Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Penn State Board Of Trustees Fire Coach Joe Paterno, President Graham Spanier Effective Immediately
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 9, 2011
Modified Nov 9, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 9, 2011
Modified Nov 9, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
In the wake of the horrifying allegations that a former assistant football coach abused and raped young boys, sometimes on campus, and that the school ignored reports of abuse, Penn State's Board of Trustees just held a press conference, announcing the university president Graham Spanier was stepping down—and that beloved and legendary football coach Joe Paterno would no longer be coach effective immediately.
Earlier today, Paterno had announced that he would resign at the end of the season. While the alleged abuse was committed by Jerry Sandusky, Paterno's involvement has been scrutinized because a former player-turned-graduate assistant allegedly witnessed Sandusky raping a young boy in a Penn State locker room shower in 2002. Even though Sandusky saw him, the assistant, Mike McQueary, admitted to investigators that he was so shocked that he just left and asked his father for advice. McQueary's father told him to tell Paterno. McQueary went to Paterno's home the next morning and described what he saw; Paterno then told Penn State athletic director Timothy Curley and Penn State senior vice president of finance Gary Schultz. Curley and Schultz spoke to McQueary a week and a half later, and ultimately decided to tell Sandusky, who mentored children through a charity program, not to bring children into the football building.
At the press conference, John P. Surma, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees, said, "I think we had enough information to make the decision. This was collective judgment, which we weighed all the factors to move the university in the right direction." However, many students stood on campus, screaming, "Fuck Spanier!" and "Fuck Sandusky!" and that Paterno must stay. A student told Penn State's college paper, The Collegian, "We have classes and exams to take but we love [Paterno]. He's an icon," while another said, "We want to finish out the season the way we should," indicating that today's youth loves college football more than a moral imperative to report a crime.
Students on Beaver Avenue (via @dailycollegian)
When announcing the charges, Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly said, "Despite a powerful eyewitness statement about the sexual assault of a child, this incident was not reported to any law enforcement or child protective agency, as required by Pennsylvania law. Additionally, there is no indication that anyone from the university ever attempted to learn the identity of the child who was sexually assaulted on their campus or made any follow-up effort to obtain more information from the person who witnessed the attack first-hand." The Attorney General's office says that Sandusky's attacks occurred between 1994 and 2009 on eight victims, but now a ninth alleged victim has emerged, due to media reports.
Sandusky was charged with multiple counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, child endangerment and more while Curley and Schultz were charged with perjury and failure to report (under the Child Protective Services Law).
Tagged
abuse
graham spanier
jerry sandusky
joe paterno
penn state
rape
sexual abuse
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani names re-entry specialist as chair of Rikers oversight board
Christopher Watler will help the department that a federal monitor says remains in crisis.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 6, 2026 at 3:52 p.m. ET
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
News
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Legionella found in Staten Island building's water system after 2 positive cases
By
Catalina Gonella
Legal 'loophole' helps NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Bruce Blakeman raise millions
By
Jon Campbell
Police identify 2 men wanted for stabbing an off-duty NYPD officer
By
Ben Feuerherd
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .