Joe Paterno Memorial: Jay Paterno Thankful For Support

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.--Jay Paterno took the podium last at "A Memorial for Joe," the public service held in honor of his late father, Joe Paterno, on Thursday afternoon at the Bryce Jordan Center and offered some emotional words as Penn State ended its last day of mourning for its long time head football coach.

Jay opened by thanking the public for the outpouring of support shown for his family in the community over the last week, as well as the staff at Mount Nittany Medical Center, the hospital where Paterno passed away on Sunday at the age of 85. He also made a strong proclamation about his father's state of mind as he passed.

"Joe Paterno left this world with a clear conscience," Jay said to a standing ovation.

He then went on to speak for over 20 minutes on his father, reflecting on his work not only as a football coach, but in helping to build Penn State as a university.

"He lived his large life nobly, never blindly chasing success defined by the world's ever changing values," Jay said. "His values and goals remain as a rock across the decades."

His comments, and the service itself, ended with those in attendance joining in the Lord's Prayer, which Jay said Joe used to pray with his team in the locker room after every football game, win or lose.

Jay was preceded by a speaker representing each decade from Joe's coaching tenure in Happy Valley. Charlie Pittman represented the 1960's. He talked of how he almost left Penn State his sophomore year after Joe had pushed him to his brink. He later decided to stay after a talk with his dad, and on Thursday, he reflected on what he learned from the experience.

"What I know now is that Joe wasn't trying to build perfection," Pittman said. "That doesn't exist, and he knew it. He was, bit by bit, building a habit of excellence."

Jimmy Cefalo represented the 1970's and stressed Joe's commitment to academics and his "Grand Experiment," which sought to create successful young men on the field, and off. He also marveled at the way Paterno gathered young men from all types of different backgrounds to create a successful program before sharing the story of his recruitment to Penn State.

"Joe didn't recruit us, he recruited our moms," Cefalo said. "He recruited mine as well. He spoke their language."

Cefalo then proceeded to tell the story of how he returned home one night, ready to tell his parents he'd picked a college other than Penn State, only to find Joe eating with his family. From that night on, he said, he was a Penn Stater.

Todd Blackledge, quarterback for Penn State's 1982 national championship team, spoke at the event, as did Chris Marrone, the representitive of the 1990's. They were followed by former quarrterback Michael Robinson, who flew into town all the way from Hawii, where he's currently preparing for the Pro Bowl. Robinson was received warmly by his fellow mourners, his speech frequently interupted for applause.

"When I met Joe, there was something different about him," Robinson said. "He didn't lie."

That line was greeted with more applause from the crowd, as Robinson went on to explain all of the lessons he learned from Joe, and how Robinson has learned through his life since leaving Penn State in 2005 that his former coach's words continue to ring true and are not the lies some others told him in his recruitment.

Michael Mauti finished the player remarks, representing those on Paterno's final team. He shared his own stories and finished by thanking the letterman in attendance for their support throughout the tumultuous lat few months in Happy Valley.

"Speaking on behalf of the current team right now, this has been a tough time for all of us," Mauti said. "I just want to thank everybody. These lettermen have set the bar for what it means to have success with honor, and that is our job now, to continue on throughout this decade and the decades to come to uphold that tradition."

Phil Knight Rips Penn State At Joe Paterno Memorial Service

Speaking at a memorial service for Joe Paterno on Thursday, Nike chairman and co-founder Phil Knight earned thunderous applause and a standing ovation from the assembled crowd for remarks he made about the recently departed Penn State coach and about the university itself.

"If there is a villain in this tragedy," Knight said regarding Penn State's in-season firing of Paterno in the wake of sexual assault allegations against longtime Penn State assistant Jerry Sandusky, "it lies in that investigation. Not in Joe Paterno's response." Knight said Paterno did the right thing by informing his superiors of allegations against Sandusky, though some people have argued Paterno ought to have informed the police as well.

Knight paused for applause, and then said, "Who is the real trustee at Penn State University?"

For more on the Nittany Lions, please visit Black Shoe Diaries, SB Nation's blog for Penn State sports. For more coverage of Paterno's passing, please visit this StoryStream on SB Nation Pittsburgh. For more coverage of college pigskin, please visit SB Nation's NCAA football hub.

