Penn St. president: Paterno to be honored UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., Jan. 12 (UPI) -- The president of Penn State University said longtime football coach Joe Paterno, who was fired in November, will be honored by the school. President Rodney Erickson told an alumni meeting he will organize a public ceremony to honor Paterno, who was fired after 61 seasons Nov. 9 amidst allegations of repeated child sex abuse against former assistant Jerry Sandusky, USA Today reported Thursday. "There is no plan in place at the present time, but there will be," Erickson said. I can't tell you yet what it will be or when it will be, but we will publicly honor Joe and his wife, Sue, for all the many things they have done for the university, both from an athletic standpoint and an academic standpoint. Erickson, who formerly served as provost and was promoted to president when his predecessor, Graham Spanier, was fired alongside Paterno, said he has not spoken to the former coach since he was fired but he sent him a note Wednesday thanking him for his contributions to the school and wishing him the best in his battle against lung cancer.