has already forced out an iconic coach and the school s president. upon hearing the news, thousands of students crowded the streets of downtown state college, some in tears, but most upbeat, showing their support for paterno. paterno, a giant in the game of college football, said he would retire from his position as penn state s head coach after the season. but the school s board of trustees decided paterno should step down immediately. joe paterno is no longer the head football coach effective immediately. reporter: upon hearing the news, paterno said. i am out of it. maybe now. a phone call put me out of it. but we ll go from here, okay. reporter: with scandals swirling around the university, president graham spanier was also fired. effective immediately, dr. spanier is no longer president of the university. reporter: both men are acc e accused of not doing enough back
good morning, it s thursday, november 10th. this is your a.m. wake-up call. i m carol costello joining you live from new york this morning. the board of trustees have decided that effective immediately, dr. spannier is no longer president of the university. in addition, joe paterno is no longer the head football coach, effective immediately. these decisions were made after careful deliberations. and in the best interests of the university as a whole. this morning pen studen stat alumni and students are waking up for the first time in 46 years without paterno leading the nittany lions. the president is also out. our mike galanos reports from outside the school from state college, pennsylvania. reporter: emotions boiled over as the announcement was made. joe paterno is no longer the head coach at penn state university. the students did not see that coming. many supporting joe paterno, wished he had done more through the child sex abuse scandal but joe paterno out. also,