Penn State football coach Joe Paterno was fired by the college’s Board of Trustees Wednesday over a sex abuse scandal involving a former assistant coach. Thousands of students reacted violently, rampaging through downtown State College. President Graham Spanier was also removed as the university tries to stanch the bleeding over allegations that former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky sexually abused eight boys over 15 years. Paterno is said to have been close to tears when he met with his team yesterday. Looking at Paterno’s mythic legacy, and equally mythic fall, is Jonathan Mahler, contributing writer for The New York Times. Russell Frank, journalism professor at Penn State and StateCollege.com columnist, could hear the students rioting in the streets from his home.