Penn State To Media: Don't Ask Paterno About Scandal
UPDATE: Penn State has since canceled Tuesday's scheduled press conference. Read more here.
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(CBS) Every Tuesday during the football season, Penn State football coach Joe Paterno participates in a weekly teleconference that includes questions from reporters both over the phone and in person.
Usually these questions are all about football, but considering the sex scandal involving former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky that has slammed Penn State this week, Saturday's game against Nebraska is an afterthought.
And because Paterno was specifically mentioned in the grand jury report and accused by Pennsylvania state police Commissioner Frank Noonan of not doing enough to prevent the sexual abuse of Sandusky's victims, it's likely most, if not all of the questions at today's teleconference will be about the scandal.
But apparently Penn State's Athletic Communications Department is thinking otherwise:
"Media planning to attend Tuesday's Penn State Football weekly teleconference are advised that that primary focus of the teleconference is to answer questions related to Penn State's Senior Day game with Nebraska this Saturday," a statement released Monday evening said. "Head coach Joe Paterno and any Penn State Football student-athletes in attendance will be answering questions about the Nebraska game, Penn State's season thus far and other topics related to the current college football season."
But, considering the Harrisburg Patriot-News devoted their entire front page to an editorial calling for Penn State President Graham Spanier to resign, it seems doubtful the athletic communications staff's request will be heeded.