Watch Joe Paterno Memorial Service Live

Joe Paterno, who served on the Penn State Nittany Lions coaching staff for 62 years, passed away Sunday at age 85 due to lung cancer. Thursday, Penn State hosts a memorial service for its legendary coach, which one can watch live streaming below:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Paterno's tenure at State College includes 409 victories--the most ever for an FBS coach--and two national championships. His passing comes two months after his dismissal in the wake of the sexual assault scandal involving longtime assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

Paterno's family laid him to rest Wednesday in a private ceremony. Thursday's memorial service is the last public event to honor Paterno.

For more on the Nittany Lions, please visit Black Shoe Diaries, SB Nation's blog for Penn State sports. For more coverage of Paterno's passing, please visit this StoryStream on SB Nation Pittsburgh. For more coverage of college pigskin, please visit SB Nation's NCAA football hub.

Greg Schiano Skips Joe Paterno's Memorial To Work On Deal With Tampa Bay Bucs

Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano may be leaving the Big East to take over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ head coaching job, and it sounds like he’s certainly eager to take it.

Schiano canceled his planned trip today to the funeral of Penn State coach Joe Paterno to negotiate with Tampa Bay.

Yikes. One would think that the Bucs might have been willing to be understanding about that.

Schiano was the defensive backfield coach at Penn State from 1991 to 2005. He has coached at Rutgers for the past 11 seasons. Some Penn State fans wanted Schiano to be the Nittany Lions’ next head coach.

Schiano is apparently close to completing his deal with the Bucs. Of course, Tampa Bay had previously been close to hiring Oregon’s Chip Kelly, but Kelly pulled out of negotiations to stay at Oregon, so Bucs fans know first-hand not to count their Ducks before they hatch. They’ll be waiting for an official announcement regarding Schiano.

For more on Schiano and the Tampa Bay Bucs, check out Bucs Nation and SB Nation Tampa Bay.

After Joe Paterno's Departure, Radio Station Creates Petition To Change Park Avenue To 'Paterno Way'

The PSU Daily Collegian reports that a State College-area radio station has begun a petition to rechristen Park Avenue as “Paterno Way,” after recently-departed former Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno. The petition has more than 4,000 signatures.

The idea for the petition came to [93.7 The Bus Program Director Tony] Ricciardi months before the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse case and Paterno’s removal as head football coach. At the time, Ricciardi said he was thinking of the perfect tribute to Paterno for when he would retire.

Ricciardi said he wanted to rename the street Paterno Way, as opposed to Paterno Avenue, so it would remind people of Paterno’s model of “success with honor.”

“Paterno set the tone for the culture of Penn State and made it into what it is today,” Ricciardi said.

That’s a statement that a lot of people outside State College will find ironic, given the circumstances behind Paterno’s recent departure. But Paterno is still a hero to many residents of State College, and even some fans who agreed with the Board of Trustees’ decision to fire him would probably ultimately prefer to remember the many positive contributions Paterno made to PSU and State College rather than only the scandal that brought him down.

Joe Paterno Funeral: Procession Winds Through Penn State, State College (VIDEO)

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.--Joe Paterno's funeral at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center on the Penn State campus lasted about an hour longer than it was supposed to on Wednesday, but mourners stood in the cold waiting for the procession to wind its way through the campus and downtown State College, carrying Paterno on his final ride through Happy Valley regardless.

Just after 4:00 PM, the procession left the center and passed thousands of mourners, who lined Curtin Road near across the street in from of Pattee-Paterno Library. Here is my video shot near the library just after the procession began.

From there, the procession went east down Curtin, all the way to Beaver Stadium, where Paternoville members watched the former Nittany Lions' coach pass the building that saw Paterno through so many good moments one last time. From there, it turned south on Porter Road, the west down College Avenue, where the blue hearse carried Paterno through a near-silent crowd into one final State College sunset. Paterno's family rode in the same blue buses Paterno's teams take to Beaver Stadium on gamedays and former players and friends followed behind.

It was a powerful scene, one those in these parts won't forget for a long, long time.

Community Support Following Joe Paterno's Death Has 'Really Helped Sustain Us,' Says Jay Paterno

The support the Paterno family has received since the passing of patriarch and legendary Penn St. Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno on Sunday evening "has been beyond what any of us even imagined," Paterno's son Jay told Tom Rinaldi of ESPN in a SportsCenter interview. "The students, the people in town, the letters and cards, the phone calls from all kinds of people, it's just been... it's really helped sustain us." The full video is below:

More: Goodbye Joe

Paterno passed away at 85 after battling lung cancer. He holds the FBS record for career victories, with 409, and won national championships in 1982 and 1986. He served on Penn State's coaching staff fpr 62 years, beginning in 1950, and took over as head coach in 1966.

