath the statue of Paterno, the inscription reads: They ask me what I'd like written about me when I'm gone. I hope they write I made Penn State a better place, not just that I was a good football coach.
Elsewhere on campus on Beaver Ave. and in front of Old Main on College Ave., a more raucous gathering of students took place. They chanted their displeasure in Paternos firing, and a TV truck was flipped over.
But otherwise, the gathering was peaceful and orderly.
Paterno finishes his 46-year coaching career with 409 wins, more than any other coach in college football history. He guided Penn State to two National Championships and five undefeated seasons. Paterno, 84, reportedly broke down in tears while informing his team that he planned to step down at the end of the season.
Surma said the board of trustees would appoint a committee to investigate the "circumstances" that resulted into the charges of sexual assault and the cover up. The committee will be appointed Friday at the board's regular meeting, which Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett will attend.
According to the grand jury report, Paterno notified Curley and Schultz about the 2002 abuse charge against Sandusky after being told about it by then graduate assistant Mike McQueary. Sandusky had retired from Penn State in 1999, but still had an office and full access to the football building. The grand jury report indicates that the charges of abuse against Sandusky continued after the 2002 incident.
Because of this, the U.S. Department of Education said Wednesday it would investigate whether Penn State violated a federal law requiring the disclosure of criminal offenses on campus and warnings of crimes posing a threat to the community in its handling of the allegations. The request for the investigation came from U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan, R-Pa., on Tuesday.
The past several days have been absolutely terrible for the entire Penn State community, Surma said. But the outrage that we feel is nothing compared to the physical and psychological suffering that allegedly took place.
Paterno spoke briefly to supporters that showed up at his home, just a short distance off campus. Reports are that Paterno could hold a press conference of his own as early as Thursday.
Let's see what's going to happen, OK? Paterno said. Right now I'm not the coach and I've got to get used to that. After 61 years, I've got to get used to it.
A report from a CNBC business reporter estimated that the civil suit against Penn State for the sex-abuse charges could reach 100 million. The football department had revenues of approximately 50 million in 2010.
Nevertheless, Paterno will not be a coach for Penn State for the first time since 1949.
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.
E-mail John Finger at jrfinger@comcastsportsnet.com.