As sex-abuse scandal unfolds at Penn State, Paterno's future remains uncertain

It was a little over a week ago that Penn State president Graham Spanier and athletic director Tim Curley, their two faces presenting one continuous smile, walked into the Beaver Stadium interview room to honor coach Joe Paterno on achieving yet another milestone victory.

Watching the show Oct. 29 after the Nittany Lions defeated Illinois, one couldn't help but wonder how much Spanier and Curley would be smiling once the 2011 season ended and they tried to find a way to gently talk Paterno, who turns 85 on Dec. 20, into retirement rather than have to work out a new contract with him.

But given the shocking events of the weekend (an indictment charging former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky with 40 counts of sexually abusing minors, and the resignation of Curley, who is charged with perjury and failure to report in the case) the retirement dance - and its aftermath - is likely to change.

Although Spanier had offered his "unconditional support" to Curley after charges against the athletic director were revealed, it seemed rather far-fetched to think Curley could continue to function in his duties with a pending trial hanging over him, even if his attorney has proclaimed he is innocent.

And Spanier's image took a hit after the release of the state attorney general's report saying that the president approved "without any further inquiry on his part" a proposal that banned Sandusky from bringing minors on campus. The ban was devised after Curley met with a graduate assistant who said he witnessed an alleged sexual assault of a minor by Sandusky.

So given the credibility issues that have surfaced the last few days, it's uncertain how effective Spanier would be in leading the effort to find a successor to the legendary coach, with perhaps no permanent athletic director to assist him.

Outraged and embarrassed by recent events, the Penn State Board of Trustees conducted a hastily called meeting Sunday night. Spanier was expected to make a statement Monday morning.

Paterno is finishing up his 46th season as head coach with no hint to date that he will retire. He may not choose to comment on the indictments at his weekly news conference Tuesday.

But the coach is under fire by some for not following up after telling Curley what the graduate assistant told him about Sandusky's alleged assault in the Lasch Football Complex.

The Patriot News identified the graduate assistant as current receivers coach and recruiting coordinator Mike McQueary.

In a statement released Sunday evening, Paterno said that if allegations against Sandusky were true, "we were all fooled."

Paterno said that at no time did the graduate assistant relate to him "the very specific actions [of the incident] contained in the grand jury report.

"Regardless, it was clear that the witness saw something inappropriate involving Mr. Sandusky," Paterno added. "As Coach Sandusky was retired from our coaching staff at that time, I referred the matter to university administrators."

With the outrage over what is being perceived by some as a university cover-up to protect a former employee, Paterno, who has endured physical pain all season, could decide that he has indeed coached long enough.

That possibility leads to questions. Who gets to pick the successor? Will that new coach come from the Penn State family?

Six of Paterno's assistant coaches worked with Sandusky during his years as defensive coordinator or played at the same time he coached. Tom Bradley, considered the most likely among current staff to succeed Paterno, replaced Sandusky as defensive coordinator in 2000 after working for him as defensive backs coach.

Would the trustees or Spanier or whoever is selecting the new coach accept Bradley, a lifelong, loyal Penn Stater, or would they want to make a clean break from anyone who worked with Sandusky?

And what about past players, such as Miami coach Al Golden, who played tight end for the Nittany Lions from 1989 through 1991 but not on Sandusky's defense?

A look at candidates outside Penn State finds former Florida coach Urban Meyer, now an ESPN commentator, with a huge lead should he want to return to the profession.

Meyer is considered the front-runner for other jobs, too, such as Ohio State coach. The theory is that he would wait to see what NCAA penalties will be levied against Ohio State after Buckeyes violations in which players exchanged memorabilia for tattoos.

But memorabilia for tattoos seems to pale in comparison to reports of criminal sexual abuse by an assistant coach - 20 of the 40 counts in the indictment against Sandusky allegedly took place while he was part of Penn State's coaching staff - and Meyer could very well say, "No thanks," to that.

These are only a few questions regarding the future of those in charge of Penn State's football program. But it's small stuff given the black eye the grand jury report handed not just the team, but the entire university. Penn State needs a strong hand to repair its stained image before it concerns itself with current and future football coaches.