Results of the independent investigation led by former FBI chief Louis Freeh into the behind-the-scenes happenings and university response to the Jerry Sandusky scandal were released Thursday at 9 a.m. with a news conference to follow to discuss the findings.

Freeh will answer questions and detail recommendations based on the eight-month investigation in Philadelphia at 10 a.m.

Freeh's wide-reaching search included documents, digital intelligence and direct questioning of Penn State employees past and present totaling at least 400 subjects since he was hired by Penn State in November.

The goal of Penn State officials wasn't to place blame, but attorneys for victims in the case are pointing to the findings as a pivotal evidence discovery in assigning liability to the university, which hasn't been held culpable for Sandusky's crimes but could face multiple civil suits.

The findings could confirm multiple leaks to the national media in recent weeks, including on the day the Sandusky trial began in June.

Last week, email evidence was leaked, including an alleged exchange between former Penn State President Graham Spanier and other officials, including administrator Gary Schultz and then-athletic director Tim Curley, discussing the morality and appropriateness of any planned response to Mike McQueary reporting to Joe Paterno that Sandusky was showering with a young boy in the football facility.

Members of Penn State University's board of trustees, in the public cross-hairs since the release of the Sandusky grand jury report and Paterno's subsequent firing in November, held an informational conference call as they prepare for the results of the investigation to be released, a spokesman said Wednesday.

David La Torre declined further comment about Tuesday night's call, which came a few hours after Freeh announced his highly anticipated report would be released Thursday.

Whatever the report reveals, a public relations professional and a local defense attorney said it's smart for Penn State to make everything public.

Jennifer Brough, of the Anderson Group in Sinking Spring, said it's about time the university manages the Sandusky scandal with more disclosure.

"They're of the no comment, lying low mentality, which in this day and age when everybody is talking anywhere from social media to news to the dining room table, it just doesn't fly anymore," said Brough.

Penn State has the opportunity with the report to get its alumni and student body behind the school, Brough said.

"The ideal situation would have been to not be in reactive mode, proactive mode all along, but we're kind of beyond that at this point," said Brough.

Transparency and authenticity will matter during the university's news conference Thursday and in the days following, Brough said.

"Because I'm sure we are going to see some things that are very unflattering, and it's how you react to that going forward," said Brough.

"I think it was incumbent upon them to do this," said attorney Allan Sodomsky. "They had to have an investigation."

Sodomsky pointed out that the report is not a legal document, but it was important an independent third party, in this case former FBI director Louis Freeh, conduct the investigation. This way, it doesn't look like Penn State is hiding anything now.

"It has to become public," said Sodomsky, "You can't keep these things private, and unfortunately what was done was this whole matter was kept private by however many people we want to say, whether you love Joe Paterno, whether you love this person."

The report is expected to show what Paterno knew. His family said JoePa never got a chance to defend his case because he died in January.

Sandusky was convicted last month of 45 counts of criminal child sex abuse. He's facing a maximum sentence of more than 400 years.