College Football

Passion, pain reignited over new Penn State abuse claims

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:42 p.m. ET

foxsports

PHILADELPHIA (AP) The pain and passion over the Penn State sexual abuse scandal have reignited with new allegations that Joe Paterno had heard that Jerry Sandusky sexually abused a child as early as 1976 and two assistant coaches witnessed the abuse of other children.

The allegations were revealed in an order this week by a Philadelphia judge in litigation between an insurance company and Penn State.

The insurers say a boy told the longtime Penn State football coach in 1976 that he had been molested by Sandusky. Pennlive.com reports the order also cites reports by unnamed assistant coaches who said they witnessed inappropriate contact between Sandusky and children.

Sue Paterno said her husband's family had no knowledge of new claims and it's time to stop the ''endless process of character assassination.''