The Paterno family laid Joe to rest in a private ceremony Wednesday. A public memorial service will be held Thursday at 2:00 PM at Bryce Jordan Center.

For more on the Nittany Lions, please visit Black Shoe Diaries, SB Nation's Penn State blog.

Joe Paterno Funeral: EBay Stops Sales Of Memorial Tickets

Penn State distributed all avaliable tickets Wednesday to "A Memorial for Joe," set to be held at 2 p.m. inside the Bryce Jordan Center on Thursday and it didn't take long for Internet scalpers to start trying to turn them around for a profit on EBay. As Michael Sanserino of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports, auctions on the site commanded bids worth thousands of dollars. EBay is shutting such autions down, though.

Joe Paterno Funeral: Students To 'Guide Joe Paterno Home' During Procession

Joe Paterno's funeral and final goodbye to the Penn State and State College community is just a couple of short hours away and students are organizing to give the legendary former coach of the Nittany Lions a sendoff as The Daily Collegian's Jaclyn Saumell reports a "Guide Joe Paterno Home" movement for his procession has formed.

The initiative began with the creation of a Facebook group titled, "Guide Joe Paterno Home," co-creator of the group Eric Bress . Bress said the group was created after the news of Paterno's processional route was released Monday.

...

The processional will begin at about 3 p.m. from the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center before turning left on Curtin Road by the Pattee-Paterno Library.

The library will serve as the starting place for students and all others wanting to show support for the former coach. Participants are encouraged to wear white and station themselves in a single line, linked arm in arm on both sides of the street...

The procession will begin at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center on the Penn State campus, and head east toward Beaver Stadium before turning onto Porter Road. It will proceed south then turn onto College Avenue, carrying Paterno on one last ride through the heart of State College before heading off to the burial site.

Penn State's Bill O'Brien Discusses Final Conversation With Joe Paterno

New Penn State head coach Bill O'Brien is on campus this week to take part in the mourning services for Joe Paterno. O'Brien issued a statement this weekend upon the passing of Paterno but on Tuesday he briefly talked about his final conversation with his predecessor. He indicated that it was a meaningful conversation, and one that left an impression on the coach as he sets out to replace the legendary figure.

Via Cory Giger of the Altoona Mirror:

"At the end of the conversation, it was clear that we shared a lot of the same beliefs, and I was very, very thrilled to have the chance to speak with him."

O'Brien led the team on Tuesday to the viewing service for Paterno, and reiterated how important it was for him to be there and for his teams to uphold the legacy and standards set by JoePa.

"The message that I told them is that it's a day to honor Coach Paterno, and then going forward we're going to work hard every day to uphold the standard of excellence that he set here on the football field and with graduating kids and how important academics were to him."

After the service, he spoke to the Letterman's Club, where he pledged to continue the traditions established by Paterno. While O'Brien prepares for the Super Bowl, it's certainly comforting to see him on campus and playing a role in the respects being paid to Paterno throughout this week.

Joe Paterno Funeral: Former Assistant Mike McQueary Plans To Attend

Mike McQueary has been one of the faces of the scandal at Penn State, and his presence at the University has been all but erased from the University. But he was very close to Joe Paterno, and according to Mindy Szkaradnik of The Daily Collegian, he plans on attending Paterno's funeral this week.

McQueary said he will “absolutely” be attending Paterno’s viewing to remember him. He said he did not get a chance to speak with him recently.

McQueary's involvement in anything relating to the University has been uneasy to say the least, but Paterno was an important person in his life and he deserves the ability to pay his respects just like anyone else.

“He was everything to you, next to your father, wife, mother,” he said. “He was everything you would ever want in a head coach or a university icon.”

Despite McQueary's presence at the ceremony, I don't think those in attendance will have very much trouble keeping Paterno the focus of the proceedings.

Joe Paterno Funeral: University Will Not Formally Cancel Classes, But Gives Teachers Discretion

Joe Paterno's funeral services will be held on Thursday, and while the University will not formally cancel all classes to enable students to attend, they are encouraging their professors to use their discretion to cancel or suspend their individual classes for that day, according to StateCollege.com.

