College football fans in Sacramento were probably shocked to hear the news: a former coach for Penn State's football program has been accused molesting eight boys between the years 1994 and 2009.

Because of the allegations, several of the former coach's superiors have also come under fire. Penn State understandably wants to protect its good name and distance itself from the alleged crime, so it is likely consulting with employment law attorneys so that university officials can clearly understand whether any misconduct that might have occurred would constitute grounds for dismissal.

It seems the coach used his position with the country's No. 12 football team, as well as his role with a youth service organization, to entice the boys. Some of the abuse is said to have taken place on the Penn State campus.

The athletics director, who would have supervised the coach during the years the coach worked at Penn State, recently asked to be put on administrative leave as the allegations of abuse are investigated. Many people have wondered publicly whether the athletics director knew what was going on (if, indeed, anything was going on at all. That has not yet been determined).

The former coach now faces 40 abuse charges. Twenty-one of those charges are felonies.

The athletics director is having his legal fees paid for by the University, since he is an employee. But since the former coach is no longer an employee, he is on his own.

Clearly, the fallout from this scandal is going to mean several people have many questions to answer. Whether they will be dismissed from their jobs remains to be seen. If they are, whether such dismissal is appropriate or an instance of wrongful termination depends on many things, including their contracts and the reasons (if any) give for their dismissal.

Watch this blog for updates on this story.

Source: USA Today, "Penn State fallout leads two accused to leave jobs," Jack Carey, Nov. 7, 2011