UNIVERSITY PARK – Hundreds of Nittany Lions fans visited the sight where the statue of Joe Paterno was removed 24 hours before the anticipated public release of sanctions against Penn State in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.
Centre County native Lisa Dix told 6News that she was stunned to find that the statue, along with dozens of plaques that honored decades of history at Beaver Stadium, swiftly removed by crews behind fences and tarps Sunday morning.
“It’s hard to see this right now. It’s very emotional for me,” said Dix. “It’s not about football at all. It’s about the community. It’s about where we have come from and about what JoePa stood for.”
Phyllis Smith said she and other longtime residents are unable to come to grips with the conclusions released by the Freeh Commission into the handling of child sex abuse allegations against Sandusky on the University Park campus.
“It will never ever change my image of him. He was pretty close to God,” said Smith. “He’ll be missed no matter what they do or what they say.”
Vickie Glass told 6News she was visiting Happy Valley this weekend and said Buckeye fans are still coping with the fallout from the scandal at Ohio State University.
“I think what happened at Ohio State, with tattoos and memorabilia, basically looks like a day in DisneyLand compared to what happened here,” said Glass. “They were horrific crimes.”
Officials with National Collegiate Athletic Association confirmed that a public announcement on the penalties against Penn State University and the football team will be held in Indianapolis at 9 a.m. Monday.
Published reports that cited NCAA sources said that the unprecedented punishment is expected to include severe corrective and punitive actions.
Stay with 6News, WJACTV.com and WJAC Mobile for the latest on this developing story.
