Penn State's Joe Paterno May Step Down Over Sandusky Child Sex Abuse Scandal

Penn. State University football coach Joe Paterno may setp down after being caught up in the sex-abuse scandal involving his former assistant and one-time heir apparent - former defensive coach Jerry Sandusky.

Paterno, 84, who is one of the most famous figures in American sports, has rendered services to the state's football team for 46 seasons, and became the coach with the most wins in the country's premier Division I level of college football last month.

However, his support among the board of trustees was eroding, almost endangering his tenure as a coach at Penn. State, a source told the Associated Press.

It's reported that Paterno's departure is under discussion in the Penn. State board of trustees, and indications are the coach will leave within weeks if not days, according to sources from the university's top officials.

However, No one has asked Joe to resign, Paterno's son, Scott told the Associated Press in a text message.

Paterno hasn't spoken with Penn. State officials or trustees about stepping down and the coach plans to continue his work for the long haul, Scott said to a group of reporters outside Paterno's house.

I know you guys have a lot of questions. I was hoping I could answer them today. We'll try to do it as soon as we can, Paterno said before the reporters went flocking to his son.

We love you, Joe, some students stood nearby, chanting.

Paterno was expected to face questions about the sex abuse scandal in a scheduled news conference. However, Penn. State administrators cancelled it at the last moment amid increasing calls for Paterno to resign.

Due to the ongoing legal circumstances centered around the recent allegations and charges, we have determined that today's press conference cannot be held and will not be rescheduled, the athletics department said in a statement.

As a matter of fact, the alleged sexual assault by Jerry Sandusky on children was known for years,but it was not reported to the police.

Paterno has alerted the university's athletic director after he was informed in 2002 of Sandusky's sexual assault on a boy as young as 10 in a locker room shower.

If this is true we were all fooled, along with scores of professionals trained in such things, and we grieve for the victims and their families, Paterno said in a statement on Sunday.

Two former Penn. State officials Gary Schultz and Tim Curley were accused of failing to report suspected abuse by Sandusky and have been charged with perjury in a grand jury in the case.

The pair have stepped down from their posts following meeting with the university trustees, but their lawyers said they are innocent and will strive for the dismissal of the charges.

They will return to court later next week.

Jerry Sandusky, 67, a former defensive coordinator of Penn State University, was arrested last week and charged with sexually assaulting eight young boys from 1994 and 2009. At that time, he was in charge of a charity organization called Second Mile, which looked after the welfare of vulnerable young people.

Sandusky was released on $100,000 bail on Saturday.

Meanwhile, according to the investigators, a possible ninth victim has emerged in the child sexual abuse case.