INDIANAPOLIS — The NCAA has removed one of the prestigious awards it bestowed on former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno.

NCAA general counsel and vice president of legal affairs Donald Remy confirmed after today's news conference announcing sanctions against Penn State that it rescinded the Gerald R. Ford Award it gave to Paterno at its convention on Jan. 13, 2011.

"The Ford Award will be taken away," Remy said.

The award is named in recognition of former president Gerald Ford and honors an individual who has provided significant leadership as an advocate for college athletics throughout their career.

Former tennis great Billie Jean King and former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden are among the award's other recipients.

NCAA President Mark Emmert declined to talk specifically about Paterno in the news conference.