Penn State will not officially cancel classes Thursday as a memorial service for Joe Paterno is held in the Bryce Jordan Center. But Provost Rob Pangborn has asked faculty members to "use their discretion in holding or rescheduling classes, recognizing the needs of students who wish to pay their respects by attending this ticketed event in person or by viewing it as members of the Penn State community on BTN.com," a university announcement reads.

This move shows that the University is still committed to the education it is providing for their students, but still opening up the door for students to attend the service or pay tribute in their own way. I can't imagine very many professors holding a tight attendance mark on Thursday.

For more on Penn State, please visit Black Shoe Diaries, SB Nation's Penn State blog.

Barack Obama Issues Statement On Joe Paterno

President Barack Obama had a conversation with the family of Joe Paterno on Monday, the Associated Press reports, and he also spoke of his own meeting with Paterno.

The White House says the president spoke with Paterno’s wife, Sue, and son, Jay, on Monday to express his condolences.

The White House says the president recalled fond memories of when he first met Coach Paterno and said he and first lady Michelle Obama would keep the Paterno family in their prayers.

It might be a little surprising that Obama would do this, given the circumstances. Obama did not comment on Paterno’s death on Sunday, and one wonders if he might have been thinking of avoiding it entirely.

Paterno, of course, was fired from his job as Penn State’s head football coach for failing to do enough to stop Jerry Sandusky, who allegedly used the PSU football program in the sexual molestation of children. Paterno’s death came less than three months after his firing. He was the winningest coach in FBS history.

Joe Paterno Funeral: Procession Route, Complete Arrangements Announced

In a press release Monday, Penn State confirmed the funeral arrangements for the late Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno. As reported earlier in the day, public viewings will be held from 1:00 PM to 11:00 PM on Tuesday and 8:00 AM to noon on Wednesday at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center on campus, located at the corner of Curtin Road and Allen Street.

A private service will follow the Wednesday viewing at 2 p.m. and a funeral procession to the burial will begin at 3:00 PM. Here is the route, according to the press release.

The procession will leave the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center, turn left onto Curtin Road near the Pattee-Paterno Library and travel Curtin Road past Beaver Stadium. The procession will then turn right onto Porter Road and turn right onto College Avenue, heading west through downtown State College. The burial is private.

Thursday, the Bryce Jordan Center will host "A Memorial For Joe" at 2:00 PM. Those wising to attend the event must reserve a ticket and there is a limit of two tickets per person for the event. Tickets are free and can be reserved at GoPSUSports.com/tickets or by calling 1-800-NITTANY starting at 10:00 AM on Tuesday. Internet purchasers must select the "Print at Home" option and bring their printed ticket to the event. Phone orders can be picked up at Bryce Jordan Center will call on Wednesday from 2:00-6:00 PM and Thursday beginning at 10:00 AM.

The service will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network, BTN.com and the BTN2GO mobile application. No photography or signs will be permitted at the event and as has been said throughout the week, In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests that donations be made to the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania (http://www.specialolympicspa.org ) or the Penn State-THON (The Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon; http://www.thon.org or call 1-800-392-THON.

Joe Paterno Funeral: Matt McGloin Among Honorary Guards For Viewings

ESPN's Ivan Maisel reports that the late Joe Paterno's former players will serve as honorary guards outside of his public viewings on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center. One letterman and one current player will be on guard at all times as the public pays its respects from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Tuesday and 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesday.

Maisel reports current quarterback Matthew McGloin will be among those to stand guard. The Scranton native had this to say.

"I thought playing under him would be enough to be a lifetime memory," McGloin said Monday. "Now, to be there at his funeral and to be standing outside along with a former letterman is truly an honor I'll never forget. It's definitely going to be an emotional night."

McGloin will forever be linked to Paterno as the man who helped lead Penn State back from a 21-point deficit against Northwestern on Nov. 6, 2010 to deliver a 35-21 win, Paterno's 400th as Nittany Lions head coach. He also led what proved to be the final offensive drive of Paterno's career, an 80-yard sequence that resulted in a dramatic go-ahead touchdown by Silas Redd against Illinois on Oct. 29, 2011. The defense held on late in the game to give Paterno his Division-I record 409th and final victory.

Joe Paterno Funeral To Take Place Wednesday; Three Public Memorials Planned

The family of Joe Paterno has scheduled three public memorial events for the legendary Penn St. Nittany Lions coach and will lay him to rest in a private funeral service Wednesday at 2:00 PM, according to the Associated Press. After a battle with lung cancer, Paterno passed away Sunday at age 85 as the winningest coach in FBS history, with 409 victories.

