Pa. Gov. Tom Corbett has filed a federal lawsuit against the National Collegiate Athletic Association, asking the court to dismiss its sanctions against Penn State University in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse case.

The NCAA imposed a $60 million fine, a multi-year bowl ban and other penalties in the wake of a report by former FBI Director Louis Freeh that concluded some Penn State officials covered up abuse reports.

The Republican governor held a news conference on PSU's State College campus to announce the filing in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg and to discuss his suit against the NCAA.

He said the sanctions are punishing the wrong people.

Corbett said he believes, after much research and investigation, that the NCAA should not have even gotten involved in the first place and that the association had no authority to do so. In addition, Corbett said the NCAA operated illegally outside of its own bylaws.

The governor said the Sandusky child sex abuse case was purely a criminal matter and that the university has a moral responsibility to work with victims and ensure abuse like that never happens again.

He called the sanctions illegal, harsh and unjustified and said he not only did those sanctions affect the PSU football program, but would result in "irreparable economic damage to the university, the state and its citizens."

The university agreed to the NCAA sanctions in July, including the fine that would be used nationally to finance child abuse prevention grants. State and federal lawmakers have raised objections to the money being spent outside Pennsylvania.

Corbett is asking the courts to throw out all of the NCAA sanctions -- including the fine -- and requesting that the court declare the consent agreement illegal.

Sandusky, who was on the coaching staff with Paterno, is a retired Penn State assistant football coach who was found guilty of sexually abusing boys. He's serving 30 to 60 years in prison, though he maintains his innocence.

The scandal cost longtime head coach Joe Paterno his job two months before his death last January at age 85.

Paterno's family said they're encouraged by Corbett's federal lawsuit against the NCAA.

The Paternos released a statement Wednesday that says that Corbett "now realizes, as do many others, that there was an inexcusable rush to judgment" in the aftermath of the Sandusky child sex-abuse scandal.

The Paterno family said that Corbett "now realizes, as do many others, that there was an inexcusable rush to judgment" in the aftermath of the Sandusky scandal.

The Paternos announced a few months ago that they hired a team of experts to review Penn State's internal investigation and the NCAA sanctions. The Paternos said that process is almost over and they plan to release an analysis soon.

Pennsylvania Attorney General-elect Kathleen Kane is reserving comment Corbett's lawsuit.

Kane said Wednesday she was not briefed or consulted on the lawsuit. She said she will withhold comment until she reads the filing and receives a full briefing about it.

Kane, a former Lackawanna County prosecutor and a Democrat, is scheduled to be sworn in as Pennsylvania's chief legal officer on Jan. 15.

In announcing the antitrust suit Wednesday, the Corbett said the current attorney general, Linda Kelly -- whom he appointed -- granted him authority to pursue the case.

Corbett's top legal adviser, James Schultz, said he will talk with Kane about the lawsuit later in the day.

Stay with 6 News, WJACTV.com and WJACTV.com Mobile for continuing coverage.