HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Jerry Sandusky continued to coach football at Juniata College despite being denied an official coaching position there, CBS 21 News Sports Director Jason Bristol has learned.
Two Juniata College football players tell CBS 21 News that Sandusky was actively involved with the Eagles program in 2010, even though his volunteer coaching application was rejected because a background check revealed he was being investigated at a Clinton County High School.
"I hear people saying, 'I'm glad the school did the right thing; not having (Sandusky) around my son,'" said one player. "He was around your son...very much so. He was around your son the entire football season."
The players spoke to CBS 21 News on condition of anonymity. CBS 21 News has hidden their identities and drastically changed the tone of their voices.
The players' stories were then verified by another, independent Juniata College football player who was not previously aware of their claims.
Both Eagles players paint similar pictures: the legendary ex-Penn State defensive coach attending practices, coaches' meetings and all of the team's games.
During those games, Sandusky helped call defensive formations from the press box, alongide other Juniata coaches.
Sandusky is charged with 40 counts of child sex abuse and prosecutors allege he met his victims through The Second Mile, a charity he founded in 1977 to help at-risk children. Sandusky, 67, denies being a pedophile and has vowed to fight the charges.
Juniata College is Division III college located in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, roughly halfway between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. It was one of Sandusky's first coaching stops -- way back in 1967 -- before he became a legendary defensive coach at Penn State.
Sandusky's presence in the press box wasn't a one time thing, either. The players say he was there during every game of the season -- even at home games, despite the school's former athletic director reiterating to the head coach that Sandusky was to have no connection with the team.
Juniata College said it has no documented evidence that Sandusky was in the team's press box, except for a sighting at Franklin & Marshall College on September 25, 2010.
Both players can't understand why.
"How do you not know he's here?" asked the second player in amazement. "It's not like the press box is some closed-off area. You just turn your head (around) and look up (into the windows)...you see all the coaches in the press box."
The players say Sandusky would wait in the press box until after the game and would leave once the stadium had cleared.
Juniata College spokesperson John Wall said that Juniata College senior leadership gave then-head coach Carmen Felus "three distinct orders" that Sandusky was not to be associated with the program. He added those officials were not fully aware of Sandusky's involvement in the program until the following semester.
Wall said that the school followed proper protocol and the "breakdown" in communication falls on Felus.
CBS 21 News has repeatedly tried to contact Felus, who is now the co-offensive coordinator at UT Martin in Martin, Tennessee.
The school's former athletic director Larry Bock, who is one of the top volleyball coaches of all-time and now heads the program at Navy, confirmed he reiterated the college's stance to Felus after the F&M incident in September 2010. He recalled that he never spoke to Sandusky directly -- Felus told him he would do it.
When asked by Bristol if he would be surprised to hear that Sandusky continued to interact with the football team, Bock replied that it wouldn't; given Felus' "relationship" with Sandusky.
Felus has not returned numerous phone calls and emails. Felus resigned in March 2011 to go to UT Martin and finished with a record of 1-19 in two seasons at Juniata.
Meanwhile, the two players believe Felus put the prospect of winning games ahead of players' personal safety.
They also feel Juniata College should have done more, as well.
"Even to keep (Sandusky) here...for as long as (Felus) he did -- and even though we didn't win any games -- he put the players safety in jeopardy," said the first player.
"I think it was their job as (the) Juniata administration to come down and make sure that (Sandusky) wasn't there." added the second one.
Some video used in this report is courtesy of You Tube/Juniata College.
