Joe Paterno Dead: Ex-Penn State Coach Dies At 85 [UPDATED]

UPDATE, 10:34 AM, JANUARY 22: Paterno died Sunday, the AP reports.

Earlier:

(CORRECTION BELOW)

A spokesperson for the Paterno family has denied a report by CBS that former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno has died. CBS previously reported that the 85-year-old college-football legend had succumbed in his battle with lung cancer.

Earlier on Saturday, the family announced that Paterno's condition had taken a turn for the worse.

"Over the last few days Joe Paterno has experienced further health complications," family spokesman Dan McGinn told The Associated Press. "His doctors have now characterized his status as serious.

The CBS report on Paterno's death was based on a tweet by Onward State, an online Penn State news outlet.

In response to the spread of the initial report of Paterno's death, Scott Paterno, one of the coach's sons, tweeted that he remains in serious condition but alive.

@ScottPaterno
Scott Paterno

CBS report is wrong - Dad is alive but in serious condition. We continue to ask for your prayers and privacy during this time.

January 22, 2012 2:22 am via Twitter for iPad Reply Retweet Favorite

After it was revealed that Joe Paterno was still alive, Onward State addressed their earlier tweet, citing sources with knowledge of the coach's death. The initial tweet has been deleted.

@OnwardState
Onward State

We were confident when we ran with it, and are still trying to figure out where our process failed. We apologize sincerely for error. (2/2)

January 22, 2012 2:29 am via Twitter for Mac Reply Retweet Favorite

A short time later, the managing editor of Onward State resigned.

Paterno's diagnosis was revealed in mid November, shortly after he was dismissed from his duties as coach of the Nittany Lions. Paterno's removal came in the aftermath of the arrest of Jerry Sandusky, a longtime Paterno lieutenant facing more than 50 counts of sexual abuse against children. Amid evidence that Paterno had been notified of the abuse but had done little beyond his legal obligation to prevent it, the Penn State board of trustees voted to dismiss the longtime coach in November. The scandal reverberated beyond college football, and sullied a reputation that had once seemed unimpeachable — particularly in central Pennsylvania, where Paterno, or "JoePa," was revered.

During his 46 seasons coaching Penn State, Paterno racked up 409 wins -- the the record for a Division I football coach. He guided his teams to national championships in 1982 and 1986.

Paterno is a Brooklyn native who has lived for decades with his wife Sue near the Penn State campus. The couple has five children.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story reported Paterno's death and did not properly attribute the source. We apologize for the error.

Comments

[Ronald Lee]

06:20 PM on 04/13/2012

That book, "The Lynching of A Saint," is available on Amazon, as an ebook.

[Ronald Lee]

06:18 PM on 04/13/2012

There is a superbly written book, "The Lynching of a Saint," which details the legal analysis of the Penn State scandal, which exonerates Joe Paterno, absolutely. When the graduate assistant advised Joe Paterno of what he observed about the accused, Jerry Sandusky, was no longer on the staff, thanks to Coach Paterno. However, Joe Paterno did all he was both morally and legally required of obligated to do. He told his superiors. Besides, Ray Frank Gricar, District Attorney in Centre County, PA, had the opportunity to arrest and prosecute Jerry Sandusky, in 1998. He went missing on April 15th, 2005. Read all about it in the book above, the grand jury transcripts, the entire tragedy, and the most likely outcome of the trial. Jerry Sandusky will not be convicted because . . .

[Ronald Lee]

06:11 PM on 04/13/2012

I just want to thank Yahweh, for giving Joseph Vincent Paterno to this world, for a short time. He is the greatest coach of all time, and one of the greatest men of all time. I shall never forget you, Joe Pa. You were a giant, among midgets. Now, you belong to the ages. I will see you on the other side.

[Brudda Voodoo]

09:52 AM on 02/01/2012

When you die, no more hang ups. Have fun complaining all your lives away. There is more than this life.

