Nike Strips Joe Paterno's Name From Its Child Care Center

Despite insisting in November Joe Paterno's name would remain on the Nike world headquarters child care center, the prominent apparel company reversed course in light of the news in today's Freeh Report, telling Darren Rovell the Joe Paterno Child Development Center will be renamed:

I have been deeply saddened by the news coming out of this investigation at Penn State. It is a terrible tragedy that children were unprotected from such abhorrent crimes. With the findings released today, I have decided to change the name of our child care center at our World Headquarters. My thoughts are with the victims and the Penn State community.

Those are Nike CEO Mark Parker's words, which leads to co-founder and chairman Phil Knight who vehemently defended Paterno at the January memorial service. Knight, also in a statement released by Rovell, said the following:

According to the investigation, it appears Joe made missteps that led to heartbreaking consequences. I missed that Joe missed it, and I am extremely saddened on this day. My love for Joe and his family remains.

Update (1:27 p.m.): Nike has posted statements to their public website.

[ Rovell, Fox 13]

Read all our coverage of the Freeh report here.