Penn State Removes Paterno's Statue as it Awaits NCAA's Decision

Penn State University took down the symbolic statue of legendary football coach Joe Paterno tarnished by Sandusky's child sex abuse scandal.

The statue was removed the same day as the National Collegiate Athletic Association announced it would declare "corrective and punitive" measures against the foot ball program at a press conference Monday.

But, according to a NCAA official the chances of levying the death penalty charges- suspending the foot ball program for at least a year- are minimum, reports USA today. Rather, the penalties may be non-traditional and less severe, but nevertheless would affect the program for years- like barring the team from college bowl appearances and withdrawing scholarships.

Joe Paterno, 85, who died of lung Cancer in January, was criticized in the Louis Freeh report for his role in protecting his then assistant Sandusky and the school's image at the expense of his young victims. Sandusky was convicted of sexually abusing 10 boys over 15 years in June.

The University leaders said that the 7-foot statue of Paterno had become "the source of division" in the school and hence it has been removed and stored it in a "secure location".

Some 30 police officers arrived just after dawn Sunday with a team of workers in hard-hats to remove the Paterno statue, the local newspaper, the Centre Daily Times, reported.

The team set up a metal fence around the area where the statue is located and covered it with a blue tarp to prevent the public from seeing them as they pulled down the bronze statue.

The Penn state's decision to remove the statue has received widespread acclaim including from the White House.

"The president believes 'it was the right decision' for Penn State to remove the statue of Joe Paterno from outside the football stadium," White House press secretary Jay Carney said.

But the family of Joe Peterno have criticized the move and said in a statement the University must concentrate on uncovering "the complete truth" instead of tearing down the statue which would do no good to the victims of Sandusky.