Report: Franco Harris confronts NCAA chief

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PITTSBURGH, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Police were called this week when Franco Harris tried to ask NCAA President Mark Emmert about Penn State sanctions, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

The Post-Gazette said Harris, a former Hall of Fame running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers and a star at Penn State, joined documentary producer John Ziegler Wednesday at an event in Los Angeles that was attended by Emmert.

The newspaper reported that during the event, held by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, an NCAA representative asked that hand-held cameras be turned off. When that did not happen, a call was made to the police.

Ziegler told the newspaper he had been originally told the cameras could be brought to the gathering, at which Emmert was to speak.

Ziegler said when Harris asked Emmert a question concerning "why Joe Paterno didn't get any due process," a request was made to turn off the cameras.

Emmert had already left the building when police arrived.

Heavy sanctions were levied by the NCAA against Penn State after Jerry Sandusky, a longtime assistant coach during Paterno's 45-year tenure as head coach, was found guilty of 45 counts of molestation.

Paterno was dismissed after allegations concerning Sandusky surfaced. Paterno died two months after that dismissal.