Joe Paterno has been fired.

[Crazyswordsman]

Joe Paterno, president Graham Spanier out at Penn State - ESPN

The legendary coach would have a sex scandal as his downfall. He made some horrible mistakes and I'm glad he's gone. -CSM

[Deku Trii]

Good Call Penn State

[ZeldaGirl]

Good call, indeed. It seems there's a lot of house-cleaning to do in all of this.

[Valigarmander]

Sex abuse? Cover ups? Clearly not as important as FOOTBAWL.

Thousands of enraged Penn State students tore through the streets of State College, Pa., overnight to protest the firing of Joe Paterno after the longtime head football coach was removed from his position effective immediately.

Amid chants of "We want JoePa," "One more game" and "F*** the media!," rioting students flipped over a television van, knocked a lamppost onto a car, threw toilet tissue and rocks at police and set off fireworks.

Police met the rioting crowds with tear gas as it became clear that the army of officers, who were out in riot gear, were far outnumbered by students. Every local police department in the county contributed officers to the effort to control the crowd, along with state police and the county sheriff's department.

Several students directed their rage at the media by overturning over a satellite van belonging to a local CBS affiliate, breaking its windows and threatening to burn it amid chants.

At least two students were arrested and at least one injury was reported after a girl who was hit in the head with a rock was taken to the hospital.

By 3 a.m. the crowd had mostly dissipated as the cold, rainy conditions in State College likely encouraged many students to return home. A small group of students gathered at the Paterno statue at Beaver Stadium to sing the school's alma mater after the mob disbanded.

Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Matt McGloin tweeted the following late Thursday: "This is a tough time But the outrage we are feeling now is nothing compared to what the victims are going through.keep them in our prayers."

Paterno, 84, announced Wednesday that he was "absolutely devastated" by the scandal and would retire at the end of the season, will not get to leave on his own terms. Penn State's head coach of nearly five decades will not coach another game, according to the trustees.

"Right now, I'm not the football coach, and that's something I have to get used to," Paterno said, according to The Associated Press.

As he spoke, people gathered at Paterno's house and were seen crying. Paterno eventually came out to suggest the students go home and study, and thanked them for their continued support.

"I am disappointed with the board of trustees' decision, but I have to accept it," he said in a statement. "A tragedy occurred, and we all have to have patience to let the legal process proceed. I appreciate the outpouring of support but want to emphasize that everyone should remain calm and please respect the university, its property and all that we value."

[Kil'jaeden]

The way it's covered you'd think he did it.

[Marchie]

Legendary Penn State coach Paterno dead at 85 - CNN.com