Penn State, Football Program Rocked by Sex Scandal

November 8th, 2011 

 

 

The Penn State athletic department is facing serious charges of covering up sexual abuse, following an indictment of former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky on 40 counts, including inappropriate touching and statutory rape.

Sandusky, who retired in 1999, is accused of abusing eight boys over a 15-year period; while athletic director Timothy Curley and Vice President of Business and Finance Gary Schultz resigned from the university last night and have been charged with perjury and failure to report Sandusky's behavior to police.

The latter two face seven years in prison if convicted. Sandusky faces life behind bars.

Iconic football coach Joe Paterno - who holds the record for most wins in the history of Division I - says an assistant coach told him of an incident between Sandusky and a young male in 2002. He passed that information along to Curley.

"If true, the nature and amount of charges made are very shocking to me and all Penn Staters," Paterno said in a statement. "While I did what I was supposed to with the one charge brought to my attention, like anyone else involved I can’t help but be deeply saddened these matters are alleged to have occurred.

"I understand that people are upset and angry, but let's be fair and let the legal process unfold. In the meantime I would ask all Penn Staters to continue to trust in what that name represents, continue to pursue their lives every day with high ideals and not let these events shake their beliefs nor who they are."