Sandusky Scandal

Tailgating is underway outside Beaver Stadium, and the Penn State fans are showing the love for their legendary ex-coach, Joe Paterno.

According to an onlooker, several fans are sporting t-shirts, decorating cardboard cutouts (see below) and carrying signs in support of JoePa . So far, we're told the crowd is well-behaved.

As we previously reported, FBI and police responded to a bomb threat made last night -- but nothing was found.

A plane just flew overhead (see below) with a sign that, according to multiple witnesses, reads: "Joe is so dirty he needs a shower."

Trust us, that's what it says.

Sometimes it's not about football, it's not about a massive child abuse scandal -- it's just about drinking your sworn enemy under the table.

Police and FBI investigated a bomb threat received last night on Beaver Stadium, where Penn State is set to play Nebraska today -- but searches last night and this morning produced nothing.

According to Lisa Powers, director of public information at PSU, the call came in last night around 6:30 PM to the main number on campus. The caller mentioned a bomb at Beaver Stadium and police were immediately notified.

Police went through the stadium with bomb-sniffing dogs and made two run-throughs ... but found nothing. Powers said the FBI and police are working on tracing who the caller is, but so far have found nothing.

Powers said they never took the call as a credible threat because the stadium has been on lockdown since Tuesday.

Once things were all clear, the university sent out a mass text message at 9:08 AM this morning, informing students of the situation (see below).

No smack talk this year ... instead, the University of Nebraska Alumni Association tells TMZ it is organizing a pre-game campaign of support for those affected by the Penn State sex scandal.

A rep for the association tells TMZ, members plan to distribute hundreds of blue ribbons on Saturday before, during, and after the game in solidarity with Penn State and others affected by child abuse.

If students don't have access to a blue ribbon, Nebraska alums are asking all Huskers to wear any kind of blue whatsoever as a sign of support for their Penn State brethren.

Mike McQueary -- the Penn State receivers coach who witnessed Jerry Sandusky allegedly raping a 10-year-old boy in 2002 -- has been placed on administrative leave indefinitely.

PSU President Rodney Erickson made the announcement moments ago, claiming the decision was made by the Penn State athletic department.

Penn State's new President Rodney Erickson claims he's appointing an "Ethics Officer" to oversee campus officials in a renewed effort to make sure his people don't pull a Paterno.

It's unclear exactly what the new Ethics Officer's duties entail -- but Erickson just sent an email to the entire PSU community, claiming he plans to "revisit all standards, policies and programs to ensure they meet not only the law, but Penn State's standard."

Erickson says the E.O. will oversee this effort and report directly to him.

In his statement, Erickson says, "Never again should anyone at Penn State feel scared to do the right thing" -- a thinly veiled shot at Mike McQueary, whose cowardly inaction seems not to have been "the right thing."

Penn State's brand new President Rodney Erickson just released a video statement, claiming the University "must move forward" despite the school's recent devastating child abuse scandal.

In the video -- posted moments ago on Penn State's YouTube channel -- Erickson says, "This has been one of the saddest weeks in the history of Penn State, and my heart goes out to those who have been victimized. I share your anger and sorrow."

Erickson -- who replaced former Prez Graham Spanier this week following the scandal -- continues, "Although we cannot go back to business as usual, our University must move forward. We are a community. Our work is as vital as ever."

The parents of Penn State Football players were on a teleconference last night with the new coach, who advised them to help their kids out by getting some counseling ... TMZ has learned.

Two of the parents who were on the call tell us ...Tom Bradley advised the group that the school had counselors available to help the players cope.

The parents were most concerned about the safety of their kids. Bradley said security would be beefed up, with both Penn State police and outside law enforcement present at the game.

And, Bradley said, there would be both "coaching and staff changes," although he was not specific.

The mother of Victim #1 in the Penn State child sex scandal is finally speaking out -- telling ABC she first became suspicious about Jerry Sandusky when her son asked how to get information about "sex weirdos."

The mother -- whose identity was not revealed -- spoke with "Good Morning America" ... telling George Stephanopoulos her son met Jerry in 2005 through the program he founded for at-risk youth.

The boy is not believed to be Sandusky's first alleged victim, but he's referred to as Victim #1 in the grand jury testimony.

The mother says Jerry began to pull her son out of class and secretly force the boy to perform sex acts on him.

The mother claims she became concerned when her son began asking for information about identifying "sex weirdos" -- and when she asked why, he told her he thought Jerry was one of those people.

After she learned about the abuse, the mom says she asked her son why he didn't speak up sooner -- and, "He was like, 'Well, I didn't know what to do … you just can't tell Jerry no.'"

Multiple sources connected with the Penn State football team tell TMZ ... coaches held a meeting with players today and told them their friends and family should show support for ousted coach Joe Paterno by wearing white to the game on Saturday.

