joe paterno. i think you're spot on on that. he had some friendly media there tonight going after the board of trustees, the gentleman who was holding the press conference, explaining the untenable position the university's in. >> if he had an ounce of self-awareness -- he's no different than the athletes, the young immature athletes, this guy is 84. if he had an ounce of self-awareness, he would have stepped aside immediately. obviously, if he had any self-awareness, in 2002 he would have done the right thing. now that it's out -- and keep in mind, this has been out -- this grand jury investigation has been written about in pennsylvania for months. they knew this was coming. i believe everyone in pennsylvania should be questioned about what took so long for the grand jury report? it took three years, and it just happened to come out a week after joe paterno passes eddie robinson for the all time wins record. were they also protecting joe pa? and waiting to release the indictment until after he go

and everybody's now blaming joe. and that's what i don't understand. >> franco harris, great to have you with us tonight. i appreciate your time. let's turn now to sports commentator and writer john feinstein. author of the upcoming book "one on one." i find it hard to believe that a former player would go to joe paterno and say coach, this is what i saw, number one, he just passed it on to the a.d. and another administrator and didn't report it to the police, didn't understand the severity of it. as a journalist what's the next move? >> well, i think you're 100% right that when mike mcqueary went to joe paterno's house that day, that joe paterno should have made two phone calls. one should have been to graham spanier, the president, saying we've got a big problem. and the second should have been to the police. now, having said that, even if you want to say it was okay to call tim curley, the athletic director, and put it in his hands, the fact is he never followed up. he never went back and said tim, what's going on

joe, you're going in the zone. at aviva, we wonder why other life insurance companies treat you like a policy, not a person. instead of getting to know you they simply assign you a number. aviva is here to change all that. we're bringing humanity back to insurance and putting people before policies. aviva life insurance and annuities. we are building insurance around you. with crest 3d white professional effects whitestrips. it penetrates below the enamel surface to whiten as well as a $500 dentist treatment. the secret's in the strip. crest 3d white professional effects whitestrips. life opens up when you do. i've tried it. but nothing helped me beat my back pain. then i tried salonpas. it's powerful relief that works at the site of pain and lasts up to 12 hours. salonpas. >>> and in "psycho talk" tonight, republicans have a new technique of talking to constituents. it's called meet and scream. you've heard of meet and greet, this is meet and scream. illinois congressman joe walsh tried it out recently. after rece

joe paterno. i think you're spot on on that. he had some friendly media there tonight going after the board of trustees, the gentleman who was holding the press conference, explaining the untenable position the university's in. >> if he had an ounce of self-awareness -- he's no different than the athletes, the young immature athletes, this guy is 84. if he had an ounce of self-awareness, he would have stepped aside immediately. obviously, if he had any self-awareness, in 2002 he would have done the right thing. now that it's out -- and keep in mind, this has been out -- this grand jury investigation has been written about in pennsylvania for months. they knew this was coming. i believe everyone in pennsylvania should be questioned about what took so long for the grand jury report? it took three years, and it just happened to come out a week after joe paterno passes eddie robinson for the all time wins record. were they also protecting joe pa? and waiting to release the indictment until after he go

all his supporters coming out and screaming, joe, joe, joe and joe hushing the crowd and telling them that his heart goes out to the victims and that prayers should be said for the victims. there was always a report out there yesterday that perhaps joe was going to be forced to step down. perhaps, ali, before this weekend's game. well, scott paterno came out last night, as well, and said that report is not true. take a listen. >> any discussion has not taken place with anyone that is advising joe or joe himself. that's all i can tell you. >> nothing between the university. >> no discussion between the university and joe paterno. nothing has changed. >> as far as you know, he's coaching saturday and for the foreseeable future? >> yeah, nothing's changed. >> while a lot of the attention focused on joe paterno, some of that criticism and attention is being focused on penn state's president, graham spanier, calls for his resignation, as well. despite all the calls of resignation, another legal development which is focused, of course, on the center of this investigation. jerry sandusky. as

