STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — More than 200 Penn State alumni and supporters gathered Friday for an event hosted by Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris about the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal and the firing of former coach Joe Paterno.
Presenters including a government analyst claimed Penn State’s firing of Paterno and acceptance of NCAA sanctions were done too hastily and without enough information.
They cited what they called discrepancies on several topics, notably between court testimony of Sandusky’s trial and a lack of evidence in former FBI investigator Louis Freeh’s report for the school that accused Paterno of covering up child abuse.
Critics also took issue with media coverage, alleging journalists created a salacious narrative that inappropriately highlighted Paterno’s role.
The event was held a day before the Blue-White game, a scrimmage signaling the end of Penn State’s spring practice.