It's a bold move, considering there is a university-wide move for people in the stands to wear baby blue to support the alleged sexual assault victims of Jerry Sandusky.

In addition to wearing white, we're told the coaches informed the team they may change the time and location of the pre-game meal because of security concerns.

Former Penn State football player Matt Hahn -- the guy who's married to Rachel Uchitel -- is lashing out at his alma mater -- telling "TMZ Live" "the fact they're letting Mike McQueary coach this weekend is a disgrace."

The Penn State board of trustees have reportedly asked new head football coach Tom Bradley to keep Mike McQueary from coaching from the sidelines on Saturday ... out of fear for McQueary's safety.

According to Pennsylvania's Morning Call newspaper ... the board does not plan to fire McQueary or ask him to step down.

McQueary is the person who claims he witnessed Jerry Sandusky raping a pre-teen boy in the Penn State locker room in 2002 ... and reported it to Joe Paterno.

While JoePa was fired for failing to contact police -- McQueary still has a job, despite the fact he also didn't call cops ... and worse yet, he didn't try to stop Sandusky from raping the boy when he had the chance.

The man who witnessed Jerry Sandusky allegedly rape a pre-teen boy in the Penn State locker room in 2002 WILL be allowed to continue as a receivers coach when the team plays Nebraska on Saturday ... this according to the new Penn State head coach Tom Bradley.

Bradley was just officially introduced as Joe Paterno's temporary replacement -- and stated, "Right now Mike McQueary will be coaching on Saturday."

McQueary was a 28-year-old graduate assistant in 2002, when he claims he witnessed Sandusky raping a little boy in the Penn State showers. McQueary reported the incident to Joe Paterno -- but never called police.

Paterno -- who also did NOT go to the cops -- was fired last night for not living up to his moral obligation to the child.

Bradley says he was unsure if McQueary will be coaching from the sidelines or if he will be up in the booth on Saturday.

Ashton Kutcher attacked the Penn State Board of Trustees for firing Joe Paterno last night -- but there was one little problem, seems Ashton didn't know about Joe's misdeeds.

Right after Paterno got the chop, Kutcher tweeted, "How do you fire Jo Pa? #insult #noclass as a hawkeye fan I find it in poor taste."

Almost immediately, Kutcher was attacked by people informing the actor about the situation -- writing things like, "F**k you. He covered up child rape you sick, geriatric f**k."

Roughly 30 minutes later, Kutcher removed his original tweet -- and replaced it with, "Heard Joe was fired, fully recant previous tweet! Didn't have full story. #admitwhenYoumakemistakes."

He later continued, "This is an insane story, I just heard paterno was fired, getting the rest of the story now... Wow."

He added, "As an advocate in the fight against child sexual exploitation, I could not be more remorseful for all involved in the Penn St. case."

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno is not untouchable, after all -- the university's board of trustees voted late Wednesday night to fire Paterno ... effective immediately.

The living legend, known as JoePa, announced early Wednesday that he would retire at the end of the season in the wake of the child sex abuse scandal that began with the arrest of Paterno's former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

In announcing his retirement, Paterno -- who's been PSU's head coach for 46 years -- said the trustees should "not spend a single minute discussing my status. They have far more important matters to address."

PSU President Graham Spanier was allowed to resign.

Paterno and Spanier are just two university officials who have been under fire for not going to police with their knowledge of Sandusky's alleged sex abuse incidents with young boys ... some dating back to 1994.

Hundreds of students are rallying on the Penn State campus -- many chanting support for Paterno.

2:41 AM PT At 2:00 ET, cops clad in riot gear issued a dispersal order to immediately leave the downtown area and the Old Main, and the students went home ... but not before some students turned over a TV microwave truck and tore down some street signs and a light post. Some students also set off fireworks, while chanting, "F**k the trustees."

10:00 PM PT Student rallies are getting violent -- a local CBS news van was tipped over and street signs torn down. Police in riot gear are trying to disperse the crowds.

Penn St. head football coach Joe Paterno just announced that he will retire at the end of the current football season ... calling the child molestation scandal, "one of the great sorrows of my life" and saying, "I wish I had done more."

Paterno released a statement saying, "I am absolutely devastated by the developments in this case. I grieve for the children and their families, and I pray for their comfort and relief."

He added, "I have decided to announce my retirement effective at the end of this season. At this moment the Board of Trustees should not spend a single minute discussing my status. They have far more important matters to address. I want to make this as easy for them as I possibly can."

"This is a tragedy. It is one of the great sorrows of my life. With the benefit of hindsight, I wish I had done more."

"My goals now are to keep my commitments to my players and staff and finish the season with dignity and determination. And then I will spend the rest of my life doing everything I can to help this University."

Officials say Paterno had knowledge that former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky had allegedly sexually abused a pre-teen boy in the showers in the Penn State locker room back in 2002.