By Breaking Celebrity News Staff

Former Penn State coach and alleged child abuser Jerry Sandusky claims he is not a pedophile and that he just "horsed around with kids," under his care, Breaking Celebrity News has learned.

"I say that I am innocent of those charges," said Sandusky in a phone interview with Bob Costas for NBC News' Rock Center to air on Monday night.

When asked by the hard-hitting news anchor, "Are you a pedophile?" Sandusky responded "No."

In the shocking interview the former coach and founder of youth charity The Second Mile said: "I could say that I have done some of those things. I have horsed around with kids I have showered after workouts. I have hugged them and I have touched their legs without intent of sexual contact.”

As Breaking Celebrity News previously reported, Sandusky stands accused of molesting eight boys over 15 years, from 1994 to 2009. He was arraigned on 40 criminal counts -- 21 of them felonies -- including multiple counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, corruption of minors, endangering the welfare of a child, indecent assault and unlawful contact with a minor, along with single counts of aggravated indecent assault and attempted indecent assault