Penn State alumni react to news of Paterno's firing, riots on campus

Penn State trustees fired football coach Joe Paterno, and university president Graham Spanier Wednesday night, amid the growing furor over how the school handled sex abuse allegations against assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. The Penn State campus erupted Wednesday night with reported riots, and a television news live truck was turned on its side by students. Thursday, Penn State alumni in Wisconsin reacted to the news.

One such alumnus, Justin Earl, is a Penn State alum, and also a broadcaster on WISN-AM in Greenfield. Sitting beside him in the studio Thursday was his Nittany Lions hat. Earl is a 2007 master's degree graduate from State College. He says he was disappointed by the reaction on the Penn State campus Wednesday night.

"The way in which they (reacted), it's not respectful, and it is not up to the code of ethics, the standards the university is accustomed to," Earl said.

On the same note, as a Penn State alum, Earl says he understands that emotions are running high.

"I guess I get the kids' reaction. I get that they are upset and angry, but this is also kids being kids to some extent. It's just that there are emotions running high, and there needs to be an outlet," Earl said.

Paterno is done coaching football, four games shy of finishing out his 46th season, and many Penn State alums said this is not the way they expected the headlines would read on Paterno's last day.