Penn State's Pasquerilla Spiritual Center will be open from 1:00-10:00 PM on Tuesday for the first public viewing of Paterno. The family has scheduled the next viewing for Wednesday from 8 AM-noon Eastern, also at Pasquerilla Spritual Center.

The final public event for Paterno is a memorial service scheduled for Thursday at 2:00 PM at Bryce Jordan Center, also on the Penn State campus.

In a Sunday conversation with former Penn State linebacker LaVar Arrington, SB Nation contributor Bomani Jones grappled with questions about Joe Paterno's legacy.

For more on Penn State, please visit Black Shoe Diaries, SB Nation's Penn State blog.

Joe Paterno Funeral: Westboro Baptist Church Plans To Protest Funeral

We are still waiting on the details of Joe Paterno's funeral, but we do know that there will be some unwelcome visitors, according to Greg Wilson of NBC New York.

Tributes have poured in for him, from such luminaries at Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, and Nittany Lions fans have closed ranks around their storied coach of more than 40 years. But the Kansas-based church, which has outraged families of fallen soldiers, in a bizarre effort to protest gays in the military, said it will be on hand at Paterno's funeral. Final arrangements were to be announced today.

The Westboro Baptist Church has built up a reputation over the past few years for protesting the funerals of some American heroes who died overseas. They use their First Amendment rights to go to funerals at which they are not welcome at and protest the way that America enables their citizens to live their lives.

For more on the funeral, please stay tuned to SB Nation Pittsburgh.

With The Passing Of Joe Paterno, The Media Assesses His Legacy

More: Remembering Joe Paterno

The biggest sports story of the weekend was the passing of Joe Paterno, whose death was announced Sunday morning in a statement from his family. Paterno was an icon in sports, coaching at Penn State for more than sixty years. While the Penn State community mourns his passing, local and national columnists pay tribute to his contributions and assess his legacy.

David Jones of the The Harrisburg Patriot-News penned a moving column which highlighted his personal interactions with Paterno over the years. He narrowed in on a meeting between Paterno and his mother, which he used to highlight the importance and relevance that the coach has maintained even as the world around him changed over the years.

Via David Jones of The Harrisburg Patriot-News:

How many people can you name who remained vital and a part of the country's daily pulse well into their eighties? It never has happened often. In the current age, well, it just doesn't happen at all.

I think that's the most remarkable thing about Joe Paterno. He kept mattering. He spanned three generations and remained significant and forceful in a culture where everything and everyone is disposable.

Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! sports assessed Paterno's legacy amid the Jerry Sandusky abuse scandal and his removal this November as head coach. Wetzel wrote that Paterno's role in the scandal cannot and won't be forgotten, but there are too many other good deeds that will define the man and his legacy.

Via Dan Wetzel of Yahoo!:

He was the rock. He was the constant. He was the conscience. He was JoePa, his nickname suggesting a fatherly quality to not just his players, not just Penn State students who could still find his number listed in the local phone book and not just Nittany Lions football fans.

He was a larger-than-life figure in the small, bucolic town of State College, and if you wanted to draw something good and decent from college football, well, here's where you always could. Don't worry, he'd still be there, as unchanged as ever.

Sally Jenkins, who sat with Paterno for what would be his last interview, added context to that discussion from last week.

Via Sally Jenkins of The Washington Post:

If nothing else, Paterno said, maybe the Sandusky scandal would help drag the subject out of its dark corner. It was one of the last sentiments he expressed. On the final morning he would ever spend at home, he sat propped in bed and insisted on answering a few more questions - that's how important it was to him to talk. In just a few hours he would be taken to the hospital, and remain there until he died Sunday morning.

Finally, ESPN's Ivan Maisel directly argues in his column that Paterno's legacy over sixty plus years outweighs the ignominious ending this past year.

Via Ivan Maisel of ESPN:

The Sandusky scandal has revealed that Joe Paterno missed in real time what may be seen so plainly in hindsight. The scandal has cast a shadow over a brilliant coaching life. But even the darkest of eclipses are temporary. To say that this scandal should obscure all that came before it ignores the meaning of legacy.

