Gary Cameron / Reuters

A hearse with Joe Paterno's casket leaves Beaver Stadium en route to his burial site on Wednesday.

Paterno didn't focus on the scandal that led to his stunning ouster, Scott Paterno has said, and neither did mourners.

Jerry Sandusky, the former assistant coach at the center of the abuse scandal, has been charged with molesting 10 boys over a period of 15 years. He has pleaded not guilty and is out on bail, awaiting trial. Paterno was criticized in the days after Sandusky's arrest for not going to authorities outside campus when he was told of an allegation against the retired assistant in 2002. Paterno did notify two of his superiors at Penn State.

Mike McQueary, the then-graduate assistant who told Paterno about the alleged assault, went both to the public viewing and the funeral. Also at the service was former athletic director Tim Curley, who along with former university official Gary Schultz, is charged with perjury and failure to notify authorities about the 2002 allegation.

They melted into the crowd on a day when Paterno was the center of attention.

"The things he did for athletes, the things he did for all students actually - that alone earns our respect to say one final goodbye," said Alex Jimenez, a sophomore from Manapalan, N.J., standing directly across from Paterno Library. The procession went right past the library to which the Paterno family has donated millions of dollars.

And the procession rolled past Beaver Stadium, the 100,000-plus seat facility that Paterno helped turn into a college football landmark. Thousands watched in silence there until the convoy reached "Paternoville," the makeshift campground outside the stadium used by students the week before games.

There, as the procession slowed nearly to a stop to negotiate a curve, someone in the throng screamed, "We are!"

"Penn State!" came the crowd's reply.

More news

Wilfredo Lee / AP

UM assistant: Look at the SEC, too

CFT: The University of Miami has come under scrutiny for alleged NCAA infractions, but one unnamed Hurricanes assistant coach says the SEC gets away with far more unreported violations.

CFT: Arkansas QB Mitchell transferring to NC State

Headlines

• Label

CFT: Syracuse will retire McNabb's number

CFT: Tulane coaches help senior receiver transfer

DPS: Saban hurt by colleagues' comments?

CFT: FSU four-star recruit cleared by NCAA

CFT: Ok. State bars Lunt from SEC schools

CFT: Latest Saban insults cut close to heart

CFT: Rutgers makes gender history with AD hire

CFT: TCU DE Devonte Fields suspended two games