UNIVERSITY PARK — When it comes to speaking at a Penn State trustees meeting, even football legend Franco Harris has to follow the rules.

The university pulled the microphone — literally — on Harris on Friday afternoon when he tried to address the board during its new public comment period. Harris stepped up to the microphone after seven other members of the public. The difference was he hadn’t signed up in advance for a 3-minute slot.

To applause, Harris said he wanted to be speaker No. 8.

But Chairwoman Karen Peetz said there were procedures to follow, and the board would be happy to hear from him at the next meeting.

Harris, an outspoken supporter of Joe Paterno, speaking outside the meeting, said he wanted the board to address a 1998 Jerry Sandusky incident, which police investigated.

“I find it so baseless that they would put the responsibility on Penn State, the athletic department and Joe when there was this investigation,” he said.

Harris, scheduled to speak at a rally for board resignations this morning outside Old Main, said he thinks trustees should step down.

“They have failed greatly in their leadership of Penn State,” he said.

The university-commissioned Freeh report placed blame for a cover-up of Sandusky’s abuse on Paterno and three top Penn State administrators.