Former Penn State Coach Tom Bradley Reacts To The Passing Of Joe Paterno

Tom Bradley had the privilege of both playing for and coaching alongside Joe Paterno for half of his life. When Paterno was removed from his head coaching position in November, it was Bradley who stepped in as interim coach to finish out the 2011 season. On Sunday, Bradley released a statement reacting to the news of the passing of his coach, colleague, and friend. As Adam Rittenberg notes, Bradley said on SportsCenter Sunday morning that he thought Paterno would go down as the greatest college football coach of all time.

Via Adam Rittenberg of ESPN:

Words seem to pale in a moment such as this. The terms "icon" and "legend" have often been used to describe Joe Paterno. Certainly, he was both within the world of college athletics. But to those of us who played for him, to those of us who coached with him and to those of us who had the privilege to call him a friend, Joe Paterno was much more.

The statement is a touching tribute to the man he knew so well.

Jerry Sandusky Issues Statement On The Death Of Joe Paterno

As the Penn State community learned of the passing of Joe Paterno on Sunday, a number of former players and coaches reacted with public comments. Included among those statements were the sentiments of Jerry Sandusky, the former defensive coordinator facing multiple criminal charges for the sexual abuse of young boys both during and after his time on the coaching staff with Paterno. Sandusky issued the following statement on the death of Paterno:

"This is a sad day! Our family, Dottie and I would like to convey our deepest sympathy to Sue and her family. Nobody will be able to take away the memories we all shared of a great man, his family, and all the wonderful people who were a part of his life. He maintained a high standard in a very difficult profession. Joe preached toughness, hard work and clean competition. Most importantly, he had the courage to practice what he preached."

The Sandusky abuse scandal precipitated the removal of Paterno in November. It was announced shortly thereafter that he was suffering from a treatable form of lung cancer.

Joe Paterno's Sons Release Statements On His Passing

Joe Paterno’s sons Jay and Scott have released statements on the passing of their father.

Jay Paterno:

A special thanks to the Hospital staff. They helped us all through the past few days. Can not begin to express our gratitude …

Our family thanks Penn Staters, students & all people for prayers & support for my Dad. He felt your support in his fight.

Scott Paterno also thanks the hospital staff, then goes on:

We would also like to thank all of the tens of thousands of people who have been praying – your kindness continues to sustain us.

Finally, to Penn Staters, past and present, know that Dad loves you all and has always loved being part of your family.

Joe Paterno died at 9:25 Sunday morning of lung cancer. He was 85. His passing came two months after being fired from his job as Penn State’s head football coach after Penn State judged he did not do enough to stop alleged child abuser Jerry Sandusky. Paterno won 409 games as Penn State’s head football coach. He and his wife had five children: Jay, Scott, Diana, Mary Kay and David.

Penn State Board Of Trustees, Rodney Erickson Make Statement On Death Of Joe Paterno

Current Penn State president Rodney Erickson and the Penn State Board Of Trustees have released a statement regarding the death of Joe Paterno Sunday morning.

We grieve for the loss of Joe Paterno, a great man who made us a greater university. His dedication to ensuring his players were successful both on the field and in life is legendary and his commitment to education is unmatched in college football. His life, work and generosity will be remembered always.

The University plans to honor him for his many contributions and to remember his remarkable life and legacy. We are all deeply saddened.

Many Penn State fans have vilified the Board Of Trustees for its decision to fire Paterno in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal. It’s obviously not impossible, however, to believe Paterno’s decisions regarding the scandal made him the wrong man to head the football program, and still be truly saddened by his passing.

Joe Paterno's Hospital Releases Statement On His Death

Mount Nittany Medical Center has released a statement on the death of former Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno.

On January 22, 2012 at 9:25 am, Joseph V. Paterno died of metastatic small cell carcinoma of the lung at Mount Nittany Medical Center, State College, Pennsylvania. Joe was surrounded by his family at the time of his passing, and they request privacy during this difficult time.

Paterno was diagnosed with lung cancer shortly after losing his job at Penn State. Paterno’s cancer was initially described as “treatable.” In mid-January, he was admitted to the hospital due to “complications” from his cancer treatments.

It was initially reported that Paterno had died Saturday night, but his sons stepped in to report that those reports were false. It was also reported Saturday that he was “near death,” and no one disputed that.

Paterno was 85. He won 409 games as a head football coach.

Bill O'Brien Releases Statement On Death Of Joe Paterno

Current Penn State head football coach Bill O’Brien has released a statement on the death of his legendary predecessor, Joe Paterno.

