Joe did release a statement... it is where the hindsight quote comes from and when you read it today you can see he had no idea about the shitstorm that was coming and why it may have pissed off the board.
https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-paterno-statement-2011-11
It would have been better if he'd just said, "I have always followed proper reporting protocols and procedures when I have learned of an incident involving a student-athlete, coach or former member of our staff by elevating the issues to the proper channels. And I did so regarding the Jerry Sandusky incident in 2001. I take that responsibility very seriously and any suggestion to the contrary is simply false."