Both President Graham Spanier and head football coach Joe Paterno were ousted tonight by the Penn State Board of Trustees, effective immediately.
Provost Rod Ericson has been appointed as acting president.
Paterno was notified by telephone earlier. Assistant football coach Tom Bradley has been appointed as interim head football coach and the football season will not be cancelled.
“The situation we’re in today is not in the University’s best interest,” stated John P. Surma, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees who is CEO of U.S. Steel in real life, at the post-meeting press conference. “In our view, we thought a change now was necessary. To allow this process to continue we thought would be damaging to the university and that’s why we took the action we did.”
“We don’t know all the facts,” he said.
That’s a great basis on which to make such a weighty decision.
Paterno had issued a statement this morning announcing his retirement at the end of this football season. However, it is now certain that he has coached his final game at Penn State.
His statement this evening was terse: “I am disappointed with the Board of Trustees’ decision, but I have to accept it.”
Spanier’s statement is here.
Further information about the findings of the special investigation committee of the BOT will come later.
Mark Oland says
TNT-
I am curious what triggered the Grand Jury investigation that brought all this to light. I can’t find anything on that part of the story.
Do you know?
Thanks.
Mark
The Nittany Turkey says
I do not know for sure. However, there were incidents around 1998 in which police were involved (other than the discovery by the janitor). A woman found that her child had taken a shower with Sandusky and called him. She asked him if there was any inappropriate touching, to which he responded obtusely, “I dunno…maybe…” She took it to the police who apparently, with her consent listened to another phone conversation with Sandusky in which he said he wanted forgiveness, but he knew he would never get it from her, and he wanted to die. The police never pressed charges. However, the state social welfare department was involved at that time, too. So, there was a “file” on Sandusky. But what in particular triggered all those old things being dug up and the grand jury investigation begin, I do not know.
It is an interesting question, though. Could McQueary, Paterno, or someone acting for them have anonymously tipped off the State Attorney General’s Office?
—TNT
jd says
they didn’t even let him fall on his sword. they fired him. by phone.
cowards, the lot of them.
bot@psu.edu if you feel the need to bark at the board of trustees. i know i have a great deal to say.
The Nittany Turkey says
From what I can piece together, the BOT sent a courier to Paterno’s house with an envelope containing a phone number he was directed to call. When he called it, he was tersely apprised of the termination of his employment. That was not long before the firing was announced to the public. Surma said that a face to face meeting would not have been appropriate. Huh? You’re right — cowards!
On the other hand, for Paterno to react to the whole affair by making unilateral decisions (“do unto others before they do unto you”) added fuel to the fire for the BOT, who before Paterno pre-empted their decision with his announced retirement, had publicly stated that they would meet to decide the fate of Spanier and Paterno. His rejoinder in the resignation statement about the board now not having to waste time deliberating about him because they have more important things to do undoubtedly stuck in their craw.
When the smoke clears, though, this will remain a very sad stain on a great man and a great institution. My resentment for Sandusky continues to grow, and my solidarity with his victims seeking justice is strong.
—TNT
Mark Oland says
Found the AP story with key dates-a mother of a victim called authorities in 2009 and the investigation began.
The Nittany Turkey says
Ahh. So that was the same mother from the 1998 shower incident?
—TNT