Joe Paterno’s family will defend his name to the end, as is expected, so when news broke that his statue had been removed from outside Beaver Stadium, we knew that they wouldn’t remain quiet for long. Here’s their most recent statement, which pedals its longstanding claim that the Paterno investigation is far from over and that the truth will eventually come to light and restore his good name.

The debate is over, friends. The Joe Paterno statue has been taken down and will be moved to an unamed “secure location.” After the release of the Freeh report, intense debate surrounding the statue and its removal began, with many on either side of the issue.

In the wake of the findings of the Freeh report, Penn State will take down its famous Joe Paterno statue this weekend. More after the jump.

It was an odd scene this morning at State College in Pennsylvania, as a plane flew over the campus carrying a banner displaying the message, “TAKE THE STATUE DOWN OR WE WILL.” More, after the jump.