Paterno's halo in mural painted over

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STATE COLLEGE, Pa., July 16 (UPI) -- The halo above late Penn State football coach Joe Paterno's head in a mural was painted over in response to critics saying it implied the coach was a saint.

Michael Pilato, the painter of the mural, added the halo following the coach's death in January but decided to eliminate it after people said the halo implied Paterno's saintliness, CBS Philadelphia reported.

Pilato painted the mural 12 years ago. Both Joe Paterno and convicted sex offender Jerry Sandusky were depicted in the mural but Sandusky was removed after he was accused of sexually abusing 10 boys he had befriended. He was convicted on 45 counts last month.

A report commissioned by Penn State and conducted by former FBI Director Louis Freeh found Paterno was part of a conspiracy to cover up Sandusky's sexual abuse of children. The report was released Friday.

Paterno's family has denied the claims.