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Student rally for Paterno turns violent

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Police in riot gear dispersed about 2,000 Penn State students who took to the streets after the ouster of football coach Joe Paterno. Crowds toppled a television news van and at least one photographer was pelted with a rock.

The students flooded downtown State College on Wednesday night for about three hours after Paterno and university president Graham Spanier were fired amid a growing furor linked to their handling of sex abuse allegations against a former assistant football coach.

Officers used pepper spray at times to control the crowd. Some students chanted 'We want Joe! We want Joe!" Others kicked in the windows of a toppled news van.

About 100 police officers were downtown, many wearing helmets and carrying pepper spray. State College police said early Thursday they were still gathering information on any possible arrests.

Paterno had announced earlier in the day he planned to retire after the season and expressed remorse for not having done more after he learned of the sex assault allegations.

Centre County emergency dispatch said early Thursday that State College police would be addressing the protests later in the day.

Paterno gone, but questions remain

A student is taken into police custody Thursday Nov. 10, 2011 following Penn State students and others gathering off campus after the firing of football coach Joe Paterno and university president Graham Spanier amid the growing furor over how the school handled sex abuse allegations against an assistant coach, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, in State College, Pa. Associated Press
Students react off of campus late Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, in State College, Pa. Hundreds of students gathered about two blocks from the campus, with some chanting “We want Joe! We want Joe!” Some shook a lamp post and others tipped over a news van, kicking out its windows. Police fired bursts of pepper gas to control the crowd. Associated Press
Penn State students flip a television news van during a riot after it was announced that Joe Paterno would no longer be head coach of Penn State Football on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011. Associated Press
Police head across a street in State College, Pa., Wednesday night, Nov. 9, 2011, as students gather after the Penn State board of trustees voted to fire football coach Joe Paterno and university president Graham Spanier. Associated Press
Penn State students and others gather off campus following the firing of football coach Joe Paterno and university president Graham Spanier amid the growing furor over how the school handled sex abuse allegations against an assistant coach, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, in State College, Pa. Associated Press
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