STATE COLLEGE, Pa., Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Penn State University placed assistant football Coach Mike McQueary on indefinite administrative leave Friday, and former head Coach Joe Paterno hired a lawyer.
McQueary, whose testimony before a grand jury helped lead to the indictment of former colleague Jerry Sandusky on 40 counts of sexual crimes, was reported to have left State College Friday and was under protective custody.
School officials had announced Thursday that McQueary, the receivers coach for the Nittany Lions, had been the subject of death threats and would not be on the sidelines for Saturday's game against Nebraska. Less than 24 hours later the school announced McQueary had been placed on leave, a decision reached by acting Athletic Director Mark Sherburne and university President Rodney Erickson.
Sherburne's predecessor was indicted for allegedly lying to the grand jury that indicted Sandusky. Erickson has replaced Graham Spanier, who was fired along with Paterno for allowing the Sandusky case to linger unresolved for almost a decade.
"It became clear coach McQueary could not function in this role under these circumstances," Erickson said Friday.
A report in the State College Patriot-News said McQueary talked to the receivers he coaches via a speaker phone Friday and told them "I'm not your coach anymore. I'm done."
The report quoted McQueary as telling the players that "I'm actually in protective custody. I'm not in State College."
Paterno's son Scott said Friday the former coach has retained J. Sedgwick Sollers to represent him, The Baltimore Sun reported.
"My father's desire is for the truth to be uncovered and he will work with his lawyers to that end," Scott Paterno said. "Going forward, Mr. Sollers has directed my father, our family and everyone associated with us to make no further public statements and to respond to no media inquiries. We will honor this request."
