Giles County Penn State Alum Defends Paterno's Character - FOX 21/27 WFXR Roanoke/WWCW Lynchburg News, Weather

Giles County Penn State Alum Defends Paterno's Character

GILES COUNTY, VA --

A condemning report claims Joe Paterno and three other top Penn State officials remained quiet on sex abuse allegations involving Jerry Sandusky.

Giles County native and former Nittany Lions linebacker Brandon Steele does not believe his former coach knew the extent of the abuse.

"At the time he was a revered coach, been there for 20 something years, people knew him as their friend, he went to church, they thought he was a great guy. I think Coach Paterno, I think he would have turned him in a second if he thought he was doing something wrong. I know who Coach Paterno was and what he stood for, I can't speak for the other people," Steele said.

In his report, Louis Freeh, former FBI Director, claims Paterno was an "integral part of the decision to conceal." Steele talked about Paterno's inability to defend himself.

"He's the only one we've ever heard in front of everybody in a meeting who said, 'In hindsight, I wish I would have done more,'" Steele said. "I don't like the fact that he can't be here to defend himself, because now people can say anything they want, or put words into his mouth."

Paterno is a man whose legacy has been frayed since November, when Freeh's investigation began.

"You show me any situation in America and look back and say, 'Wow man, we should have done something different, and we didn't,'" Steele said. "Come on, it always happens."

Steele hopes the university will be defined by the new administration and future students.