Joe Paterno viewing draws another large crowd on second day

Hundreds more mourners lined up outside a Penn State campus spiritual center Wednesday to pay their respects to the late Joe Paterno on the second of three days of mourning for the beloved former football coach.

The line started forming outside the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center in the early hours of the morning, several hours before the doors opened for the closed-casket viewing. But after the emotional tumult many students and alumni have experienced in recent months -- including Paterno's firing in the aftermath of a child sex scandal involving former assistant Jerry Sandusky, followed by the longtime coach's battle with lung cancer -- the wait was worth it.

“His ethics, doing things the right way, excellence in everything you do, all of that attracted me and attracted many others to Penn State,” said Tom Haack, a 59-year-old alumnus who said his admiration for Paterno influenced his decision to attend the university. "I think his influence made it a better school and helped make it what it is today.”

Thousands had gathered Tuesday for the opportunity to walk past the brown hardwood casket placed about 6 feet away from a black-and-white portrait of "JoePa," thick-rimmed glasses and all.

“It's hard to say goodbye to somebody that you feel you've known all along,” said John Whitney, a 21-year-old junior from Sparta, N.J. “A lot of us have never met him, but he's had such a big influence on everybody's life around here.”

Karen Gilchrist, a Penn State fan from Scranton, Pa., brought three of her five children -- ages 7, 8 and 6 months -- to the viewing. “There's going to be no one like him in my lifetime or theirs,” she said. “I wanted them to be part of a historic day. I felt compelled.”

Doors closed on the viewing at 11:30 a.m. EST Wednesday. A private funeral service and burial were to be held later in the day. A public memorial will take place Thursday at Penn State's basketball arena.

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Photos: Joe Paterno, 1926-2012

Should the NCAA honor the memory of Joe Paterno?

Joe Paterno could have taken a cue from John Wooden

-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Upper photo: Alysha Ulrich, 10, left foreground, from Oley, Pa., waits in line to go through the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center on the Penn State campus for the viewing for former Penn State coach Joe Paterno on Wednesday. Credit: Alex Brandon / Associated Press

Lower photo: Mourners console one another after paying respects to Paterno on Wednesday. Credit: Patrick Smith / Getty Images

Joe Paterno: Should NCAA and selected schools honor his memory?

Writers from around Tribune Co. discuss whether the NCAA and selected member schools (outside of Penn State) should honor the memory of Joe Paterno. You can join the discussion with a comment of your own.

Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times

I was savaged by many in November when I suggested that Penn State should decline a bowl bid in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Turns out I may have been right as the lead-up to the TicketCity Bowl included a locker room fight involving the starting quarterback and a lackluster defeat in front of a bunch of empty seats. Cherish THOSE memories?

But this is even trickier. Penn State is going to have a tough enough time honoring Paterno given the rift his firing caused in the family. The NCAA and others should stay out of the moment-of-silence business. It's just too sensitive. We still don't know all the facts in this horrible story. Let Penn State handle this one in-house.

The Big Ten has already spoken by taking Paterno's name off its championship trophy. Individual coaches and players have every right to express their personal feelings toward Paterno, and many of them have. There is no need for institutions to declare any unifying response given that it would be impossible for those views to satisfy or reflect everyone's feelings. This story is still too toxic. Give it time. Let Paterno rest in peace and let's leave it, for now, at that.

Rick Neuheisel's memorable duet with Joe Paterno

The Jerry Sandusky scandal left Penn State Coach Joe Paterno’s legacy muddled. But there are men who have memories of Paterno from before the last four months.

A year ago, former UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel reminisced about his first meeting with Paterno in the 1990s, when the two were at a gathering of coaches sponsored by Nike.

“He told me to get him a bourbon,” said Neuheisel, who was Colorado’s coach at the time. “I was his [graduate assistant], so to speak. I was the new head coach in the deal.

PHOTOS: Joseph Paterno 1926 - 2012

"He said that I was ruining college football because I had just taken my team skiing. He wanted to know ‘what the hell the rest of us are supposed to do with our teams.’ He told me I had better call and ask to get permission before I did that again.”

The two became friends and, later on that trip, Neuheisel had Paterno try one of Neuheisel's newfangled ways.

“I had a guitar in my hand and I got him up there with me to sing ‘Wild Thing,’ ” Neuheisel said. “He didn’t know a lot of the words, but was effervescent with his rendition.”

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Obituary: Joe Paterno dies at 85

Joe Paterno legacy: From triumph to tragedy in days

FULL COVERAGE: Penn State, Jerry Sandusky  scandal

-- Chris Foster

Photo: Coach Joe Paterno and the Nittany Lions prepare to take the field before a game against Pittsburgh in 1998. Credit: Rick Stewart / Allsport

Jerry Sandusky and others react to Joe Paterno's death

Jerry Sandusky, the longtime assistant coach who is the focus of child sex abuse allegations that led to the firing of Joe Paterno as Penn State football coach, issued a statement Sunday offering condolences to the Paterno family.

“This is a sad day!" the statement read. "Our family, Dottie and I, would like to convey our deepest sympathy to Sue [Paterno, Joe's widow] and her family.

