Riots rock Penn State after Paterno firing

An orderly crowd first filled the lawn in front of Old Main when news of Paterno's firing came via students' cellphones. When the crowd took to the downtown streets, its anger and intensity swelled. Students shouted "We are Penn State."

Chanting, "Tip the van," they toppled the news vehicle and at the time brought down a nearby lamp post. When the police opened up with pepper spray, some in the crowd responded by hurling rocks, cans of soda and flares. They as well tore down street signs, tipped over trash cans and newspaper vending boxes and shattered car windows.