STATE COLLEGE (KDKA) – Just about everybody on Penn State’s campus and the community is reacting to Joe Paterno’s decision to retire.

Paterno has been a staple at the university for nearly five decades and brought both respect and tradition to the school before the scandal broke.

The retirement rumors have been around for years. However, people off-campus think it’s a shame that this announcement has come in the middle of the child sexual abuse scandal.

“Well it was time for him to retire anyway. It’s just a shame that he has to go out on such a low note,” Harold Bower said.

“I really feel that he was planning to do that before with his health and other speculations. I really feel that it’s the time for him to retire. I’m hoping that it has nothing to do with what’s happened,” a woman only wanting to be identified as Vicky said.

On Wednesday, Paterno put an end to the speculation and released a statement announcing his retirement after this season.

“It makes me very sad that Joe Paterno is somewhat paying the price for what the people in charge above him should have taken care of,” one woman said.

A pep rally of sorts for Paterno moved from Beaver Avenue to Penn State’s administrative building last night. At least 1,000 students were involved.

Earlier in the night, students rallied outside of Paterno’s home. He eventually made his way outside, thanked the students, asked people to pray for the alleged victims and then led the crowd in a Penn State cheer.

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