[jacobisrael]

01:20 PM on 01/30/2012

"and why did you have to bring up the priests, honestly that happened such a long time ago, and it was only a handful, so give it a rest already!! "

I'm amazed at how little Catholics understand about the ill effects of AIDS carrying Catholic priests who are members of a church which ADMITS that 20-60% of its priests are homosexuals. Where are the most AIDS cases? The places with the most Catholic priests? And where are there NO AIDS cases? The places where there are NO Catholic priests?

Do you know what Liberia, Taiwan, CHINA, Japan, Cyprus, Greece, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Indonesia, Tajikistan, Algeria, Lithuania, Mongolia, Norway, New Zealand, Pakistan, Romania, Serbia, and Uzbekistan ALL have in common? They are the countries which have recorded NO cases of HIV. They are ALSO the countries with the FEWEST AIDS carrying, child abusing Catholic priests who openly promote legalized gay marriage. [Update: we now must add Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, BANGLADESH, Bulgaria, Algeria, Egypt, Fiji, Kazakhstan, and Lebanon to that list].

Do you know what Estonia, the Dominican Republic, Panama, El Salvador, the US, Argentina, Colombia, Spain, France, Peru, Costa Rica, Italy, Luxembourg, and Paraguay ALL have in common? They are the countries with the HIGHEST rates of HIV. They are ALSO the countries with the HIGHEST percent of AIDS carrying, child abusing Catholic priests who openly promote legalized gay marriage.

[jacobisrael]

01:15 PM on 01/27/2012

"eveyone on here comdemning a man whom they didn't even know, let alone have a clue what went on there in the first place.. but sitting behind your keyboard gives some people beer muscles.. "

Your own words prove that if the world had not stepped in and taken control of the situation, these 12 victims of Sandusky and an as yet to be determined number of other victims could never possibly have gotten justice. Don't you realize that it's a crime and a sin to fail to punish such perpetrators for one DAY, much less two decades? It's precisely BECAUSE your football husband met Paterno, or knows the sitution there, and that you have proven that you will protect him to the DEATH, that you should NOT be involved in the justice process.

I must admit that it's very depressing to think about how ignorant my fellow man must be to let this situation get so far out of hand. You MUST bring yourselves into line with the Word of God, and get WAY OUT of this path of sin.

[ibontec]

08:31 AM on 01/25/2012

Every body dies he was not the god like human the every body thinks, his son was to take over the
job he is a fool now he has to get a real job ( Joe RIP )

[kath1027]

12:38 AM on 01/25/2012

We Are PENN STATE!!! We are PENN STATE!!!! WE WILL ALWAYS BE PATERNO PROUD!

[jennnixx]

12:27 AM on 01/25/2012

So he did pass away or he didn't? AOL should probably update the title in the case of Mr. Paterno actually passing away, as the title to this article is very misleading and leaves me somewhat confused.

[LAM11]

09:08 PM on 01/24/2012

YOU BUNCH OF IGNORAMOUS GLUTTENS!!!!!!!!!!!! LET DEATH DIE PEACEFULLY............. JO PA DIDN'T RAPE ANY ONE, HE DID JUST WHAT HE THOUGHT HE SHOULD DO & REPORT IT TO THE PROPER AUTHORITIES AND THEY REFUSED OR DECLINED TO ACT ON IT!!!!!!!!! JEZUS! DECADES OF AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY CAN'T BE WRONG ABOUT A MANS LEGACY, PURPOSE AND COMMITMENT TO THE THOUSANDS OF YOUTHS HE GAVE HIS SIMPLE LIFE TO AND THE UNIVERSITY HE CARRIED SO HIGHLY IN HIS HEART. SO PLEASE SHUT UP ABOUT WHAT YOU ONLY ASS UME. JO PA WAS PENN STATE. AND NOW THAT HE'S DEAD OF A BROKEN LIFE AND HEART DOES THAT PLEASE ALL OF YOU WHO TURNED AGAINST HIM AT THE LAST HOUR!!!!!! SHAME TO YOU & WHAT A VICIOUS WORLD WE HAVE MADE FOR OURSELVES. SADLY THERE ARE TONS OF VICTIMS IMPRISONED IN IT. ALL I CAN SAY IS HEAVEN HELP YOU.
HVNY & NJ LOVE YOU FOREVER.....RIP JO PA (or start heavens 1st football team!)

