SPORTS

Joe Paterno's widow defends husband as 'moral, disciplined'

The Associated Press Published Friday, February 8, 2013 1:13PM EST

In this Nov. 7, 2009, file photo, Penn State Coach Joe Paterno stands with his players before taking the field for an NCAA college football game against Ohio State in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Sue Paterno is defending her late husband as a "moral, disciplined" man who never twisted the truth to avoid bad publicity.

The wife of the former Penn State coach is fighting back against the accusations against Joe Paterno that followed the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Her campaign starts with a letter sent Friday to former Penn State players.

She wrote that the family's exhaustive response to former FBI director Louis Freeh's report for the university on the Sandusky child sex abuse case will officially be released to the public at 9 a.m. Sunday on paterno.com.

Freeh in July accused Joe Paterno of covering up allegations against Sandusky, a retired assistant coach. Sandusky was convicted of abuse last year and the NCAA later levied heavy sanctions against Penn State.

Sue Paterno told former players the family's report is a passionate critique of Freeh's findings, which it calls a "disservice" to Sandusky's victims.