Joe Paterno, also known as "JoePa", has died at the age of 85 years old today, January 22, 2012. Paterno was the long standing football coach at Penn State College. According to Mount Nittany Medical Center (2012), Paterno died of "metastatic small cell carcinoma of the lung", (lung cancer).
Paterno's family has released a statement according to ESPN (2012) saying, "His loss leaves a void in our lives hat will never be filled. He died as he lived. He fought hard until the end, stayed positive, thought only of others and constantly reminded everyone of how blessed his life had been. His ambitious wee far reaching, but he never believed he had to leave his Happy Valley to achieve them. He was a man devoted to his family, his university, his players, and his community."
Paterno was known for his credo of "Success with Honor" but lately had been plagued with questions of his honor. Paterno was in the midst of a child abuse scandal involving his colleague Jerry Sandusky. Paterno was diagnosed with ling cancer only days after his resignation was denied and he was fired.
Paterno's death comes a midst the child abuse allegations of his assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. In an article in The Washington Post, Paterno is quoted as saying, "I didn't know exactly how to handle it and I was afraid to do something that might jeopardize what the university procedure was. So I backed away and turned it over to some other people, people I thought would have a little more expertise than I did. It didn't work out that way."
For many like 30-year season ticket holder Steve Schaffer the scandal was a slap in the face or like "finding out there was no Sana Claus" (USA Today), while others held on to their love of Paterno and their belief in him through it all. The allegations against Paterno were not enough to over shadow the loss of "maybe the greatest coach ever," (Bobby Bowden). This is how many seen Paterno before and after his death.
Paterno seen 409 wins in his 46 year career and turned out over a dozen NFL players. Paterno will forever be remembered as a 'hero' to those who knew him. Christian Marrone was quoted by CNN as saying, "Joseph Vincent Paterno was a great football coach, but his life can never, ever be measured in wins or championships. The greatness and the legacy of Joe Paterno lies in each of us."
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Joe Paterno died today at the age of 85. What can we say? Paterno was a legend in football and not only at the college level. He gave us so many great players in the NFL that his name is carried on with them. The scandal that rocked PSU and Paterno will never have the input of Paterno now, but can these people not let him rest in peace for now? I wasn't there, I don't know what he did or didn't do and neither does anyone else who wasn't there, so I say we leave the family alone and let them grieve. Paterno once said, "They asked me what I'd like written about me when I'm gone, I hope they write I made Penn State a better place not just that I was a good football coach." Joe Paterno Dec. 21, 1926-Jan. 22, 2012 RIP JoePA "We Are...."
Carey, J. (2012). Penn State coaching legend Joe Paterno dies at 85. USA Today. Retrieved October 17, 2014, from: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/story/2012-01-
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CNN Wire. (2012). Paterno Remembered as a Teacher, Winner, 'hero' at Public Memorial. Retrieved October 17, 2014, from: http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/26/us/penn-state-paterno/
ESPN. (2012). Joe Paterno, 85, dies in State College. Retrieved October 17, 2014, from: http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7489238/joe-paterno-ex-penn-state-
nittany-lions-coach-dies-85-2-month-cancer-fight
Goldstein, R. (2012). Joe Paterno, Longtime Penn State Coach, Dies at 85. The New York
Times. Retrieved October 17, 2014,
from: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/23/sports/ncaafootball/joe-paterno-longtime-penn-
state-coach-dies-at-85.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Shaprio, L. (2012). Joe Paterno, former Penn State football coach, dies at 85. The Washington
Post. Retrieved October 17, 2014, from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/joe- paterno-dies-at-85/2011/12/09/gIQAS9eXIQ_story.html
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