Former Penn State coach Joe Paterno died of lung cancer at 9:25 am ET, according to a Paterno family spoksman. Paterno, who was dismissed in November after revelations of child abuse by former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, was diagnosed with lung cancer shortly thereafter. He's been hospitalized for the past week, and the situation deteriorated in recent days.
Like Bear Bryant, Paterno only lived a few weeks after coaching his final football game.
Say what you will about the Sandusky situation and how he handled it, Paterno's coaching career is something that we'll never see again.
H/T for graphic: Onward State
0 recs | 23 comments
Rest in peace, Joe.
Salt Creek and Stadium - January 22, 2012
From a Penn State alum, thank you to Nebraska fans
I can’t speak for all Penn State fans, but I want every Husker fan who reads this post to know how thankful many of us are for the class shown by your players, coaches, and fans during the first game after the scandal broke in November. That very difficult day for all of us was made easier because we shared it with such a great group of fans.
Thanks also for this respectful post, at a time when it would be very easy to kick us while we’re down. I’m glad we’re going to play you guys each season, so I can personally say this to Huskers fans for years to come.
NewJackCity - January 22, 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP_vq0zwTS8
Section 37 - January 22, 2012
The Championship Trophy
With Joe’s death that pretty much ends the scandal. Yes Sandusky will go to court and such but everyone with any authority is gone and the Paterno shadow that would always be around is now gone as well. I would have no issue with adding his name back to the B1G Championship trophy.
Robsa - January 22, 2012
I think that's up to the Stagg's.
I suspect Paterno’s name will be returned inside of five years, assuming the Sandusky trial doesn’t dig up any more skeletons.
Salt Creek and Stadium - January 22, 2012
I would have a big issue with that.
My best wishes go out to his family, this must be unimaginably rough times, but it doesn’t change things. College football is a very imperfect world with many flawed people in positions of power and influence. No one is perfect and who the hell am I to judge, right?
But in my opinion, when one puts the reputation of a football program over the welfare and safety of children, one’s name does not belong on awards and trophies.
Andy Ketterson - January 23, 2012
Saw This On Black Shoe Diaries
Section 37 - January 22, 2012
sniff....That is awesome, man....
aw hell….
UltimaRatioRegum - January 23, 2012
what
a bizarre set of events. You couldn’t write all this into a movie and make it believable.
After all the years of sportswriters talking about when Paterno was going to retire – and then this. Man. I don’t even know what to say.
Rest In Peace, JoePa.
That’s about it, ain’t it?
Jon Johnston - January 23, 2012
Tough
times at Penn St. didn’t get any easier but Joe Paterno will be sorely missed in college football. When an icon of any sport passes it hurts the sport. R.I.P. Coach Paterno and my well wishes to the Paterno and Penn State families.
Huzkerfan - January 23, 2012
I think the RIP's...
Need to be saved until AFTER all investigation is complete. Everyone knew that this scandal was going to kill JoePa, but his death doesnt wipe the slate clean. I saw someone on ESPN this morning saying that JoePa died of a broken heart that “the news of the events” and “the medias portrayal of the scenario” is what led to this broken heart that killed JoePa. He was trying to demonize the media for the way it handled the news…setting Paterno up as a martyr. Until all the dust settles it isstill a possibility that JoePa knew everything about what was going on and sat on it to protect the team, if thats the case…does he truely deserve to RIP?
Conspiracy* - January 23, 2012
Yes,he does
What happened with Sandusky was horrible,but Joe did report it. Yes,he should have went farther,but to say perhaps he doesn’t deserve to rest in peace? That’s kinda wrong in my books. To forgive is divine,remember that part of the book?
Omahusker - January 24, 2012
Its not my mine to forgive...
Thats for the families that were impacted by the actions of the staff. In order for them to rest in peace they will ultimately have to forgive so they don’t carry hatred with them where ever they plan on going after death. And notice I didn’t make a statement that JoePa doesn’t deserve to RIP just that we should be careful about all these well wishes when the full story isn’t known. Remember in some peoples eyes he is just as responsible for not doing enough to stop it.
Conspiracy* - January 24, 2012
I'll state the obvious.
