Update: Reports of Joe Paterno's death refuted by family

CBS Sports.com ^ | January 21,2012 | Adam Jacobi

[Hojczyk]

Joe Paterno, the man who for decades was synonymous with Penn State football and was known by the college football world as just "JoePa", has died. Paterno, 85, had been receiving chemotherapy as part of his treatment for lung cancer, and complications from that treatment claimed the longtime Penn State coach's life on Saturday.

Paterno was the head coach of Penn State for 46 seasons before being fired in November as his role in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal came under greater scrutiny. Combined with the time he spent as an assistant, Paterno spent a total of 61 years on the Penn State sidelines. He left behind a legacy that, on the field of play, was unparalleled in Division I football. Paterno holds the all-time Division I record for football coaching wins with a 409-136-3 record, and he won two national championships while going undefeated in five different seaso

[lightman]

O God of spirits and of all flesh,
You have trampled down death
and have abolished
the power of the devil,
giving life to Your world.
Give rest to the soul
of Your departed servant Joseph
in a place of light,
in a place of repose,
in a place of refreshment,
where there is no pain,
sorrow, and suffering.
As a good and loving God,
forgive every sin he has committed
in thought, word or deed,
for there is no one who lives
and is sinless.
You alone are without sin.
Your righteousness
is an everlasting righteousness,
and Your word is truth.
For You are the resurrection,
the life
and the repose of Your departed servant Joseph,
Christ our God,
and to You we give glory,
with Your eternal Father
and Your all holy,
good and life-giving Spirit,
now and forever and to the ages of ages.

[napscoordinator]

Oh man. Prayers to his family during this difficult time.

[FamiliarFace]

Oh my goodness! Rest in peace, Joe Pa! Prayers for your family, & for the victims of Sandusky.

[PapaNew]

What sad news. Some people die after what they live for is taken away. Maybe he really died of a broken heart. I hope he knew Jesus.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Prayers for his family.

[yarddog]

I remember Bear Bryant said he would die within weeks if he ever retired. He lasted a bit more than that but did die within months.

I suspect Paterno may have had the same fate. Probably hastened by the scandal. I am not really up on what happened tho it does seem like he was too ready to allow it to be swept under the rug.

He will have to answer to his maker now tho as a Southern Baptist, I believe if he was saved then he is in God’s hands. I am not sure how he will have to pay for what he did but Christ took all our sins on himself.

[MacMattico]

I was never a Joe Paterno fan, especially after recent events. But the guy that says he told Paterno about what was going on keeps changing his story, and Paterno says he did notify the school. He should have called the police immediately. But he deserved his day in court, and his family must have gone through a lot and now his death. I told my husband when he was fired that would be the end of him.

[Kaosinla]

Godspeed young man, Godspeed.

[bunkerhill7]

The Nittany Lion ceaseth its roar.

[Ciexyz]

May he rest in peace.

[Joe 6-pack]

Have the students started rioting yet?

[FamiliarFace]

I’m hearing now that he is not dead, but gravely ill. I wish the media would verify things before they print stories, but I guess that’s asking too much of them to actually do their jobs.

[lightman]

Then again, maybe not: Centre Daily Times posted 9:24PM EST:

http://www.centredaily.com/2012/01/21/3061322/paterno-family-spokesman-denies.html

[RedMDer]

RIP, Joe.