It is with great sadness that I am compelled to deliver this message of condolence and tribute to a great man, husband, father and someone who is more than just a coach, Joe Paterno. First, on behalf of Penn State Football, we offer our sincerest condolences to the Paterno family for their loss. We also offer our condolences to the Penn State community and, in particular, to those who wore the Penn State colors, our Nittany Lion football players and alumni. Today they lost a great man, coach, mentor and, in many cases, a father figure, and we extend our deepest sympathies. The Penn State Football program is one of college football’s iconic programs because it was led by an icon in the coaching profession in Joe Paterno. There are no words to express my respect for him as a man and as a coach. To be following in his footsteps at Penn State is an honor. Our families, our football program, our university and all of college football have suffered a great loss, and we will be eternally grateful for Coach Paterno’s immeasurable contributions.

This is a very awkward situation for O’Brien, who replaced Paterno only after Paterno’s firing due to his actions, or lack thereof, after learning that former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky allegedly used the PSU football program to sexually abuse children. Paterno’s death comes two months after he lost his job, and to many fans, it will look like his job was what sustained him, and he was a martyr. That’s not O’Brien’s fault, obviously, but it will probably be many years before Penn State fans and college football fans in general think of him primarily as anything other than Paterno’s replacement.

Joseph Vincent Paterno Has Passed Away At The Age Of 85

Joseph Vincent Paterno, former leader of the Penn State football team and major college football's all-time winningest coach, died Sunday morning at Mount Nittany Medical Center after complications from lung cancer treatments, the AP reports. He was 85.

Via the AP story, here is the statement the Paterno family released announcing his death:

"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."

Crowds began gathering at Paterno's house on McKee Street in State College, Joe Paterno's statue outside Beaver Stadium and at Old Main after a statement from the Paterno family Saturday evening said that Paterno's condition was "serious." Paterno was diagnosed with lung cancer in late November.

Paterno won two national championship and three Big Ten championships at Penn State. He also led the Nittany Lions to five undefeated seasons and a record 24 bowl victories in his 46 seasons as head coach.

He joined the Penn State staff in 1950 after graduating from Brown and followed his former coach, Rip Engle, to Happy Valley, coaching as an assistant under his mentor. Paterno took over for Engle in 1966 and went on to become a figure beloved in the Penn State community not just for his success on the field, but his philanthropy off it. A library on campus bears his name after Paterno donated millions of dollars for its construction.

Paterno's teams routinely posted among the highest graduation rates in the sport, part of what he called the "Grand Experiment," seeking to establish a football program that stressed both athletic and academic success.

Onward State Managing Editor Resigns Following False Report Of Joe Paterno's Death

Devon Edwards, managing editor of Penn State student blog Onward State, has released the following statement on the site's Facebook page following the site's report that former Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno had died Saturday night. Paterno's son, Scott, tweeted that his father is still alive as of 9:22 PM on Saturday.

Earlier this evening, Onward State reported that Joe Paterno had passed away. However, the mountain of evidence stacked opposite that report is too much to ignore. At this time, I would like to issue a retraction of our earlier tweets ...

There are no excuses for what we did. We all make mistakes, but it’s impossible to brush off one of this magnitude. Right now, we deserve all of the criticism headed our way ...

I will be stepping down from my post as Managing Editor, effective immediately. I take full responsibility for the events that transpired tonight, and for the black mark upon the organization that I have caused.

I ask not for your forgiveness, but for your understanding. I am so very, very, sorry, and we at Onward State continue to pray for Coach Paterno.

Sincerely,

Devon Edwards

Poynter.org has an interesting chronology on its website of the apparently-erroneous report. It notes that CBS Sports tweeted Paterno's death as fact. CBS now attributes that reporting to Onward State.

For the latest on Joe Paterno's status, stay tuned to SB Nation Pittsburgh.

Sons Tweet Joe Paterno Is Still Alive, Fighting

Former Penn State coach Joe Paterno's sons took to Twitter on Saturday night to shoot down reports from student blog site OnwardState.com's Twitter page that their father has died. Onward State has since deleted the tweets, which CBS Sports used, to report Paterno's death as well. CBS now says the following about its decision.

Penn State student website Onward State has reported that Penn State players were notified of longtime head coach Joe Paterno's passing via email, and CBSSports.com went on this report. Paterno, 85, had been receiving chemotherapy as part of his treatment for lung cancer.

