Former Pennsylvania governor and Homeland Security director Tom Ridge could reportedly replace Graham Spanier as Penn State’s president in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal.
ESPN is reporting that a source close to “the situation” at the university said the board of trustees is weighing a possible replacement for president Graham Spanier, who has lost support since the scandal broke Saturday involving at least eight sex abuse allegations against former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.
The source said that the board is “weighing the possibility” of having Ridge replace Spanier.
Ridge has no close connection to Penn State at the present time, which is probably a good thing, at least as far as PSU’s national reputation is concerned. Bringing in a decorated outside party like Ridge would make it look like Penn State was trying to move past the scandal.
In any case, we should know more later on Wednesday, since the Board Of Trustees is scheduled to meet. It’s doubtful we’ll hear anything about Ridge right away, but it wouldn’t be at all surprising to hear that Spanier is departing.