By now, you may or may not have heard about "the e-mail" that circulated through much of the Penn State fan base last week and was reported on by several media outlets. It contained rumors of an imminent resignation/retirement by Joe Paterno at Penn State and speculation about possible replacements for the legendary coach.
↵↵↵↵Penn State coach Joe Paterno's wife dismissed as "lies" speculation that her husband's health would serve as a reason for him to resign from the job he has held for 44 years.
↵"Who started the crazy rumors?" Sue Paterno said, as quoted by website PennStateScout.com. "He's fine. No one has to identify who starts it. We don't even know where it starts."
↵She was referring to Internet reports asserting that Paterno's health is failing and the Nittany Lions coach would retire after Saturday's Outback Bowl clash against Florida.
↵She emphatically squelched speculation that his resignation is imminent, saying: "It's just lies."
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Paterno stated rather emphatically at his Michigan State press conference that he'd return for 2011 and his wife appears to be pretty much on the same page as her husband. It's likely neither would be so direct about the coach's intentions if anything were truly imminent, so it's time to put this internet fabrication to rest for now.
↵Sure, Paterno could leave after the bowl game, but to expect that to happen is a little ridiculous at this point. The Paternos don't really have any reason to tell the world a bold faced lie like that. It's time to take the Paterno's at their word over an internet rumor propped up by an anonymous e-mailer with information from an anonymous source.
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