Paterno, 85, was Penn State’s head football coach for 46 years in which he compiled a record of 406-136-3 and he won two national championships (1982, 1986). He holds the record for most Division 1 wins (409) and most bowl wins (24). He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007. 


An excerpt from the Paterno family statement:
"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. His ambitions were far reaching, but he never believed he had to leave this Happy Valley to achieve them. He was a man devoted to his family, his university, his players and his community.

He has been many things in his life — a soldier, scholar, mentor, coach, friend and father. To my mother he was and is her soul mate, and the last several weeks have shown the strength of their love. To his children and grandchildren he is a shining example of how to live a good, decent and honest life, a standard to which we aspire.

When he decided to forego a career in law and make coaching his vocation, his father Angelo had but one command: Make an impact.

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."

Multiple sources are reporting that Joe Paterno is in “serious” condition and is near death. Per sources, Paterno’s close family and friends have been summoned to a State College hospital in which Paterno has been undergoing treatment for lung cancer. Reports this afternoon state that Paterno was taken off of a respirator this morning and that’s when family and friends were contacted. 

Originally thought to be a treatable form of lung cancer, Paterno’s condition deteriorated to which he was confined to a wheelchair and wearing a wig due to chemotherapy treatments. Paterno was interviewed last week by The Washington Post with the majority of the questions surrounding the child rape allegations against former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. Paterno was relieved of his head coaching duties on November 9, 2011 after Sandusky was charged on November 5th.

Paterno, 85, was Penn State’s head football coach for 46 years in which he compiled a record of 406-136-3 and he won two national championships (1982, 1986). He holds the record for most Division 1 wins (409) and most bowl wins (24). He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007.

We will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

-Steve Dolan
Follow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3
Follow Whiz Wit on Twitter @WhizWitSports

This is most likely the most difficult article that I have sat down and tried to write numerous times.  Since last weekend, when the story first broke onto the national media scene, all of us here at Whiz Wit wanted to write something.  Although, with all of the information constantly coming out for the past 5 days or so, I was unable to come to a clear decision on what to write, or even how to write it.  Now to point something out, I do not go to Penn State.  I am a senior at the University of Pittsburgh, a storied rival of Penn State and fellow public institution in this great state.  As most of you reading this probably know, when you attend Pitt, you are expected to hate all that is Penn State and West Virginia.  Being born and raised in the greater Philadelphia area, Penn State football is very important.  Not only did members of my family graduate from Penn State, but so did family members of most of my friends.  Living in PA, especially in the Philadelphia area, Penn State football is nearly impossible to escape.  So here is my take on what has happened, from reading articles by former Penn State players, to watching ESPN's constant "Paternocenter" broadcasts, and the sentiments that I am seeing from students in the Pitt community.