joe mentioned that he feels that he could have done more, but i feel he says that because joe's not one to really knock people. the reason why he could have done more is he feels bad they didn't do their job. >> i have to point to you joe paterno was told by his former quarterback that he had witnessed this sexual act in the shower at the facility at penn state. mr. paterno never went to law enforcement. that is what is in question tonight, and one other thing. i'd like to ask you, obviously mcqueary who played quarterback for paterno, they have a special friendship. paterno in the grand jury report stated that mcqueary went to his house the next day and said he was very upset. why didn't paterno -- let me ask you, is it in joe paterno's personality to go confront sandusky with this information? what do you think of that? >> this was a university problem. joe respected tim curley and schultz. >> okay. then that's -- >> he went to them thinking they would do their job, and they didn't do their job and everybody's now blaming joe. that's what i don't understand. >> franco harris, great to

they said, we love you joe, thank you joe, thank you, joe. everybody clapped. >> sarah, this is a guy who, from people who i've spoked to is considering him a legend. >> he really is. this is somebody who people have grown up with, somebody's grandparents for that matter. he has a very well liking, a very big following and they seem to be in their 20s and all very sport sif of him. he said thank you and retreated back into his house. >> and i don't know how long ago you left that location. what was the scene there? >> literally, literally he just closed the door. >> describe the scene outside the house now. >> right now the street is very quiet, no street lights. it's very, very quiet. students are still milling about, in pairs, if you will. murmuring amongst themselves, not making a scene at all. talking it through, almost like a wake, if you will. >> so stand by for us. i want to bring in mike galanos. what you describe is a very different scene than what he is seeing at his location on the campus there where the crowds of students appear t

we want joe back. talking about joe he paterno and just straight up chanting joe paterno's name. i mean, every student i've talked to today once again they are in support of him staying on as coach. i don't think any of these students thought this would happen this day, that joe paterno, their beloved and legendary coach, would no longer be the head man for the lions at penn state. >> any signs of college officials or give us some insight into that. >> reporter: nothing that i've seen. the social media was really buzzing right before that press conference, urging people, stay calm. maybe some folks have an inkling that the announcedmement was coming. but we have not seen a strong presence. i'm sure they are out there. we can hear sirens as they are coming. they are headed to beaver avenue where everybody is assembling. >> jason, you have been on the story since the beginning. as we see people out and making their feelings known, you have to wonder what the culture of the school is like. you've spoken to people. what kind of a scene is this? what is the culture like? >> well, what

>> joe paterno really needs to concentrate right now on his health. and in talking to jay and to others close with the family, they say the plan will be for joe to begin radiation this week most likely. >> absolutely. tom rinaldi in columbus for the penn state/ohio state game tomorrow, thanks very much for joining us. >>> and we will continue to follow the penn state story. >>> but just ahead, well, it's the color of desire and it's painted on every louboutin heel. we step into a footwear fantasyland. i'd race down that hill without a helmet. i took some steep risks in my teens. i'd never ride without one now. and since my doctor prescribed lipitor, i won't go without it for my high cholesterol and my risk of heart attack. why kid myself? diet and exercise weren't lowering my cholesterol enough. now i'm eating healthier, exercising more, taking lipitor. numbers don't lie. my cholesterol's stayed down. lipitor is fda approved to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients who have heart disease or risk factors for heart disease. it's backed

>> joe pa, baby! >> joe pa's been here so long. it's emotional. it really is. we're here to get joe pa for our last home game. let him play his last game. it's that simple. everyone here is for that right now. we all believe it. if you want to hear something right now. we are -- >> penn state. >> we are -- >> when state. >> we are -- >> penn state! >> we did hear it. as you saw a moment ago, some of the students even clashed with police. becky perlow was smack dab in the middle of the throngs of angry students. you also went to penn state, graduated from penn state. what are your thoughts as things escalated like this? >> well, good morning, carol. i have to tell you, for better or worse, penn state likes to celebrate or protest when penn state beat ohio in 2008 they tore down light posts. earlier this year, for example, osama bin laden when he was killed, they took to downtown state college as well and brought their american flags anç belted out the national anthem. depending on the topic depends on how much destruction there will be in the street. i wasn't q

i am supporting joe paterno and i wish the board would have supported joe paterno. one thing about joe is that he has courage and he doesn't back down from a fight. this board backed down from a fight. >> so, you -- i want to ask you really quickly here about mike mcqueary of course. in 2002, he was the graduate. he was the guy who saw sandusky having sex with a boy in the shower. some are suggesting that mcqueary himself should have down something to stop the alleged sex act and then gone on to the cops. do you think he should bow out? will he be a distraction on the sidelines? >> that's not my call. will it be a distraction? i'm sure it will be b for some people. that's going to be tom bradley's call. but when you look at certain situations, now everybody talking now, talks about what i would have done. everybody thinks they're going to be this hero that in that situation in 2002, would have made a, you know, that okay, listen, i would have done this. i would have done this. and you know, like it's easy to talk after the fact. seven years later. and when they put

