PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Nearly everyone has an opinion on the scandal at Penn State University.

It is practically the only thing that people are talking about on local talk radio shows and many weighed in Wednesday on the future of Nittany Lions head football coach Joe Paterno.

The announcement came down shortly after 10:30 a.m.

Paterno released a statement announcing his retirement at the end of this season – all in the wake of an alleged child sexual abuse scandal.

On 93-7 THE FAN’s Vinnie & Cook Show, the reaction by callers to Paterno hanging it up was scathing.

“I just want to say that Joe Paterno is just as guilty as Sandusky is for not having done anything about it for all those years,” said one caller. “I think we’re just beginning to scratch the surface on, you know, all those kids that could have been hurt and abused.”

Many of the callers were angry, but certainly not surprised that Paterno may be allowed to go out on his terms. I their opinion, Paterno had run Penn State for a long time. There are several stories of how administrators several years back came for his job and didn’t get it.

“To me, the watershed point was in 2004 when he chased the president and A.D. off his porch; the power just went right there, he ran the program from there on out,” said another caller.

Now comes the post-Paterno coaching era. His legacy on the field no longer assured. His presence in a civil courtroom a possibility.

“There’s a least 20 nuclear bombs on the horizon – Joe Paterno can bang his chest and ‘I want to have a rouge press conference,’ and so on and so forth. Well Joe, guess what, I think you’re going to get your wish,” added another caller. “I think you are going to spend the rest of your life defending yourself in court.”

While Paterno says he’s going to coach the rest of the season, there is no guarantee he will be allowed. That decision, in the end, will be in the hands of Penn State’s Board of Trustees.

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