The Nittany Lions and the rest of the college football world lost an icon this morning. Joe Paterno, affectionately known as JoePa, lost his battle with cancer this morning in Pennsylvania.
Below is the statement released by the Associated Press this morning:
STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania (AP) — Joe Paterno, who racked up more wins than anyone else in major college football but was fired from Penn State amid a child sex abuse scandal has died. He was 85.
His family released a statement Sunday morning to announce his death.
Paterno's son Scott announced Nov. 18 that his father was being treated for lung cancer, which was diagnosed in mid-November during a follow-up visit for a bronchial illness.
The storied career of "JoePa" included 409 wins in 46 seasons and two national championships.
But his reputation for success with honor was shattered when a former assistant was charged with molesting 10 boys during a 15-year span, including some in the Penn State athletic complex.
Critics said Paterno should have done more to stop it. He was fired Nov. 9. In all, Paterno guided five teams to unbeaten, untied seasons.
Unlike Onward State's editor Devon Edwards, OSG Sports tripled checked this information before running it. :)
More information about Paterno's death as it becomes available.
Matt Millen, former Penn State linebacker from 1976-79, in an interview on Sunday morning believes that Paterno died "of a broken heart... and that bothers me."
"Knowing what Joe was and how he operated his life... for the way it ended... for it to fall into this whole mess, judging from the words I heard him say... I know this whole thing could have just been killing him. I know those are the wrong words to use. I don't know how else to explain it. It's a shame..."
Paterno, shared something of the same fate as the man who he passed for career coaching wins- Alabama's Bear Bryant. Bryant lived only six months after retiring as the Crimson Tide head coach, and conventional wisdom dictated that once his fate was sealed by the university that Paterno would go the same way.
Brent Musburger when asked about Paterno and his death concurred Millen's sentiments saying, "I don't think there's any question about that. He went to his grave wondering if he could have done more. But I think his good deeds far outweigh his lapse in judgment."
Here is the full family statement on the passing of Joe Paterno:
It is with great sadness that we announce that Joe Paterno passed away earlier today. His loss leaves a void in our lives that 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 ambitions were far reaching, but he never believed he had to leave this Happy Valley to achieve them. He was a man devoted to his family, his university, his players and his community.
He has been many things in his life - a soldier, scholar, mentor, coach, friend and father. To my mother he was and is her soul mate, and the last several weeks have shown the strength of their love. To his children and grandchildren he is a shining example of how to live a good, decent and honest life, a standard to which we aspire.
When he decided to forego a career in law and make coaching his vocation, his father Angelo had but one command: Make an impact.
As the last 61 years have shown, Joe made an incredible impact. That impact has been felt and appreciated by our family in the form of thousands of letters and well wishes along with countless acts of kindness from people whose lives he touched. It is evident also in the thousands of successful student athletes who have gone on to multiply that impact as they spread out across the country.
And so he leaves us with a peaceful mind, comforted by his "living legacy" of five kids, 17 grandchildren, and hundreds of young men whose lives he changed in more ways than can begin to be counted.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests that donations be made to the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania or the Penn State-THON, The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.
1400 UPDATE: A candlelight vigil has now been scheduled for 8:00 tonight at Old Main on the Penn State campus...
Here's how WHP-TV in Harrisburg aired the story late last night...
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