>> joe paterno really needs to concentrate right now on his health. and in talking to jay and to others close with the family, they say the plan will be for joe to begin radiation this week most likely. >> absolutely. tom rinaldi in columbus for the penn state/ohio state game tomorrow, thanks very much for joining us. >>> and we will continue to follow the penn state story. but just ahead, well, it's the color of desire and it's painted on every louboutin heel. we step into a footwear fantasy land. i'd race down that hill without a helmet. i took some steep risks in my teens. i'd never ride without one now. and since my doctor prescribed lipitor, i won't go without it for my high cholesterol and my risk of heart attack. why kid myself? diet and exercise weren't lowering my cholesterol enough. now i'm eating healthier, exercising more, taking lipitor. numbers don't lie. my cholesterol's stayed down. lipitor is fda approved to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients who have heart disease or risk factors for heart disease. it's backed by

i can imagine the chants will continue, we want joe back. talking about joe pa term know. and just straight up chanting his name. i mean, every student i've talked to today once again they are in support of him staying on as coach. i don't think any of these students thought this would happen this day, that joe paterno, their beloved and legendary coach, would no longer be the head man for the nittany lions at penn state. >> any signs of college officials or give us some insight into that. >> reporter: nothing that i've seen. the social media was really buzzing right before that press conference, urging people, stay calm. maybe some folks had an inkingling the announcement was coming. and also talking about amped up security. but we have not seen a strong presence. i'm sure they are out there. we can hear sirens as they are coming. they are headed to beaver avenue where everybody is assembling. >> jason, you have been on the story since the beginning. as we see people out and making their feelings known, you have to wonder what the culture of the school is like. you've spo

>> i'm hoping so. >> joe? joe? >> can you confirm -- >> again, keep your head down joe. >> been at penn state 42 years, guy is known for clean, no scandals at penn state. high graduation rates. joe paterno facing a skrum of reporters as they were hoping to ask him questions at the news conference today. that clearly didn't happen. also, as jason carroll was reporting from pennsylvania as he was on the story, scott paterno recently reporting that the reports were premature. we'll look at those tweets as well. live in the studio of the collapsed building as these firefighters are working to define those three people within the scene in brooklyn in brighton beach, new york. we're live on that. >>> we are also two hours away from presidential candidate herman cain, his news conference in phoenix, arizona. he is addressing precisely this issue. >> instead of going into the offices, he suddenly reached over and put his hand on my leg under my skirt. >> those details coming up in two minutes. also, president obama reporte

and even violent. >> we want joe! >> the students went to paterno's home and he came out to talk to them. >> wednesday night there was -- thursday and friday the students brought it back to this is what penn state is about. >> on friday, students held a candlelight vigil for the victims. >> theyste have to live out eah and every day with the mental scars of the tragic experiences. >> penn state! penn state. >> that same day, penn state announced it had received multiple death threats against mccrery who the indictment suggested neither stopped the child rape he witnessed nor reported sandusky to the police. >> you were quoted as saying that he gave the minimal moral initiative here. do you think he should have done more? >> i believe most people would take a look at this and say i would have stopped it. i would have reported it. i would have followed up. >> but this week, mccrery, a key prosecution witness was spreading a story that seemed to contradict the indictment. in an e-mail to friends he said did he make sure

>>> we want joe! we want joe! we want joe! >>> breaking news. shock and outrage following the sudden firing of long-time head coach joe paterno. >>> asian markets tank as shadows of europe's debt crisis looms larger and larger. >>> and debate debacle. a texas-sized stumble by governor rick perry at last night's republican presidential debate. >> i can't -- the third one i can't. sorry. oops. >>> this is the "cbs morning news" for thursday, november 10, 2011. >>> good morning, good to see you. appreciate you joining us. i'm terrell brown. a legendary coaching career has come to an abrupt end. after 62 years on the sideline, 46 as head coach, joe paterno was fired from penn state. he and the university president were let go last night. by the school's board of directors. it comes in the wake of a sex abuse scandal that's rocked the campus and shocked the nation. overnight thousands of students stunned by the news gathered on the campus. some were violent. the board of director said the decision to fire paterno was made in the best interest of the

