Paterno family: NCAA sanctions "defame" JoePa

The Paterno family have released a statement responding to the NCAA's crippling penalties levied against the Penn State football program.

In the public statement (via WGAL News), the Paterno family rue the NCAA's acceptance of the Freeh Report as the final word on the Penn State/Jerry Sandusky scandal. The Family also claims that the sanctions, including Penn State's vacating of coach Paterno's 111 wins from 1998 to 2011, unfairly mars the legacy of the man known as "JoePa"

"The sanctions announced by the NCAA today defame the legacy and contributions of a great coach and educator without any input from our family or those who knew him best...Punishing past, present and future students of the University because of Sandusky’s crimes does not serve justice. This is not a fair or thoughtful action; it is a panicked response to the public's understandable revulsion at what Sandusky did."