"A father figure."  That's how former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky described his relationship with the young boys he is now accused of raping in an interview published in Saturday's New York Times.  Sandusky insisted to the newspaper he did not do what he's accused of, but much like a previous interview with NBC News, when pressed for details, the ex-coach often  gave vague, rambling answers.

"These allegations are false," Sandusky told the Times.  "I didn't do those things."

In a nearly four hour interview over two days, Sandusky insists his activities with young men have been mischaracterized.  A 40-count indictment claims Sandusky raped eight young men after meeting them through his Second Mile charity.  The Pennsylvania Attorney General is also investigating more potential victims.

The New York Times interview comes two weeks after Sandusky spoke with NBC's Bob Costas.

When Costas asked, "Are you sexually attracted to young boys?" Sandusky gave a rambling response.

"Am I sexually attracted to underage boys? Sexually attracted?", Sandusky said.  "No, uh, I enjoy young people.  I love to be around them.  I -- I -- but no, I'm not sexually attracted to young boys."

Sandusky told the Times that the question took him by surprise.

"If I say no, I'm not attracted to boys, that's not the truth," he said, "because I'm attracted to young people -- boys, girls."

Sandusky was first investigated for possible sex abuse in 1998 -- an investigation he told the Times was closed in less than a week.  Now-fired head coach Joe Paterno has claimed he did not know about those allegations.

"I don't know that he didn't know," Sandusky told the newspaper.  "I know that he didn't ever say anything to me."

When asked if he thought showering with boys and blowing on their stomachs was inappropriate, Sandusky said he saw himself as father figure.

"I wasn't playing," he said.  "I mean, that was just me.  I don't know."

Attorney David Marshall, who represents one of Sandusky's accusers, released a statement Saturday, claiming the Times interview "goes a long way toward corroborating the victims' accounts'' because Sandusky admitted "he `wrestled' and

showered alone with boys, gave them gifts and money, and travelled with them."

Paterno could not be reached for comment.

In the interview, Sandusky also claimed the head of The Second Mile knew about a sex abuse allegation in 2002, but allowed him to keep interacting with young boys anyway.

That leader recently resigned, but his lawyer said Sandusky's account is "not accurate."