The decision for Paterno’s removal was voted unanimously by the board on Nov. 9 because of their “obligation as Trustees, always, to put the interests of the university first,” according to the release.

The board cited Paterno’s actions surrounding the 2002 reported incident of abuse between Sandusky and a young boy in a shower in the Lasch Football Building that was reported to Paterno by then-graduate assistant, who is now former assistant football coach Mike McQueary. Paterno reported the incident to Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley, but did not call police, according to the grand jury presentment.

Though the board said Paterno fulfilled his legal obligations by reporting the incident to his superior, he failed to uphold his leadership by not contacting the police, the board wrote.

“We determined that his decision to do his minimum legal duty and not to do more to follow up constituted a failure of leadership by Coach Paterno,” the board wrote.

Though Paterno announced he would retire at the end of the season, the trustees still removed him as coach for the last three games of the season.

The board notified Paterno of his termination through a phone call, which the board called “unfortunate” but they said there was no better alternative, according to the release.

Due to the amount of press, photographers and others stationed outside Paterno’s home throughout the day, the board did not believe there was a “dignified, private and secure way to send Board representatives to meet with him there,” according to the release.

There were three parts to the telephone call, but Paterno ended the phone call after hearing that he was fired, according to the release.

The board said the three parts were that board members decided “unanimously to remove him as coach; the Board regretted having to deliver the message over the telephone; and his employment contract would continue, including all financial benefits and his continued status as a tenured faculty member.”

The board also explained their decision behind removing former Penn State President Graham Spanier.

Spanier was removed from his positions on the same day as Paterno for also failing to meet leadership responsibilities, the board wrote.

Spanier’s inaction to inform the board of what he knew regarding the 2002 incident was cited as one of the reasons to remove him from his position. The board also wrote that Spanier was removed for making “press announcements” without consulting the board.

In a statement released by the Paterno family, they expressed their surprise and sadness that the board has to release another statement for the fourth or fifth time on why they fired Paterno.

“The latest statement is yet another attempt by the Board to deflect criticism of their leadership by trying to focus the blame on Joe Paterno,” according to the release. “This is not fair to Joe’s legacy; it is not consistent with the facts; and it does not serve the best interests of the University.”

Also included was the opinion that the board was inconsistent with their reasons for firing Paterno.

The reason for firing Paterno several months ago in several interviews with the media was cited as “moral” failures on the Paterno’s part, but now the board is citing Paterno’s “leadership” failures, according to the release.

The statement also raised the Paterno’s interest in having the board acknowledge that the “ultimate responsibility” for the crisis is theirs.