Neil Diamond's 'Sweet Caroline' has been axed from Penn State football program's game day festivities over concerns the lyrics are inappropriate following the school's recent sex scandal.

The Beaver Stadium faithful had adopted the tune during matches but officials fear lyrics like "Touching me, touching you" are no longer appropriate in the wake of the scandal which resulted in former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky's recent conviction on 45 counts of child sex abuse.

But Penn State's associate athletic director Greg Myford insists the song has been axed because it has no links to the university.

He says, "It has no real origin at Penn State."

The Diamond tune has become a sing-along staple at sports stadiums across America - fans of both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox sing the song at home baseball games.