“Nobody will be able to take away the memories we all shared of a great man, his family, and all the wonderful people who were a part of his life.

PHOTOS: Joseph Paterno 1926 - 2012

"He maintained a high standard in a very difficult profession. Joe preached toughness, hard work and clean competition. Most importantly, he had the courage to practice what he preached.”

Sandusky was Paterno's defensive coordinator and top assistant who retired in 1999. He now faces 52 criminal counts for what prosecutors say was sexual abuse of 10 children over 15 years. He has denied the allegations.

Meantime, Paterno's family asked for privacy as it grieved his passing, and the Penn State faithful in Happy Valley appear to be honoring the request.

PHOTOS: Joe Paterno fired as Penn State football coach

The street where Paterno and his wife lived was blocked off to outside traffic by two police officers who said the family had asked that there be no public gathering at the home, the Associated Press reported.

Late Sunday morning, only a couple of hours after the death of major college football's winningest coach, Paterno's sons, Scott and Jay, arrived at the house separately. Jay, Penn State's quarterbacks coach under his father, was crying.

Emotions were running high elsewhere, too, as former Nittany Lions players, fellow coaches and friends reacted to the news. A sampling from what the Associated Press had gathered:

“It's just sad because I think he died from other things than lung cancer. I don't think that the Penn State that he helped us to become and all the principles and values and things that he taught were carried out in the handling of his situation.” -- Mickey Shuler, Penn State tight end from 1975 to 1977.

Joe Paterno called a 'great man' by successor Bill O'Brien

Just a few hours before the New England Patriots were scheduled to play the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC championship and a spot in the Super Bowl, the team's public relations staff released a statement from offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien about the death of former Penn State coach Joe Paterno. 

O'Brien will take over as Penn State's head coach when the Patriots' season ends.

"It is with great sadness that I am compelled to deliver this message of condolence and tribute to a great man, husband, father and someone who is more than just a coach, Joe Paterno," O'Brien said in his statement.

PHOTOS: Joseph Paterno 1926 - 2012

"First, on behalf of Penn State football, we offer our sincerest condolences to the Paterno family for their loss. We also offer our condolences to the Penn State community and, in particular, to those who wore the Penn State colors, our Nittany Lion football players and alumni. Today they lost a great man, coach, mentor and, in many cases, a father figure, and we extend our deepest sympathies.

"The Penn State football program is one of college football's iconic programs because it was led by an icon in the coaching profession in Joe Paterno. There are no words to express my respect for him as a man and as a coach. To be following in his footsteps at Penn State is an honor. Our families, our football program, our university and all of college football have suffered a great loss, and we will be eternally grateful for Coach Paterno's immeasurable contributions."

Paterno's passing came at 9:25 a.m. EST on Sunday, according to Mount Nittany Medical Center. Kickoff for the Patriots-Ravens game is 3 p.m. EST.

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Obituary: Joe Paterno dies at 85

Joe Paterno legacy: From triumph to tragedy in days

FULL COVERAGE: Penn State, Jerry Sandusky  scandal

--Mike Hiserman 

Photo: New football Coach Bill O'Brien greets Penn State fans at a basketball game earlier this month. Credit: Abby Drey / McClatchy-Tribune

Joe Paterno died as his lung cancer spread; his family releases statement

Joe Paterno died because the cancer in his lungs was spreading, hospital officials confirmed Sunday.

In a statement, Mount Nittany Medical Center said the former Penn State football coach died of “metastatic small cell carcinoma of the lung.”

Paterno died at 9:25 a.m. EST while surrounded by family, the hospital said.

PHOTOS: Joseph Paterno 1926 - 2012

A short time later, the family released a statement announcing Paterno's passing and saying his loss "leaves a void in our lives that will never be filled.”

“He died as he lived,” the statement continued. “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,” the statement continued. “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.”

PHOTOS: Joe Paterno fired as Penn State football coach

In November, shortly after he was fired in the wake of child sex abuse allegations against former longtime assistant Jerry Sandusky, Paterno was diagnosed with what his family said was a treatable form of lung cancer during a follow-up visit for a bronchial illness.

RELATED:

Obituary: Joe Paterno dies at 85

Joe Paterno legacy: From triumph to tragedy in days

FULL COVERAGE: Penn State, Jerry Sandusky  scandal

--Mike Hiserman

Photo: Susan and Joe Paterno at their home during the former Penn State football coach's first interview after his firing. Credit: John McDonnell / Associated Press

Joe Paterno remembered at Penn State-Indiana basketball game

Members of the Penn State men's basketball team learned of Joe Paterno's death Sunday morning while on a bus heading to Assembly Hall for a Big Ten Conference game against Indiana in Bloomington, Ind.

Paterno, 85, Penn State's former football coach, died only hours before the start of the game.

Penn State led No. 13 Indiana, 29-27, at halftime.

PHOTOS: Joseph Paterno 1926 - 2012

A moment of silence was observed in Paterno's memory before the game and the Associated Press reported polite applause afterward.

