In the week since the Freeh report on the Penn State child sex abuse scandal was released, many organizations that had honored legendary football coach Joe Paterno couldn't erase his name fast enough from buildings, awards and scholarships.

Nike removed Paterno's name from a child care building on its campus, organizers of the "Paternoville" gatherings outside every football game will now be beckoning fans to "Nittanyville," and the coach's alma mater permanently scratched his name from a student award and the football head coaching position.

Brown University said it's also considering removing Paterno, who graduated from there in 1950, from the school's athletic hall of fame.

Now Penn State, where JoePa was revered for the more than 60 years he coached in Happy Valley, is considering removing his statue from outside Beaver Stadium.

The issue has sparked a heated debate: On one side, those who feel Paterno was either a scapegoat or any misdeeds had nothing to do with his football legacy; on the other side, those who think the statue is a disgrace in light of the new report.

The investigation by former FBI director Louis Freeh, commissioned by the university's board of trustees, found Paterno knew about a 1998 allegation of child sexual abuse against his former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky -- contrary to what he told a grand jury -- and played a role in concealing a 2001 incident from authorities.

Freeh's report alleges Paterno, former President Graham Spanier, former Vice President Gary Schultz and Athletic Director Tim Curley shielded Sandusky to protect the reputation of the university and its football program, which allowed the predator to continue molesting young boys.

Sandusky was convicted last month of sexually abusing 10 boys over a 15-year period, sometimes on school property or at football events. He awaits sentencing.

Events have moved quickly since Sandusky's arrest last November -- a year ago it would have been unthinkable to remove a statue dedicated to Paterno, who succumbed to lung cancer shortly after the board fired him Nov. 9.

Now, however ... how could the university possibly leave it up?

The 7-foot-tall, 900-pound likeness of Paterno is a constant, larger-than-life reminder of the importance Penn State heaped upon its football program at all costs.

Its very image -- the coach with his finger in the air making the No. 1 sign -- speaks to the culture Freeh so strongly criticizes.

A university spokesman said a decision on the statue will be made within about a week to 10 days.

Freeh was commissioned not just to figure out what led to the scandal, but also to recommend changes to ensure nothing like it ever happens again. First on his list is the culture at Penn State, which he said refuses to seek outside input and over-emphasizes athletics.

If the university community is to recover from what is unquestionably its darkest period and rebuild its shattered reputation, it's going to have to show understanding, as well as clear signs of remorse and change.

A good start would be removing the statue, now a symbol of all that went wrong.