INDIANAPOLIS — The family of Hall of Fame Penn State football coach Joe Paterno says the NCAA’s sanctions announced today defame his legacy and are a panicked response to the scandal that led to them.

The statement was released today by Paterno’s family. It says Penn State President Rodney Erickson, acting Athletic Director David Joyner and the board of trustees failed by not seeking a full hearing before the NCAA’s infractions committee.

The family also says that punishing “past, present and future” students because of former assistant Jerry Sandusky’s crimes did not serve justice.

The family calls the move a “panicked response to the public’s understandable revulsion” at Sandusky’s sexual abuse of 10 boys over 15 years.