DUNMORE -- It was a packed house at the Penn State Board of Trustees meeting on the Penn State Worthington Scranton campus in Dunmore, and among those there, Nittany Lion fans who just felt they had to attend.
They witnessed their beloved Penn State get blasted by Louis Freeh's investigation, and watched Joe Paterno's reputation take a major hit.
“I can only go by so much of what I'm seeing in the media. This is giving me a little insight. It may not tell me everything, it probably won't. I doubt anyone will ever know, but I just thought I would see for my own eyes,” said Steve McDermott of Peckville.
McDermott came decked out in PSU gear. He doesn't question that Paterno did some wrong, but doesn't like the assault on his reputation.
“I don't think it's right what they're doing to him. They're attacking a man who can't defend himself. What's right about that?” said McDermott.
Many fans said the board failed overseeing Penn State.
“I feel as though they didn't do their jobs. I think they were very lax and now they're just trying to amend their mistakes that they made and trying to make everyone else look bad,” said Tom Mancuso of Jessup.
“A lot of negative things were said yesterday about the university deservedly so perhaps, but Penn State is much more than what happened yesterday,” said Thomas Kerrigan of Clarks Green.
The Kerrigan’s came with a sign of support and a positive message.
“Penn State is an educational program second to none. Penn state has outstanding professors and students and athletic programs, and we're here to support that,” said Kerrigan.
“If I can talk to some of them, I just want to express my views to them. That's what I want to do," said Joe Totino of Old Forge.
Totino, a Paterno supporter, was one of the few to get a seat inside the meeting.
“You don't judge a man until all the facts are out, and I feel he is being given undo justice. That's how I feel," said Totino.