Penn State scandal: Joe Paterno news conference abruptly canceled
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Penn State Coach Joe Paterno’s weekly Tuesday news conference was abruptly canceled as writers from all over the country descended on State College, Pa., in the wake of an alleged sex scandal involving former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.
The news conference was scheduled for 12:20 p.m. EST, but reporters were told they would only be allowed to ask football-related questions regarding Saturday’s home game against Nebraska.
[Updated at 9:22 a.m.: Paterno’s son, Scott, told the Associated Press that his father was prepared to take questions concerning the scandal but that university President Graham Spanier’s office decided instead to cancel the news conference.
It would have provided the press its first opportunity to ask Paterno what he knew about the allegations against Sandusky, who was indicted on charges of sexually abusing eight boys over 15 years. Paterno is not a target of the investigation, but the state police commissioner has said the legendary coach and other school officials should have done more to try to stop the suspected abuse.]
Also canceled was Paterno’s regularly scheduled segment on the Big Ten coaches’ conference call.
The pressure continues to mount on the school in the wake of the scandal. A Harrisburg Patriot-News editorial Tuesday called for Penn State President Graham Spanier to resign immediately and for Paterno to resign at the end of the season.
‘Paterno should be allowed to finish out the year and retire with the honor and admiration he has earned since taking over as head coach in 1966,’ the editorial stated. ‘It might always be honor with an asterisk, admiration with a shake of the head. Joe will have to live with that.’
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-- Chris Dufresne
