Paterno family: Pa. lawsuit over NCAA sanctions 'encouraging' - abc27 WHTM

The family of late football coach Joe Paterno says it is encouraged by Pennsylvania's lawsuit against the NCAA over sanctions imposed last year against Penn State.

In a statement issued by their public relations company, the Paterno's said Wednesday that Governor Tom Corbett now realizes, as do many others, that there was "an inexcusable rush to judgment."

"Joe Paterno's only guidance to us was to seek the truth. Consequently, last July when the Freeh report was released and the subsequent unprecedented and unjustified actions were taken by the Penn State University Board and the NCAA, we stated that we would engage a team of experts to conduct a careful and thoughtful review of the Freeh inquiry and the actions of the Board and the Administration," the family said in the statement.

"That process is nearing completion. We expect to release the analysis of the experts in the near future. At that time we will address all of the issues of the past year in a comprehensive manner."

The federal antitrust lawsuit announced Wednesday by Corbett seeks to have all NCAA sanctions thrown out.

The sanctions imposed in July in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal included a $60 million fine to finance child abuse prevention grants, a four-year bowl game ban for the football program, reduced football scholarships, and the forfeiture of 112 wins.

Sandusky, a retired Penn State assistant football coach, was found guilty of sexually abusing boys in June and is serving 30 to 60 years in prison.