STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Newly released records show Penn State University planned to issue a statement honoring football coach Joe Paterno in the days after his death, then scrapped the idea amid the widening Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal.

Late Penn State coach Joe Paterno

Excerpts from documents obtained by an alumnus who filed a Right-to-Know request were published late Tuesday by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

They show university President Rodney Erickson planned to issue a statement honoring Paterno after he died of cancer in January 2012 for teaching players to be "lifelong learners and engaged citizens." But the day after he shared the statement with trustees, they were advised that it would not be released after all.

The records indicate university officials worked hard to control Penn State's message of unity amid the growing chaos of the scandal.