Penn State players wore black stripes across their jerseys.

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Obituary: Joe Paterno dies at 85

Joe Paterno legacy: From triumph to tragedy in days

FULL COVERAGE: Penn State, Jerry Sandusky  scandal

-- Mike Hiserman

Photo: Joe Paterno during one of his weekly news conferences. Credit: Pat Little / Associated Press

Joe Paterno's family and friends gather at hospital

Joe Paterno fought for his life through the night at a hospital in State College, Pa., as family and friends gathered at his bedside and others held a vigil by his statue near the Penn State football stadium, where he guided the Nittany Lions to national prominence.

After his family denied reports Saturday evening that the 85-year-old former Penn State coach had died, reports surfaced that he was on a respirator and that his family was trying to decide whether he should be removed from it.

Paterno, who became the winningest major-college football coach with his 409th victory on Oct. 29 but was fired less than two weeks later in the wake of a child sex abuse scandal involving one of his former assistants, has been hospitalized since Jan. 13 for treatment of complications from lung cancer treatments.

On Saturday afternoon, the family released a statement about his deteriorating condition.

“Over the last few days Joe Paterno has experienced further health complications,” spokesman Dan McGinn said in a brief statement to the Associated Press. “His doctors have now characterized his status as serious."

Approximately 200 students held a somber vigil at a statue of Paterno, the Associated Press reported. There was no chanting or shouting as many people held candles in silence.

Paterno's son Jay tweeted after driving by the vigil: "Drove by students at the Joe statue [on Penn State’s campus]. Just told my Dad about all the love & support -- inspiring him."

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Joe Paterno's health continues to decline

Former Penn State coach is still alive, family says

Paterno didn't know what to do with Sandusky information

--Mike James and Dan Loumena

Photo: Students hold a vigil at a statue of Joe Paterno outside of Beaver Stadium on the Penn State campus. Credit: Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press

 

Joe Paterno death reports are taken down

The news about Joe Paterno’s rapidly declining health has been a big story all day, since even before word from the family spokesman that he was in serious condition and that the family hoped its privacy could be respected.

Paterno’s story, of course, has been one of the biggest sports topics in years as the iconic coach’s legendary career became overshadowed in the fallout from the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse case. 

Saturday, as news outlets looked for developments on the 85-year-old former coach’s condition, at least two Internet reports were published saying that he had died.  At one, Onward State, which covers Penn State, the managing editor resigned his position after removing its post that Paterno had died. Here's former managing editor Devon Edwards' announcement on Facebook.

Paterno's sons Scott and Jay both used Twitter to provide information refuting the report that their father had died. Jay Paterno wrote, "Joe is continuing to fight."

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

Jay Paterno later tweeted, "Drove by students at the Joe statue [on Penn State’s campus]. Just told my Dad about all the love & support -- inspiring him."

Those posts of Paterno’s death were taken down fairly quickly. It's unclear exactly what his condition is, but clearly it's very serious.

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Joe Paterno's health continues to decline

Former Penn State coach is still alive, family says

Paterno didn't know what to do with Sandusky information

--Mike James

Photo: Joe Paterno watches Penn State warm up before a game against Purdue at State College, Pa., last fall. Credit: Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press

Joe Paterno, former Penn State coach, is still alive, family says

Joe Paterno, the legendary Penn State football coach who was fired in the wake of child sexual abuse allegations involving one of his former assistants, is still alive despite reports to the contrary, according to his family.

Paterno's family announced earlier in the day that he was in serious condition. Reports began circulating later in the evening that the 85-year-old had died.

His sons took to Twitter to say their father was still alive.

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

During his tenure, Paterno built the Nittany Lions into a powerhouse program that won national titles in 1982 and '86. He guided Penn State to a record of 409-136-3, including 24-12-1 in bowl games, after taking over the program in 1966. He had been an assistant at Penn State from 1950-65.

Paterno has been hospitalized since Jan. 13 for treatment of minor complications from his cancer treatments, the family said.

“Over the last few days Joe Paterno has experienced further health complications,” spokesman Dan McGinn said in a brief statement to the Associated Press. “His doctors have now characterized his status as serious."

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Joe Paterno's health continues to decline

Paterno didn't know what to do with Sandusky information

-- Dan Loumena

Photo: Joe Paterno on the sidelines for a Penn State-Michigan State game at State College, Pa., in 2010. Credit: Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press

Joe Paterno's health continues to decline

Joe Paterno, the legendary Penn State football coach who was fired in November in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal, is now in serious condition as he battles lung cancer, according to a statement the family released Saturday.

Paterno, 85, has been hospitalized since Jan. 13 for treatment of minor complications from his cancer treatments, the family said.

Other reports, citing unnamed sources, have said that Paterno has been removed from his respirator.

“Over the last few days Joe Paterno has experienced further health complications,” spokesman Dan McGinn said in a brief statement 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.

News of Paterno's battle against lung cancer came only days after he was fired.

-- Dan Loumena

Photo: Joe Paterno at his home in State College, Pa., on Jan. 12. Credit: John McDonnell / Associated Press