STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Joe Paterno’s widow, Sue, and other members of her family will attend Penn State’s season opener Saturday against Ohio.

Paterno family spokesman Dan McGinn confirmed the plans Friday.

McGinn said this week that the family intends to show support for the football program led the previous 46 seasons by Joe Paterno. McGinn stressed the family doesn’t want to deflect attention away from the team or game.

Saturday’s historic opener will be the first at Penn State without a Paterno on the coaching staff since 1949. Joe Paterno started as an assistant in 1950 before becoming head coach in 1966.

He was fired in November in the fallout from the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

McGinn says the family’s support of the university has never wavered.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)