Paterno Wanted to Talk Scandal, PSU Shut It Down: Son

Joe Paterno's son says that JoePa wanted to talk about the sex scandal at Tuesday's conference, but Penn State Administrators canceled the presser

About 50 minutes before it was about to begin, Penn State administrators canceled Joe Paterno's weekly news conference in which he was expected to field questions about a sex abuse scandal involving a former assistant coach.

Paterno's son Scott tells The Associated Press on Tuesday that the decision was made by President Graham Spanier's office.

Scott Paterno says his father was disappointed and was prepared to take questions about the scandal as well as the upcoming game against Nebraska.

Rocked by an alleged child sex abuse scandal, Penn State issued a statement late Monday saying that Paterno will only answer questions about football Tuesday during his regularly scheduled press conference.

Too further chaos, the New York Times reported Tuesday that Penn State is planning Paterno's "exit" soon. But Scott Paterno fired back on Twitter saying "NYT report premature. No discussions about retirement with JVP."

One of Paterno's former assistant coaches, Jerry Sandusky, is the target of the grand jury investigation. He's accused of sexually abusing boys who attended youth sports camps he ran at a satellite campus for six years after he was barred from using Penn State's main campus. The two men who put that ban in place -- athletic director Tim Curley and senior vice president Gary Schultz -- were charged with failing to tell police about Sandusky. Both have stepped down from their positions and surrendered to police.

A source told the Associated Press that Sandusky, who allegedly was seen having sex with a 10-year-old boy in the PSU showers in 2002, kept an office in the east locker room of the Penn State football team's building, and was on campus as recently as a week ago working out.

NCAA President Mark Emmert joined the conversation Tuesday afternoon:

"This is a criminal matter under investigation by law enforcement authorities and I will not comment on details. However, I have read the grand jury report and find the alleged assaults appalling," Emmert says. "As a parent and an educator, the notion that anyone would use a position of trust to prey on children is despicable. My thoughts and concern go out to the alleged victims and their families."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us