Paterno's son Jay tweeted, "I appreciate the support & prayers. Joe is continuing to fight." at 9:21 PM on Saturday. Another son, Scott, tweeted, "CBS report is wrong - Dad is alive but in serious condition. We continue to ask for your prayers and privacy during this time," at 9:22 PM.

Those tweets followed one by the New York Times' Mark Viera at 9:00 PM: "Dan McGinn, the Paterno family spokesman, at 8:57 PM on reports about Joe Paterno's death: 'Absolutely not true.' "

For the latest on Joe Paterno's condition, be sure to stay tuned to SB Nation Pittsburgh.

Joe Paterno's Status 'Serious,' According To Spokesman

Genaro C. Armas of the Associated Press reports the following statement on former Penn State coach Joe Paterno's health from Paterno family spokesperson, Dan McGinn.

"Over the last few days Joe Paterno has experienced further health complications," spokesman Dan McGinn said in a brief statement Saturday to The Associated Press. "His doctors have now characterized his status as serious.

"His family will have no comment on the situation and asks that their privacy be respected during this difficult time," he said.

Elsewhere, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ron Musselman tweets that a source has confirmed to that newspaper that Paterno is "gravely ill." However, WPXI's Rich Walsh tweets that a source tell him that Paterno "is NOT near death but just very sick."

Of course, for an 85-year old man dealing with incurable cancer, a broken pelvis and the stress of being fired from his job in the wake of an explosive scandal, one would have to think the line between "very sick" and "near death" is pretty fine.

For the latest on Joe Paterno's condition, be sure to stay tuned to SB Nation Pittsburgh.

Joe Paterno 'Near Death,' According To Report

Former Penn State head coach Joe Paterno is “near death,” the (Wilkes-Barre) Citizens’ Voice reports.

Paterno’s wife, Sue, summoned close friends and longtime staff members this afternoon to the State College hospital where Paterno has been undergoing treatments since last weekend.

Paterno wanted to see them and say a final goodbye, Sue told one of the staff members, the source said.

Paterno has lung cancer and was admitted to the hospital last week. He was fired from his job in November for failing to do to enough to address the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal.

It’s important to note at this point that a number of the most reliable sources of Penn State news don’t have anything on this yet, so it might be wise to take it with a grain of salt. The last thing any of us want is to get this wrong, and we at SB Nation Pittsburgh have had contentious discussions about the point at which it would be wise to note this. At this point, though, so many people are reporting some variation on this story that we feel like we ought to mention it.

Paterno was, of course, a legendary coach. His legacy will be complicated tremendously by the scandal.

Joe Paterno Admitted To Hospital Yet Again, This Time For 'Complications' From Cancer Treatments

Former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno has had more than his share of health problems since being dismissed in November in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. First, it emerged that he has a treatable type of lung cancer; then, he had to go to the hospital after breaking his hip.

Now, the lung cancer treatments have landed him in the hospital yet again. He’s been admitted after his treatments caused “minor complications.”

His family said in a statement released to The Associated Press that the 85-year-old Paterno continues to undergo a “regimen of treatments” after being diagnosed two months ago with what they call a treatable form of lung cancer …

The family said Paterno had “total confidence” in his doctors and was determined to make a full recovery.

The sheer number of Paterno’s ailments in recent months has perhaps been somewhat alarming, but assuming the lung cancer really is treatable, they don’t seem to amount to much more than an 85-year-old being an 85-year-old. Still, we’ll be keeping track of any breaking news as it develops.

Joe Paterno Admitted To Hospital After Fracturing Pelvis In Fall At Home

Former Penn State Nittany Lions football coach Joe Paterno was re-admitted to the hospital on Sunday, according to the Associated Press. Paterno broke his pelvis in the preseason this year after he was blindsided and hit by a player during practice. In this instance, Paterno re-fractured the pelvis due to a fall at his home.

Via the Associated Press:

A source close to the family of Joe Paterno tells The Associated Press the former Penn State coach was admitted to the hospital Sunday after re-fracturing his pelvis following a fall at his home.

The 84-year-old Paterno is also dealing with a treatable form of lung cancer. It was reported that he will remain in the hospital so he can continue treatments for that disease. Paterno was fired last month by the University Board of Trustees.

For more news, discussion, and analysis on the Nittany Lions, visit SB Nation's Penn State blog, Black Shoe Diaries.

Joe Paterno Has Treatable Form Of Lung Cancer

The news of Paterno's cancer comes a week after his dismissal from his head coaching duties at Penn State.