Ex-Penn State coach Joe Paterno dead at 85

(CBS/AP) 

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - 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.

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Joe Paterno, 1926-2012

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The winningest major college football coach of all time, Paterno was diagnosed shortly after Penn State's Board of Trustees ousted him Nov. 9 in the aftermath of the child sex abuse charges against former assistant Jerry Sandusky. Paterno's been getting treatment since, and his health problems were worsened when he broke his pelvis — an injury that first cropped up when he was accidentally hit in preseason practice last year.

"Over the last few days Joe Paterno has experienced further health complications," family 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.

Paterno's sons Scott and Jay both took to Twitter Saturday night to refute reports that their father had died.

Complete coverage: Penn State scandal

Wrote Jay Paterno: "I appreciate the support (and) prayers. Joe is continuing to fight."

Meanwhile, about 200 students and townspeople gathered Saturday night in State College at a statue of Paterno.

Some brought candles, while others held up their smart phones to take photos of the scene. The mood was somber, with no chanting or shouting.

Jay Paterno tweeted, "Drove by students at the Joe statue. Just told my Dad about all the love & support—inspiring him."

The statue is just outside a gate at Beaver Stadium.

The 85-year-old Paterno has been in the hospital since Jan. 13 for observation for what his family had called minor complications from his cancer treatments. Not long before that, he conducted his only interview since losing his job, with The Washington Post. Paterno was described as frail then and wearing a wig. The second half of the two-day interview was conducted by his bedside.

The final days of Paterno's Penn State career were easily the toughest in his 61 years with the university and 46 seasons as head football coach.

Sandusky, a longtime defensive coordinator who was on Paterno's staff in two national title seasons, was arrested Nov. 5 and ultimately charged with sexually abusing a total of 10 boys over 15 years. His arrest sparked outrage not just locally but across the nation and there were widespread calls for Paterno to quit.

Paterno announced late on Nov. 9 that he would retire at the end of the season but just hours later he received a call from board vice chairman John Surma, telling him he had been terminated as coach. By that point, a crowd of students and media were outside the Paterno home. When news spread that Paterno had been dumped, there was rioting in State College.

Police on Saturday night had barricaded off the block where Paterno lives, and a police car was stationed about 50 yards from his home. A light was on in the living room but there was no activity inside. No one was outside, other than reporters and photographers stationed there.

Trustees said this week they pushed Paterno out in part because he failed a moral responsibility to report an allegation made in 2002 against Sandusky to authorities outside the university. They also felt he had challenged their authority and that, as a practical matter, with all the media in town and attention to the Sandusky case, he could no longer run the team.

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[Utlayolisdi]

My sincere sympathy to the family and friends of the late coach. May their sorrow be short and their return to joy swift.

As to the molestations and the charges, Joe turned it over to his superiors as he should have done. It was up to them to investigate and they didn't. If anyone is at fault it is the college's administration and the one who committed the acts.

I know from 1st hand experience that when someone who has never come across such situations are confronted with one they often have no idea what to do. It is so foreign to them that they don't know what to think or believe. Joe said that he felt inadequate to do anything other than what he did - turn it over to a higher authority.

Had Joe been told of other incidents occurring after he reported the incident to the administration and did nothing more then there might be a cause to criticize his actions or lack thereof. As it stands now, it does not appear that any more incidents were reported to Joe after he reported the one incident to his superiors. Thus, it was their lack of action that is culpable and not those of the late coach.

[themanfrombrum]

And I wonder if he's thinking about the boys -now?

[themanfrombrum]

Bye Bye!

[Funster21]

It just amazes me the ignorance of some of the negative comments. First and foremost has anyone been found guilty of anything? So since no one has been guilty of molesting anyone why does everyone say Joe Pa is guilty of anything. Remember Joe never saw anything and was just told 2nd hand information. Mr. McQueary is the one who allegedly saw it so why didn't he intervene or call police. Why does everyone only single out Joe. Only reason I can think of is jealousy of a good man. You negative commenters fail to look at the fact the thousands of young people that he was an inspiration to and judging from the outpouring of love and admiration for him it is evident he truly was a remarkable human being. I know he loved Penn State and he probably made the family promise to support PSU but I hope the family ignores that promise. I certainly hope that they sue that university for millions and also push for the removal of every board member. In my estimation they were as responsible for his death as the cancer was.
For all of the ignorant people that read this and want to blast me please do because you won't be blasting an 85 year old man. I will judge your comments for what they are. Ignorant people that have no life. And yes I would let Joe Pa babysit my kids or live with him if he were still here.

Rest in Peace JoePa as you are in a better place. I imagine you are already sitting with Bear and talking football. To the rest of the Paterno family my sincere condolences on your loss.

[betterusa]

Agree 100% with your comment. Amazing how many "intelligent" individuals have Joe guilty of anything before the man accused of these crimes is proven guilty OR innocent. Joe spent his entire adult life teaching the coaching young men and many of them will tell you his lessons of life greatly influenced and guided them. These people that wish him dead and call him to be with the devil are the most evil of humans.

[violist47]

I'm amazed at all the people out there willing to cast the first stone.

[joe1022joe]

The Board of Trustees of Penn State are cowardly curs. They ran from the media line curs. Joe Paterno did not in any sense deserve what they did. Their swinish actions certainly hastened his death.

[wmartin4508]

Are they going to open a Day Care Center in his name?

[Ohiostatefan]

He died and now is living with Satan.

[gdinsb]

I'm pretty sure his is not in Ohio with Jim Tressel at the moment.

[Funster21]

You are an idiot.

[julianpenrod]

James McDougal took the heat in Whitewater rather than spill what he knew about the Clinton gang, then reportedly died in prison, supposedly of a "heart attack".
Hosni Mubarak is deposed in Egypt, then suddenly supposedly has a serious medical condition which, presumably, will keep him from standing trial.
Only a few months before being sentenced for his part in running Enron into the ground, Kenneth Lay was reported dead of a heart attack.
Just in time to avoid appearing at a massive corruption trial, John Edwards has been reported as developing a "life threatening condition".
Now, out of his position as head coach, when he might be more open to probing by investigators, Joe Paterno is declared dead by a "heart attack".
And this is only the beginning. Face it, as craven as the corrupt rich are, they would never put on as good a show of confidence if they felt death was inevitable! They know how to avoid it. But, when they can embarrass others in power, they "die". But how many question their own eyes when they see JFK, Marilyn Monroie, Elvis Presley, Princess Diana or Andy Kaufman still walking around?

[howbizarre]

JFK is still walking around at 95? No, I don't think I would recognize him if I saw him.

[julianpenrod]

The craven and powerful would be as distressed at the idea of debilitative conditions as anything else. They know how not to undergo decrepitation, as well.

[Threewarriors]

I wish the media would stop making him out to be a pervert.

[hunoz]

He is neither pervert nor saint. I credit him for the good, I am not a hater but I am a realist. While giving credit to his accomplishments, I believe the football program was given priority over the potential devastation of young lives. I believe he knew the person he told a whitewashed story would take no further action. These people knew each other well, and I am sure repurcussions were discussed. He and others had to know why Sandusky retired. Yet he continued to frequent the athletic department. Did no one think of this when he founded a home for susceptable young boys? This is typical of protecting institutions and programs. If he did not know, a man of his intellect should have. He was from a time that is no more. He probably stayed too long. He said he feared the same thing would happen to him as Coach Bear Bryant if he retired. No one seems upset about the school's long time President being fired, or others. Ultimately Joe Paterno was a man who did many good things, but his devotion to football likely superseded his moral judgement.