Posted by Adam Jacobi

Joe Paterno, the man who for decades was synonymous with the powerhouse Penn State football program, is reportedly in declining health. Onward State, the student-run Penn State website, reported on Saturday that Paterno had been taken off his respirator that morning, according to a source close to the family. Further, a report by Tom McAndrew of Blue White Illustrated indicates that Paterno's extended family has been summoned to the hospital.

If those reports are true, Paterno likely has, at best, a matter of days to live. It may be even shorter than that, as Mike Sisak of the Citizens' Voice in Wilkes-Barre is reporting that Paterno is "near death."

"Over the last few days Joe Paterno has experienced further health complications," said Paterno family spokesman Dan McGinn. "His doctors have now characterized his status as serious. His family will have no comment on the situation and asks that their privacy be respected during this difficult time."

It was only a week ago that Paterno gave his first interview since his November firing at the height of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal. In it, interviewer Sally Jenkins noted that Paterno was wheelchair-bound, wearing a wig, and reduced to whispers due to his battle with lung cancer. Further, Paterno is 85, and most people that age aren't able to begin and win a fight with a disease like lung cancer. Still, Jenkins also noted that Paterno remained sharp, and his familiar tone and personality are evident in the interview snippets that were posted online.

CBSSports.com will provide more details as they become available, as this is a developing situation.

Posted by Jerry Hinnen

The Harrisburg Patriot-News reported Sunday that the grand jury in the Jerry Sandusky case has heard a second, different version of what Penn State then-graduate assistant Mike McQueary witnessed in his 2002 encounter with Sandusky and a young boy in a PSU locker room.

McQueary has reportedly told the grand jury that he saw Sandusky and the boy engaged in a graphic sex act. But according to a source quoted in the Sunday Patriot-News report, the grand jury has also heard conflicting testimony from McQueary family friend Dr. Jonathan Dranov.  Per the source's account of Dranov's testimony, Dranov was present at the McQueary home when McQueary returned from the incident to discuss it with his father.

Dranov reportedly told the grand jury that McQueary's account that evening included seeing the boy and an adult sharing a shower stall and Sandusky leaving the showers (amongst other details), but not the graphic act of his earlier reported testimony. Dranov then advised McQueary to discuss the matter with Joe Paterno rather than go to the police, according to the Patriot-News source.

The precise nature of what McQueary told Paterno in their ensuing discussion has been the center of much of the outrage surrounding Paterno's and the PSU administration's inaction.

McQueary was placed on administrative leave from his coaching duties November 11 amidst threats to his safety.

Posted by Jerry Hinnen

A laywer for one of the alleged victims in the Jerry Sandusky case has asked whether a dinner hosted by Sandusky in July could have been for the purposes of "manipulation and mental abuse" of potential witnesses.

The dinner took place at the Sandusky home with the police investigation into Sandusky fully underway. According to "Victim Six," who received the inviation and then phoned police, it was billed as a reunion of children who had worked with Sandusky's Second Mile charity.

Victim Six and Victim Two each attended the dinner and reported the ongoings at the dinner to police. While not known whether or not Sandusky discussed the investigation with the alleged victims, Victim Six lawyer Howard Janet says Sandusky's motivation has to be called into question:

"When you look at the invitation, look at how it's couched, the timing of it, and look at what his attorney has attempted to make of it, I think there are some very serious questions raised," Janet said ... 

"Why was he arranging to meet with victims while under investigation? Was he trying to tamper with or improperly influence potential witnesses? ... "Was he trying to use the victims' attendance at dinner to discredit their accusations against him as part of a devious strategic plan of defense?"

Janet also took issue with comments by Sandusky lawyer Joseph Amendola, including those concerning the dinner.

Despite the charges against him and the resulting scandal that cost Joe Paterno his job as Penn State head coach, Sandusky remains free on bail.

Posted by Bryan Fischer

Penn State's coaching search is shifting into high gear as the school looks to quickly move past the Joe Paterno era and select a new head coach to lead the team out of some of the program's darkest days.

School president Rod Erickson told the Associated Press on Wednesday that the school hoped to have a new coach in place by the time Penn State plays in a bowl game.

The 23rd-ranked Nittany Lions (9-3) lost last week to Wisconsin to end the regular season and should find out what game they will play in by Sunday night. CBSSports.com currently projects the team to go to the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Houston on New Year's Eve. With the ongoing child sex abuse scandal involving former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, it is expected that the school slips behind several other Big Ten teams to a lower-tier bowl when committees hand out invites.

Paterno was fired after 46 seasons in early November in the wake of the Sandusky allegations. Longtime assistant coach Tom Bradley was named interim head coach but is not expected to be a leading candidate for the job.

However, a source told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette that Bradley would be in charge of the team through the bowl game and be granted an interview for the full-time position. The football staff has been on the road recruiting this week before returning to Happy Valley to begin preparations for the final game of the season.

Acting athletic director Dave Joyner, a former Penn State football player, is the leader of the six-person search committee to help select a new coach. Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen, Louisville head coach Charlie Strong and Virginia's Mike London have been mentioned as possible candidates.