[Tom Sheetara]

10:52 PM on 01/24/2012

i agree.....i think i watched my last penn state football game...

[J Smitty]

11:42 PM on 01/24/2012

The scandal brings to light the real issue everyone is aware of.... the frat boy mentality that they should be worshipped and are above the rules everyone else has to follow (and for little reason, considering their contributions.... silly games). This is upsetting to mostly frat boy wanna be's who still cling to the belief that being a white male college graduate entitles you to at least $150K a year, and everything you can get away with while putting in little to no effort (hey, someone else will pay).

[mebemommee06]

11:04 AM on 01/25/2012

really, they got a new coach, so how is it you think its the last game at PSU... see this b.s. everyones yelling up on here didn't happen at PSU.. so take your little inuendos and stuff it..

[pappy316]

03:22 PM on 01/24/2012

At my workplace if a fellow employee came up to me and told me he saw something suspicious, but I didn't SEE it MYSELF, I would do the same thing Joe did: Tell human resources and managers and let them investigate/take proper action. I would react this way, not because I support abuse, but because I was not a witness to the allegations. The only person who should get grilled is Mcqueary for not going to the police. To Joe, it could have been a rumor, to Mcqueary there was no question about what was seen. One of the best coaches of all time, I think he got a really raw deal.

[shortguy54]

03:16 PM on 01/24/2012

Sic transit gloria mundi!

[mebemommee06]

11:13 AM on 01/25/2012

little man syndrome, huh?

[shortguy54]

11:40 AM on 01/25/2012

What good does it do to be so good at something that has so little meaning?

[farmheights]

01:55 PM on 01/24/2012

Death came as a blessing; he could endure no more (King Lear). May his soul rest in peace.

[nssas]

01:04 PM on 01/24/2012

VERY POOR reporting ALL around. For HUFFPOST to NOt double check AND NOT attribute source in orignal article shows unprofessionalism at it's worst. ONWRD State managing editor should NOT be the only one to resign....ehh HUFFPOST?

[tehJeis]

12:52 PM on 01/24/2012

I love all the comments talking about people "judging" Joe Paterno. I wonder how many of you also posted hateful things about celebrities such as Michael Jackson, who was never actually found guilty of raping young boys. Now, I'm not a fan of either man, but I find that sport's fans tend to forgive their "gods" for heinous crimes or, in this case, not doing more to stop a heinous crime.

I often wonder what your opinions would be of this man if your son or grandson were raped by Sandusky and old Joe Pa knew it was going on, knew nothing was coming of him reporting it, yet still did nothing. Or if Joe Pa was some artist who dressed differently or was very eccentric. Oh how the tides would turn, how you would demand his head on a platter!

[mebemommee06]

03:07 PM on 01/24/2012

Hate to tell you,, my hubby happens to know a few professional ex football players who went to PSU. JP was a very down to earth person. And he is loved and admired by all at PSU now, and the others who had the pleasure to have been around JP of yesteryear, still love and admire the man. And it doesn't matter what others say, we here know he wasn't the evil person they make him out to be..

[Beth3]

06:20 PM on 01/24/2012

I truly do not doubt that all of you who SAY you knew him didn't respect and like or even love him, BUT the truth still remains that as a tree stands it lies. as a ,am lives he dies. And for this man to die in the shame he did, he had to have known or at the least suspected something Just Not Right with this Sandusky friend of his. And as sorry as you all who say you loved and admired him, I truly do believe that you did, but you admired The Coach and I truly do hope that you Did Not admire the Evasive Friendship he had with Sandusky and any and all others who were Sodomizing all those young boys. Enough Said, please do not reply to this comment for it is truly not necessary, thank you.

[Marceline Crutchfield]

08:20 AM on 01/25/2012

You heard from you hubby who heard from a friend who heard from a friend who heard etc. etc. that he was a good guy. Are you for real? You have changed my mind about him! NOT!