, we love you, joe. that was much it in front much his house. other than that it was very quiet. very, very solber. and the students were there milling about. it was very group of people. joe did come out and speak with them. >> i had a chance on speak with the stun body president. i wanted to ask him about -- you know, how many students are out there within the mix? we are seeing support for joe paterno and the football program. but what about the sex abuse victims? are there stuns out there trying to be a voice for that which in many instances has seemed to have gone -- forgotten. and he said he's seeing a shift that more students are speaking out about that. what have you seen heard? do you feel the same way? >> reporter: you know, it is interesting you mentioned that because this morning, as the students were going to class, because here on campus if you can see around me it is pretty much business as usual. and as they were going to class, we did speak with a few of them to gauge how they were feeli

we want joe back. talking about joe he paterno and just straight up chanting joe paterno's name. i mean, every student i've talked to today once again they are in support of him staying on as coach. i don't think any of these students thought this would happen this day, that joe paterno, their beloved and legendary coach, would no longer be the head man for the lions at penn state. >> any signs of college officials or give us some insight into that. >> reporter: nothing that i've seen. the social media was really buzzing right before that press conference, urging people, stay calm. maybe some folks have an inkling that the announcement was coming. but we have not seen a strong presence. i'm sure they are out there. we can hear sirens as they are coming. they are headed to beaver avenue where everybody is assembling. >> jason, you have been on the story since the beginning. as we see people out and making their feelings known, you have to wonder what the culture of the school is like. you've spoken to people. what kind of a scene is this? what is the culture like? >> well, what yo

he reported it to joe paterno. didn't call police. he is still employed as a coach by penn state and a lot of people are wondering why if joe paterno failed a moral test by not calling police, didn't mcqueary fail as wul? >> absolutely. mike mcqueary's actions in that shower are appalling. to do the decent thing would be to help the young boy. you have to wonder what's happened to that young boy's life. why did mike mcqueary not take him out of that situation? why did he not protect him. i know he was stunned and probably shocked to see jerry sandusky in this act, but my gosh, anderson, you have to protect the young child. you have to take him out. we don't know who the child is. we don't know if he is alived. we don't know if he has been scarred for life. there's clearly a tremendous amount of vilify case of mike mcqueary. >> questions i would like to have answered and i don't know if you have thoughts on this, but he went to work for this the program. if you have witnessed something like that and you have reported it, you would thin

joke you made. >> we all do, joe. we all do. guess what though, he will use it. >> bill, you said saying -- politicians saying stupid things doesn't affect our numbers. >> yes. >> how has it affected your numbers? >> gl i am not running for office nor have people taken a poll to see how they feel about me. >> you are not running for office in that thrift store t-shirt and camel skinked jacket you are wearing right now? >> this happens to be suede and it is from my grandfather, r.i.p. you jerk. >> i am tired. every time i trash your clothes on this show you say your grandfather owned it. that's run its course. >> by the way, what about what you are wearing? somebody in lilith fare with their lipstick girlfriend? look at you. you are not one to talk. melissa ethridge. >> i had a good come back, but i was scared to say it because it might be too much. >> i think you both look good. >> oh, i just complimented you. >> you said beauty magazines, girls buy beauty magazines to see what they possibly -- these beautiful people

i thought that was unfair how people were treating joe with this issue, because joe is highly moral person and great moral character. it is very disturbing to me when somebody said this, they jumped on this. >> chris: let me bring in tj bard. speaking for yourself, did the trustees over react in firing joe paterno? >> guest: i don't know. it is hugely emotional for the students and the trustees and there is a lot of information that we as students don't know. it is a frustrating and confusing time for us. at the end of the daytime will tell if the trusteys made the right decision. i worked with the trustees before and they always have the best interest of the university at heart. i do trust their judgment. >> chris: tj, as head of the student government you spoke to the opportunities the day after the rioting, and look at what you had to say. >> we watched as mayhem filled a community. we must support each other. believe in each other and stand united during this trying time. >> chris: tj, how would you ark sess the mood on campus. is there more outrage over the abuse of the kids or firing

