MERGED: College Football Legend Joe Paterno dies at 85

[cuban_refugee]

It is amazing how some coaches that coach a lifetime, pass away so quickly after leaving the game.

Take someone's passion away from them and they will just be ready to go....it happens in football and in other jobs. Do you remember Andy Rooney from 60 minutes...he was there for like 100 yrs. When he retired, he died within the year.

[archer101]

Many of the comments here are completely out of order. As has become clearer in recent weeks, Paterno did not get a graphic description of what happened and correctly reported what he did know to his superiors. His recent comment that he did not follow up because he was worried that he would be seen to be interfering on behalf of Sandusky rings true. Can you imagine the fuss if it became clear that Paterno DID follow up with his superiors and nothing was done - he would have been accused of using undue influence to hush the whole thing up. In fact, I think that reporting the matter to very senior personnel and then refusing to get involved in judging a situation where he had an obvious conflict of interest (e.g. his longterm relationship with Sandusky) was a perfectly reasonable approach.

Paterno and his family will be in my thoughts. And I can assure you that he will be remembered just as much for his great achievements than a difficult situation which is very easy to second guess with the benefit of hindsight.

[Nublar7]

Joe Paterno has just passed away at the age of 85. RIP to the greatest coach in college football history.

[ChambersWI]

you can hate the fact that he made a huge mistake by not doing more to stop Sandusky, but this is truly a sad day. JoePa was a great man for a majority of his life. I will not excuse him for not doing more, but I will honor a guy who did so much for MY community

[JCane]

It is amazing how some coaches that coach a lifetime, pass away so quickly after leaving the game.

It's really not IMO.

When JoePa was fired I gave him six months. He's essentially grieved himself to death. Granted, his health wasn't great to begin with, but Penn State football was keeping him alive. It's all he had to live for and as long as he had that he could keep his spirits up.

This situation is really no different than a married old couple. Research shows that once one dies for whatever causes, the other typically only lasts three years. My Grandparents are 70+ and have been married since they were 19. Lived in the same house all of these years. Not going to be surprised at all that when one dies the other will soon pass as well. People really struggle when they lose what they love more than anything.

And this is very sad for Paterno and Penn State, but head coach of Penn State football or not, Joe wasn't going to live too many more years. Sad news for Penn State and all of college football. Tough to watch his career end the way that it did.

[JCane]

Penn State spokesman is denying the death of Paterno.


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[Nublar7]

Joe Paterno is not dead. Sports media with reports and sources on all topics (Fisher, McCoy, Philbin, Paterno, etc.) has been horrible these past few months.

[JCane]

Via Billy Corben...

Miami Heat won, Florida Panthers won, Dolphins got a new coach and Joe Paterno died and came back to life. Banner day in sports news.

[phinatic1399]

I know it has nothing to do with the Phins but I figure I would pass the news, Joe Paterno died only a few minutes ago, no matter what we think about the whole Sandusky thing, the guy was still a legend.

[sinPHIN]

RIP joe pa. the university screwed him