Penn State trustees launch investigation

>>> good evening. i'm savannah guthrie in tonight for brian. on the campus of penn state on the eve of the last big home game this should be a night of excitement and school spirit . instead, scandal, shame and new suspicions have cast a shadow over a once proud institution. tonight, a second coach has been pulled out of the game. we have two reports tonight, including an investigation into the charity started by jerry sandusky , the former coach accused of sexually abusing children. nbc's ron mott starts us off though from state college , pennsylvania. ron, good evening to you.

>> reporter: savannah, good evening. the new president at penn state has been on the job 48 hours . among his first decisions, to remove an assistant football coach who is at the center of this child sexual abuse investigation. the assistant coach who told a grand jury he saw a former coach sexually assaulting a young boy in a campus shower years ago has been placed on leave. mike mcqueary had been getting threats and penn state officials moved to keep him away from saturday's game for his own security.

>> dr. rodney erickson.

>> reporter: penn state 's new president greeted the board of trustees and seemed to appreciate the hot seat he occupies and the rough terrain ahead.

>> i accept this new leadership role under circumstances that i never could have imagined.

>> reporter: with three decades on campus, most recently as executive vice president and provost, erickson said while the university has been rocked by this week's scandal, it is not adrift. still, the costs already are staggering. a president, a legendary football coach, two senior university officials, all losing their careers.

>> it would be premature for me to comment on any actions.

>> reporter: today, officials appointed ken frasier, president and ceo of pharmaceutical giant merck to lead an internal investigation. meantime, the criminal investigation continues.

>> i didn't even know that he was leaving the school with my child.

>> reporter: on abc's "good morning, america" the mother of an alleged victim talked about jerry sandusky whom he first met at age 11.

>> he should have told me. he was like,ing we inwell, i didn't know what to do. you just can't tell jerry no.

>> reporter: sandusky is charged with sexually abusing eight boys which he denies.

>> sandusky is being carried off the field.

>> reporter: texas officials are looking at sandusky 's trip to a bowl game there in the '90s. this afternoon police say a window at his home was shattered by a cinder block . a student-led candlelight vigil and prayer service is scheduled for tonight. they say they planned this before wednesday night's violent reaction to the firing of coach joe paterno . students say they hope it will cast them in a more favorable light while focusing attention on the alleged victims.