he was given a bunch of joe, speeches. co does the super committee's failure anger you or did youid u tune in, turn on and drop out like your dope-smoking hippies knew it existed? >> haven't followed a thing, andy. going to wing it here on "red eye." >> please, that's why we have you on here. >> i read up on it a littletle bit. >> thanks. sing. >> i think it was a farce. was r i think it was a farce fromnni the beginning. and i think putting these two parties together to try and solve this dilemma isilma ridiculous. they have fundamental differences in their approaches to solving thes to problem. putting them together to solveop the deficit is like puttings p scientists into a room going, guys, figure out this missing ro link thing. they are on the same page and it was never going to work.ork. >> courtney worst named thing in history. there was nothing super about this thing at all, twlas? n >> i am appalled. a a only in congress can you getn yu away with anything like this. any other boss would fire hish employees if he t

and joe, you know, fled. [laughter] and he was in the car sort of trembling and looking for the gear shift when bertrand russell -- bertrand russell was somewhat elderly at this point when bertrand was l's butler came running out and said, oh, no, no, it's okay, he thought you were edward teller. [laughter] >> oh, perfect. we're going the turn the questions to the audience in one minute. i have a final question from me, and that is when joe heller wrote "catch 22," i think this is correct, ken ceez si was writing the cook dc you can key's nest. and kurt von galt was writing "cat's cradle. it was this was in the '50s. eisenhower was president. that helped produce it. we were the silent generation, we didn't protest, but something was bubbling. what was -- bob, you tell us. >> a lot of it had to do with the war. >> but which war? here, take mine. you mean the korean war? >> no. i think it had to do with the experience of world war ii and the holocaust, you know? how do you deal with all this stuff? how do you c

and even violent. >> we want joe! >> the students went to paterno's home and he came out to talk to them. >> wednesday night there was -- thursday and friday the students brought it back to this is what penn state is about. >> on friday, students held a candlelight vigil for the victims. >> theyste have to live out eah and every day with the mental scars of the tragic experiences. >> penn state! penn state. >> that same day, penn state announced it had received multiple death threats against mccrery who the indictment suggested neither stopped the child rape he witnessed nor reported sandusky to the police. >> you were quoted as saying that he gave the minimal moral initiative here. do you think he should have done more? >> i believe most people would take a look at this and say i would have stopped it. i would have reported it. i would have followed up. >> but this week, mccrery, a key prosecution witness was spreading a story that seemed to contradict the indictment. in an e-mail to friends he said did he make sure

joe if anyone, joe is legally cleared. so if anyone did right it's joe."just absolute stunned. i don't understand how thee can do this to penn state in general. joepa's een here so long..e's retiring this season -- let that simple. everyone here ii for that.at a late night news conference, pennnstate's board of trustees announced it was firiig aterno and university preeident graham spanier. "these decisions were made pfter careful deliberations &pand in thh best interests of former assistant coach jerry sannusky is accused of sexually abusing eight boys from 19-94 to 2009.some say the college leadership should have done more after paterno learned offan alleged incident in 2002.earlier, man told cnn sandusky inaapropriaaelyy 12 yeers old.his contact with d- me was usually limited to hand on a thigh oo a car ride. i with jerry, foooball games, - standing on the sidelines for football games, family picnics...it never eered into anything overtlyysexual but certainly enough to make me uncomfortable.sandusky is out on 100-thousand-dollar bbil. p'm greg black reporting. the board has

we're going to support him. >> joe paterno's statement today said -- joe paterno. this is day 132 of the nba lockout. the players and owners are meeting right now. i am still awaiting word whether or not there has been any progress. the players rejected the latest offer from the owners yesterday. they indicated they would accept the 50-50 split of the profits as long as the owners gave the players some concessions on some of the remaining issues. the redskins were back on the field today. how about this? they are a four-point underdog to miami. that is one of the story lines. the other story is john beck. he got his first start with adolf -- with the dolphins. >> you cannot look at their record at all. they did really well against kansas city last trick. this is a team that has had a lot of teams on the ropes. it is a team that has gained some confidence. we know that going into it. we need to play our best. >> for hockey fans, the caps lost last night to the dallas stars. that was the low point of the season. they turned to gold in 32 seconds. there is a major con

