Statue of Coah Joe Paterno taken down

A 7-foot statue of Joe Paterno, legendary football coach at Penn State University, was removed from its pedestal outside Beaver Stadium Sunday morning. Paterno’s legacy, which includes an NCAA record 409 wins over 46 season, has been scarred since reports surfaced that he concealed information from authorities regarding allegations of sexual abuse of underage boys by former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, writes Yahoo.

"I now believe that, contrary to is original intention, Coach Paterno’s statue has become a source of division and an obstacle to healing in our university and beyond," Penn State President Rodney Erickson said in a statement according to ESPN. "For that reason, I have decided that it is in the best interest of our university and public safety to remove the statue and store it in a secure location."

The NCAA announced penalties against Penn State including a $60-million fine, a four-year postseason ban, an annual reduction of 10 scholarships over a four-year period and five years of probation, reports the Washington Post.

Joe Paterno died on January 22, 2012, after the Sandusky scandal made international headlines.