Joe Paterno is Dead

Joe Paterno died (85) at 9:25 am today from “metastatic small cell carcinoma of the lung.” His family said in a statement:

“Joe 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. He was a man devoted to his family, his university, his players and his community.”

“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.”

Joe was fired from his life long coaching job in November 2010, after allegations that he did little to stop an assitant coach that allegely abused young boys who he brought to the University locker room. Joe has a great legacy, but one that received a black eye when it came to the ethics of protecting children.