STATE COLLEGE (KDKA) — As the investigation continues into the child sexual abuse scandal that has rocked the Penn State campus, the acting athletic director took time to address the media today.

As acting athletic director, David Joyner vowed to put athletics in its proper place – playing a role, but not a dominant role in the life of the university.

“We have a noble purpose here at this university and it doesn’t just stop in the classroom, it continues onto the athletic fields, which in my opinion, are just another classroom,” said Joyner.

Joyner seemed to address critics who in the wake of the child sexual abuse scandal have pointed to the football program and former coach Joe Paterno, in particular, as having amassed too much power and influence.

Sheehan: “[Did] the power of the athletic department in Penn State contribute to this tragedy?”

Joyner: “I think that remains to be seen as the investigations that are, you know, ongoing happen. I can tell you this, if that is the case, the way that that doesn’t happen is by this college of intercollegiate athletics and that attitude about how life should be for all students.”

• Click here to watch the full press conference.

Joyner said he will be thorough in selecting a successor to Paterno, but he did not have a timeline.

“Trust me, we understand that this is a very necessary step, and at the appropriate time we will act expeditious,” he said.

He did say that the football team will not cancel the rest of the season and looks forward to a possible bowl berth.

“We’ve got a lot of young men that have made commitments to their duty on that football team, and so on that side, you have a wish for them not to be penalized cause they were not the instruments of this problem,” Joyner added.

Joyner also said that there has been no discussion of removing Paterno’s statue from the campus.

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