By Jojo Doria

State College, PA

Amidst shocking sexual allegations that placed one of the most storied programs in all of college football in a bad light, Penn State University president Graham Spanier has expressed his unconditional support to key figures in the school's athletics department, including Tim Curley.

Penn State AD Curley and Gary Schultz, PSU vice president for finance and business, were both charged with perjury and failure to report under the Child Protective Services Law.

Per charges, Curley and Schultz, who testified before a grand jury last January, perjured themselves as well as failed to report under the said Pennsylvania law in connection with allegations former football assistant Jerry Sandusky sexually abused eight young men.

Schultz's position at Penn State includes oversight of the university's police department.

Spanier, in a statement as reported by NBC Sports.com, indicated his unequivocal support for the embattled Curley and Schultz.

Spanier said: "The allegations about a former coach are troubling, and it is appropriate that they be investigated thoroughly. Protecting children requires the utmost vigilance.

With regard to the other presentments, I wish to say that Tim Curley and Gary Schultz have my unconditional support. I have known and worked daily with Tim and Gary for more than 16 years. I have complete confidence in how they have handled the allegations about a former University employee."

The Penn State's top administrator added, "Tim Curley and Gary Schultz operate at the highest levels of honesty, integrity and compassion. I am confident the record will show that these charges are groundless and that they conducted themselves professionally and appropriately."

Meanwhile, Penn State is playing legal costs for the two officials.

According to university spokeswoman Lisa Powers, Penn State will pay for the Curley and Schultz's counsel since the allegations against them stemmed from concerns of how they fulfilled their responsibilities as employees, ESPN.com reported.

The University, on the other hand, has barred former Penn State defensive coordinator Sandusky from campus.

Sandusky, a longtime defensive assistant under the legendary Joe Paterno, is widely remembered as one of the best defensive coordinators in college football.

Once considered as a potential successor to Paterno, Sandusky drew up defenses for the Nittany Lions' national-title teams in 1982 and 1986. Sandusky helped Penn State gain a reputation as "Linebacker U".

On Saturday, Sandusky, 67, of State College, was arrested. He was released on $100,000 bail after being arraigned on 40 criminal counts, according to the state attorney general's office.

 

 

Penn State Top Official Unconditionally Backs Embattled Ad Amidst Shocking Allegations