State College, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- Coach Joe Paterno and the president of the school have lost their jobs, effective immediately, over a child sex abuse scandal at Penn State, university trustees announced Wednesday night. 

"What can I say, I'm no longer the coach," Paterno told a crowd of about 15 students gathered outside his house late Wednesday night. "It's going to take some time to get used to. It's been 61 years." 

The crowd cheered and said, "We love you, Joe." 

"I love you, too!" Paterno replied. 

Paterno's wife, Sue, was visibly upset while standing beside him on the front steps. 

John P. Surma, vice chairman of trustees, said that President Graham Spanier was being replaced and Paterno, the longtime head football coach, would not finish the remainder of the season. 

Nittany Lions defensive coordinator Tom Bradley will serve as interim head coach. Rod Erickson, executive vice president and provost of the school, will be interim president, school officials said. 

Stunned Penn State students congregated after the announcement. 

Spanier has been president of the school since 1995. 

Paterno was given the news of the unanimous decision early Wednesday evening in a telephone call made by chairman of the board Steve Garban and Surma. Asked Paterno's reaction, Surma said, "That's a private discussion that I would rather not characterize." 

Surma said he hoped that the school's 95,000 students and hundreds of thousands of alumni would believe the decision "is in the best long-term interest of the university, which is much larger than athletic programs." 
How big was the crowd Paterno spoke to?
Who is Joe Paterno?
How did the crowd respond to Joe?
Did he lose his job?
What is his wife's name?
Was she upset?
Who will take Paterno's place?
Who else lost their job?
Who will serve as president for the time being?
Who congregated after the announcement?
Was the choice to fire Paterno unanimous?
How many students attend Penn State?
Who is the chairman of the board?
Is the decision in the best interest of the school?
Who is John P. Surma?
Why was Paterno fired?
Are the circumstances going to be easy to accept?
15 students
Paterno told a crowd of about 15 students gathered outside his house late Wednesday night.
Pennsylvania coach
State College, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- Coach Joe Paterno and the president of the school have lost their jobs
they cheered
The crowd cheered and said, "We love you, Joe." 
yes
Coach Joe Paterno and the president of the school have lost their jobs, 
Sue
Paterno's wife, Sue,
yes
Paterno's wife, Sue, was visibly upset while standing beside him on the front steps
Tom Bradley
Nittany Lions defensive coordinator Tom Bradley will serve as interim head coach
The president of the school
Spanier has been president of the school since 1995. 
Rod Erickson
Rod Erickson, executive vice president and provost of the school, will be interim president,
Penn State students
Stunned Penn State students congregated after the announcement. 

yes
Paterno was given the news of the unanimous decision early Wednesday evening
95,000
Surma said he hoped that the school's 95,000 students 
Steve Garban
in a telephone call made by chairman of the board Steve Garban and Surma
yes
the decision "is in the best long-term interest of the university, which is much larger than athletic programs." 
vice chairman of trustees
ohn P. Surma, vice chairman of trustees,
child sex abuse
Coach Joe Paterno and the president of the school have lost their jobs, effective immediately, over a child sex abuse scandal at Penn State,
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"It's going to take some time to get used to. It's been 61 years." 