The coach initially defended his decision to take the abuse report to his athletic director and not prosecutors. Paterno said it was obvious the graduate student was "distraught," but said he wasn't told about the "very specific actions" in the grand jury report.
After Paterno reported the incident to Curley, Sandusky was told to stay away from the school, but critics say the coach should have done more  tried to identify and help the victim, for example, or alerted authorities.
"I think it's the right thing," Penn State freshman Jake Schur said. "He didn't do what he should have. He's doing the right thing by stepping down to preserve the Penn State football program.
"It's sad to see it happen under such a bad situation but at the same time everyone was sort of preparing themselves for it."
Paterno's requirement that his players not just achieve success but adhere to a moral code, that they win with honor, transcended his sport. Mike Krzyzewski, the Duke basketball coach, said in June for an ESPN special on Paterno: "Values are never compromised. That's the bottom line."