i was fat joe ever since. >> fat joe, joey crack, joseph antonio krartejena. he grew up in public housing and was taught that food equals love. >>> so when joe hit the big time, he felt he deserved all the good food his lavish lifestyle could afford. >> i'm rich now. i can go to mr. chow's and eat me all the lobster and steak i want. >> then in 2000. joe's friend and fellow rap star suffered a fatal heart attack. >> i think i weighed 450, 460 at my heaviest. i always took pride in being fat. that's why my name was fat joe. i always represented the big people, but i realized at a certain point all my big people were dying. >> last year alone, six of joe's friends died of heart attacks. most were younger than him. but just about the same size. >> i couldn't see a clearer picture of me being -- what's the difference of me being in a casket and my daughter running around the funeral home and she doesn't have a dad no more? >> so joe's eating healthier food in smaller portions, more frequently throughout the day. even when he's on the road. he's lost 100 pounds and

and sitting next to me is comedian joe derosa. his newest comedy is return of the revenge of the son of the daughter of the return of the depression or something like that. and his pages are dense, but they make no sense. >> today in "the times." he writes an op-ed about how china candy feet america. he says the first homeland to replace america as the pre-eminent global power they will have to win hearts and minds abroad. our asian adversaries will soon be here. and i for one welcome the new communist over lords. there is a trusted news source that could be rounding up others from their msg caves. >> longer and longer every time, and they make less and lessons. >> i don't like the camera angle that has an elbow. >> is more of a pity for the super committee? it is going to be one of those nights. the 12-member deficit conjunction was created in august and asked to find $1.3 trillion in savings. on monday they released a statement saying, quote, sorry for sucking, america. actually they didn't. who is to blame for the committee not

told joe paterno. and joe paterno didn't take immediate action, so he is going to have to answer for that. >> he reported it supposedly to the athletic director. >> but that's not enough. you're joe paterno. >> who has the real power there? the a.d. or joe paterno? >> i was going to say the fact that they're suggesting he told his superior, i'm sorry. >> that was specious. i heard that, too. >> that's like saying bear bryant's athletic director was his boss. no. >> no. >> and organizations like this, the joe paternos of the world, bear bryants, they are the bosses. so much so that if they look at a university president the wrong way, this is how it used to be in the old days, the university president would shake. >> yeah. >> he knew where the real power was. so, you know, i understand the politics of this, but the pennsylvania state attorney's office, the u.s. attorney's office -- state attorney's office is going to have to broaden this and joe paterno and everybody involved is going to have to step do

there has been tremendous support for joe paternos, there were chants of joe paor joe paterno. the community here, there is a lot of frustration and outrage from a lot of people especially students who think that the national media and state media had made it all about joe paterno, and they are frustrated because jerry sandusky is villian number one but joe paterno was fired and until a week ago joe paterno was a saint. you don't go from being a saint for 46 years and getting fired and expect everyone in community to be up in arms against the guy. here joe paterno is unbelievably loved and popular figure. >> corey just said he was a saint or scapegoat? >> judge, he was a scapegoat. he was nailed to the proverbial cross like jesus himself. board of trustees laid upon him a crown of thorns that were the sins of jerry sandusky. >> woah. >> joe paterno did nothing wrong and did exactly what. he had a third allegation and he reported it up the line. >> he and sandusky were connected. they had a 1998 investigation which we talk to the da about in 2002, and then a guy who hung with hi

you had others that said, joe knows football. signs that said joe's still our guy. at the same time you had this small plane that was flying around that had a banner that said joe's so dirty, he needs a shower. a lot of mixed emotions. we did hear from cnn's sarah hoy who has been on the ground right outside joe paterno's house that a former penn state player kenny jackson who played for the eagles did come by and visit joe paterno, but in terms of anyone coming out and speaking, we haven't heard anything so far and really don't expect to. >> athena, thank you and our thanks to kate snow -- i'm sorry, mary snow. john werhim of "sports illustrated" will talk about the impact the scandal has on the students. and a reporter who has covered penn state for 30 years will be here to share his impressions. >>> actor ashton kutcher really stepped in it with an ill-advised tweet after joe paterno was fired. social media expert will explain why a bad tweet is almost impossible to undo. >>> also ahead on cnn, the field of gop presidential candidates minutes away from taking the