Posted by Jerry Hinnen

The fallout from the Jerry Sandusky scandal at Penn State has reached all the way to the U.S. Senate.

A Senate committee will hold a special hearing dedicated to examining current laws protecting children from abuse and predation--and whether those laws will need to be stronger in the wake of the Sandusky grand jury allegations.

Already, multiple bills have been introduced in the Senate aimed at requiring witnesses of child abuse to report offenders to law enforcement. In the House, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) has introduced the "Speak Out to Stop Child Abuse Act," which would mandate witnesses to report abuse to either law enforcement or child protective services.

The Senate hearing has been called by Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), chairwoman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension subcommittee on children and families. Mikulski said she was "troubled and distraught about the child sexual abuse allegations" at PSU. Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.) said the hearing would be "an opportunity to ensure that our federal laws are protecting our children from dangerous sexual predators."

The Sandusky story has, sadly, long since gone past the point of being about a football coach and a football program, and that it could spark a change in the way federal laws treat the reporting and prevention of child abuse is just the latest evidence of how important the story has become.

Posted by Chip Patterson

UPDATE: Official word from the Virginia athletic department is that any stories regarding Mike London's direct or indirect contact with Penn State about a coaching position are "simply not true."  The Cavaliers, trailing only Virginia Tech in the Coastal Division standings, face Duke at home on Saturday.

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After nearly half of a century, the Penn State head football coaching position is open. While interim head coach Tom Bradley prepares the current roster for a run at the Big Ten title, the school has already begun looking toward the future. According to a local report, Penn State has already begun targeting potential candidates. One of the first of which being Virginia head coach Mike London.

CBSSports.com's Jim Rodenbush reports that Penn State contacted London before Paterno was officially dismissed by the Board of Trustees. According to the Washington Post, London told Trustees Charman Steve Garban that he was not interested in the job.

While London has no specific ties to the Nittany Lions, he did spend three seasons on the Virginia coaching staff under then-defensive coordinator Al Golden. Golden, former tight end and team captain at Penn State, has been immediately suggested as a candidate for the job, though the Miami head coach insists that he and his family are happy in Coral Gables. London eventually followed Golden as defensive coordinator for two seasons before spending two seasons as the head coach at Richmond.

In only his second year at Virginia, London already has the Cavaliers bowl eligible and in contention for an ACC Coastal Division title. With a focus on in-state recruiting and rebuilding pride in the program, London's strides in Charlottesville deserve the attention he has been receiving. His "no thanks" to Penn State likely has as much (if not more) to do with the success at Virginia than the issues in State College.

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Posted by Chip Patterson

When Penn State interim head coach Tom Bradley spoke to the media on Thursday, just hours after the official dismissal of Joe Paterno, one of the many questions left unanswered in the press conference was the status of wide receivers coach Mike McQueary.

With President Graham Spanier and head coach Joe Paterno relieved of their duties in response to details surrounding the Jerry Sandusky investigation, McQueary's future with Penn State also appears uncertain. The wide receivers' coach has not issued a formal resignation, and there has been no official word from the school on whether he will be on the sidelines or in the press box for Saturday's home finale against Nebraska

CBSSports.com's Jim Rodenbush reports that McQueary is not expected to be on the sideline for Saturday's game, according to a local paper. The Board of Trustees does not plan to fire McQueary or ask him to resign, but would like him off the field out of concern for his safety.

After seeing the reaction from the Penn State community on Wednesday night, the safety of the players and coaches has become a top concern for Saturday. Nebraska has asked Penn State's police department to take appropriate security measures to ensure a conflict-free visit for their players, coaches, and traveling party.

For more coverage from Penn State, follow our Nittany Lions Rapid Reports.

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Posted by Chip Patterson

As the scandal at Penn State has continued to unfold, one of the questions that has come up involves the possible action of the NCAA. While the immediate concern in the investigation of former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky is legal, it is possible the program could be found in violation of NCAA bylaws.

The school has already relieved President Graham Spanier, vice president Gary Schultz, athletic director Tim Curley, and head football coach Joe Paterno of their duties in the last week, but the program could face further punishment from the NCAA.

On Thursday, NCAA President Mark Emmert released on a statement regarding the NCAA's stance on the Penn State scandal.

Regarding the ongoing Penn State criminal investigation, the NCAA is actively monitoring developments and assessing appropriate steps moving forward. The NCAA will defer in the immediate term to law enforcement officials since this situation involved alleged crimes.

As the facts are established through the justice system, we will determine whether Association bylaws have been violated and act accordingly. To be clear, civil and criminal law will always take precedence over Association rules.

The stance is predictable, but also appropriate for the time. The crimes that have been allegedly committed at Penn State take a much higher priority than possible NCAA violations, and I'd argue that most college football fans can agree with that position. If there is any potential violation I assume it would be uncovered in the criminal investigation, and then the NCAA would have a chance to respond.

For more coverage from Penn State, follow our Nittany Lions Rapid Reports.

Keep up with the latest college football news from around the country. From the regular season all the way through the bowl games, CBSSports.com has you covered with this daily newsletter. | Preview