According to a statement released by spokesman Wick Sollers, the Paterno family had no prior knowledge of the fact that they were listed as potential witnesses in Jerry Sandusky's trial.
Both Sue Paterno, wife of the late football coach Joe Paterno, and their son, Jay, were listed as possible witnesses for the defense at the trial, which is set to begin on Monday.
"The Paternos had no advance notice of this development and have no idea if they will in fact be called to testify," the statement reads.
Joe Paterno was fired on Nov. 9, days after a grand jury report connected to Sandusky's charges revealed Paterno's prior knowledge of the events surrounding the person referred to as "Victim 2." Former assistant coach Mike McQueary, who said he witnessed Sandusky doing something of a sexual nature with the boy in the Lasch Football Building, reported what he saw to Paterno, who passed the information on to former Athletic Director Tim Curley and former Vice President for Finance and Business Gary Schultz, according to court documents.
Paterno died in January after complications due to lung cancer, and his previous grand jury testimony has been ruled inadmissable in court.
The statement also says that the family will not respond to multiple requests for interviews "out of respect for the legal process." The family will not make any further comment "unless something exceptional and unexpected develops that necessitates a response," according to the statement.
"The only directive Joe Paterno gave to his family is that they should pursue the truth, while forcefully defending the honor and integrity of Penn State and the countless thousands of students, faculty, coaches and donors who have worked so hard over the years to build it into a world class institution," the statement reads. "This is the course the family has carefully followed during this extraordinary process."
Sandusky faces 52 counts of child sex abuse, which prosecutors say involved 10 boys he met through The Second Mile, the charity for children he founded in 1977.
