Joe Paterno, the man who for decades was synonymous with Penn State football and was known by the college football world as just "JoePa", has died. Paterno, 85, had been receiving chemotherapy as part of his treatment for lung cancer, and complications from that treatment claimed the longtime Penn State coach's life on Saturday.
Paterno was the head coach of Penn State for 46 seasons before being fired in November as his role in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal came under greater scrutiny. Combined with the time he spent as an assistant, Paterno spent a total of 61 years on the Penn State sidelines. He left behind a legacy that, on the field of play, was unparalleled in Division I football. Paterno holds the all-time Division I record for football coaching wins with a 409-136-3 record, and he won two national championships while going undefeated in five different seasons.
Former Penn State coach Joe Paterno dies at 85 - CBSSports.com
Strange to think we gave Paterno a standing ovation when Penn State came to Tuscaloosa last season, and roughly one year later his legacy was completely destroyed in one of the worst scandals in college football history. Its always hard to separate a man's professional accomplishments from his personal failings, though millions of gallons of ink will be spilled over the next few days trying to do so. All I can say is sympathies to the Paterno family over the loss of a loved one.
UPDATE: Or maybe not? Paterno family spokesperson Dan McGinn is refuting the earlier reports of Paterno's death, though @onwardstate claims Penn State football players were e-mailed the news of his passing. Not sure what's going on, honestly, but follow them for any new developments.
4 months ago
Todd
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All scandal talk aside,
and speaking strictly in football terms, it’s weird how similar this is to Bryant’s death – being so soon after he was booted out of quit football and all.
"Let's go be champions, boys!" - Greg McElroy
(Formerly SugarBowl93)
by RememberTheRoseBowl on Jan 21, 2012 8:49 PM CST reply actions
RIP JoePa.
Sad that his legacy will be tarnished. While I would agree that he could have done more, it just seems that the media made him the scapegoat when others were much more complicit.
'There are two pains in life. There is the pain of discipline and the pain of disappointment. If you can handle the pain of discipline, then you'll never have to deal with the pain of disappointment,'- Nick Saban
A majority of the media
it just seems that the media made him the scapegoat when others were much more complicit.
does that as a practice.
"Some people have a way with words....some people....not have way." - Steve Martin
"A sign of intelligence is an awareness of one's own ignorance." - Unknown
Heard he’s still fighting actually
@Elephantidae1
by Pachyderm Pride on Jan 21, 2012 8:55 PM CST reply actions
Strange, very strange
Joe is dead but now he is alive.
I do hope he will somehow recover and maybe somehow end his life on more of a positive note.
If Auburn was in New Mexico and we never played them I would still hate them and their dumb coach and their cheating players.
Even though he's still fightinh, this is so sad. I wish I had the chance to witness his glory years and all...
I LOVE THE ASTROS. Now lets win something!
by ccislanders on Jan 21, 2012 10:59 PM CST via mobile reply actions
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