Trolling under the tag “Conspiracy” after one of the greatest coaches in NCAAF history dies is utterly tasteless.
I don’t know where the line is drawn on what is too far in an open forum, but this is over it.
This is false.Unlikely, unbacked, unsubstantiated, and tasteless trolling.
Yes.
This is false.
This is a really bizarre religion belief, or way over the top trolling, using imagery to exaggerate what in reality is much less.
This is a lie. Your earlier comment “I think the RIP’s… Need to be saved…” clearly shows you don’t believe “RIP” wishes are deserved at this time.
As shocking as it may be, the directions for personal conduct from someone trolling under the name ‘Conspiracy’ doesn’t carry as much weight as you might think.
So?
ProveIt - January 24, 2012
Sorry to burst your bubble.
As anticlimactic as it seems…I’ve been using the Conspiracy tag for about ten years on various MMOs and message boards.
I realize that my opinion has absolutely no impact on whether or not hes playing a harp or dancing around an everlasting fire right now, and honestly understand its not for me to say which is right. However…as still living humans we DO kinda have to make judgement in that we can decide move forward in our own moral decisions.
Conspiracy* - January 24, 2012
Nice try but...
…your conclusions have no basis in fact, and no merit.
The length of time you have been trolling is irrelevant.
ProveIt - January 26, 2012
To me that's the ultimate cop out...
..for Joe to all of the sudden pretend this was something he had to run up the chain of command. This guy was the most powerful person on that campus if not that part of the state. Over the years he repeatedly used that power to back down athletic directors, presidents and the board of trustees. He WAS Penn St. and anybody who crossed him risked losing their job. For him to suddenly pretend that suddenly this was something he had to report to superiors and call it a day just doesn’t jibe with the way he did things over the years.
And he didn’t just pass the buck on this and turn his back – he continued to allow the guy full access to the facilities. With the kids.
I’m not going to purport to know anything about the afterlife, but the victims and their families may never know peace, so forgive those of us who find forgiveness a little tough.
Forgive? Eventually.
Forget? Never.
Andy Ketterson - January 24, 2012
So what you are saying is he shouldn't rest in peace then?
Don’t know,but i was raised believing that the judging will be left up to the man upstairs. Yes,he didn’t do enough,and i can understand about not forgiving or forgetting,but leave the judging to God.
Omahusker - January 24, 2012
You really need to stop putting that phrase in everyone's mouth.
I think that covers the man upstairs and RIP’ing and such. I’m talking about his deeds and legacy and his death doesn’t bring that discussion to a screeching halt as much as JoePa’s blindly loyal supporters are trying to spin things that that should be the rule. I realize they are using his death as an excuse to say, “There, he’s dead, so if you say anything bad about him, you’re besmirching his wonderful memory.”
Wrong, this doesn’t go away and it’s still very much open for discussion. If you are of the belief that we have to stop talking about it because our talking & typing might be interrupting his eternal rest, then I say he can stay up a little longer.
Andy Ketterson - January 24, 2012
I think you need to blame Penn State, not Paterno.
Paterno was being himself. Penn State’s reliance on him to build up the school and then continuing to cater? That’s when problems start to set in. When you build up people into demigods, it becomes difficult to control them.
Paterno made a judgement error. A colossal one. I highly doubt he thought it was his proudest moment. Considering Penn State football was his life and he had that taken away, the appropriate punishment was levied against a man who didn’t do nearly enough.
I reserve my anger for the man that took advantage of Paterno’s apparent naivety, Penn State’s ridiculous power structure and most importantly, young troubled boys.
Be angry at Paterno all you want – that’s your right.
Salt Creek and Stadium - January 24, 2012
Paterno's apparent naivety?
He had a full understanding that he was king shit at that point in his career. I don’t see him playing the dim witted underling role.
Conspiracy* - January 24, 2012
I'm mad as hell at all of them.
Paterno’s the only one to whom people seem to want to give a free pass.
And he was the king of that power structure.
Find me articles & people that are making excuses for Curley, Scholz, Spanier, etc. & I’ll let those nimrods have it as well.
Andy Ketterson - January 24, 2012
The nimrods being Curley Scholz & Spanier... :-)
Not those who disagree with me.
Andy Ketterson - January 24, 2012
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