Penn State Mulling Removal of Paterno Statue

Penn State is expected to decide the fate of the Joe Paterno statue at its football stadium this weekend.

School officials are debating moving the statue from the university's Beaver Stadium to elsewhere on campus Trustees discussed the statue issue in a "spirited" call Thursday night, according to ESPN.

(AP Photo)

But the final decision rests with univesity president Rodney Erickson, who is expected to make up his mind by Monday.

Former FBI Director Louis Freeh released scathing conclusions of an eight-month investigation into the university's handling of the Jerry Sandusky affair. Last month, Sandusky, a former Penn State football coach, was convicted of 45 counts of child sex abuse and child endangerment, and is facing life in prison when he is sentenced this fall.

His report found that the Penn State leadership, including Paterno, failed to take any steps  to protect the children Sandusky victimized for 14 years. Freeh blamed Paterno and other university officials for working together on a cover-up that began as early as 1998, when university police investigated allegations of abuse but let Sandusky off with a warning.

Last week, artist Michael Pilato removed a halo from a mural of Paterno, which had been had put over the coach’s image after his death in January. Pilato said he felt he had to remove it after the Freeh report.

There have been calls for the entire Nittany Lions football program to be disbanded in the wake of the scandal.