When was paterno fired

It was a night of reckoning for Penn State. Days earlier, a scathing indictment had accused school officials, including beloved football coach Joe Paterno , of not doing enough to stop former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky from sexually abusing children.

When Paterno was fired late one night 10 years ago this week, it set off waves of anger and confusion within Happy Valley and among Penn State faithful here in the Lehigh Valley. Their football fandom and reverence for a longtime school figure were suddenly pitted against the horrible reality of the scandal. First of all, we feel horrible for the victims and those families, and we think about them all of the time. Adam Taliaferro - "You hurt for everybody, and you hope everybody finds peace at the end of the day.

You hate to see anyone go through something like that. Paterno and Jay and Scott and the rest of the family. I consider those people to be part of my extended family. He went far beyond what any football coach would ever do for a player. His last words were definitely ones we hung on. Paterno died Jan. Thousands of mourners line College Avenue to pay their respects to legendary Penn State University football coach Joe Paterno as the funeral procession drives by the campus on Jan.

Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. Because of his status as an iconic coach on a football-crazed campus, Paterno commanded attention and could have demanded an investigation at any time. For nearly a decade after graduate assistant Mike McQueary allegedly witnessed Sandusky subjecting a year-old boy to anal intercourse, Sandusky had free reign of Penn State's football facilities.

According to published reports, Sandusky worked out in Penn State's weight room as late as last week. McQueary, who is now the team's wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator, is still part of the Nittany Lions' staff.

McQueary, who grew up in State College, Pa. Paterno's "Grand Experiment" was supposed to be a blueprint for how intercollegiate sports should work, a harmonious balance of academics and athletics, which would ensure that the players who enrolled at Penn State would be better men when they left. You can contact him at schlabachma yahoo. Skip to main content Skip to navigation. Schlabach: Paterno's firing was only decision. Penn State Nittany Lions.

What's next for each team in the AP Top 25? Alabama Crimson Tide. KU stuns Texas on walk-on's winning 2-point grab. Kansas Jayhawks. Irked Riley: Baylor timeout for FG breaks 'code'. Oklahoma Sooners. Gators' defensive woes persist vs. I grieve for the children and their families, and I pray for their comfort and relief. I have come to work every day for the last 61 years with one clear goal in mind: To serve the best interests of this university and the young men who have been entrusted to my care.

I have the same goal today. The Penn State Board of Trustees decides that the end of the season is not soon enough, firing both Paterno and president Graham Spanier late Wednesday night. Paterno was allegedly fired over the phone. First, Paterno left his house and made a speech from his yard:. However, it was the riots ensuing that made Wednesday a night no one will forget. Paterno also released a statement describing how he felt about the decision to let him go, according to CBS Chicago.

A tragedy occurred, and we all have to have patience to let the legal process proceed.