http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/story/2012-01-21/former-penn-state-coach-joe-paterno-dead/52737230/1

This is very sad!  :\'(  :\'(  :\'(

R.I.P. Joe Paterno

It is certainly the end of an era.  :\'(

Joe was coach back in my Penn State days.  I remember seeing him at church and shaking his hand once or twice.  He was a decent guy in the big picture.

Now... as the Sandusky Scandal came to light, I wrote to the Board of Trustees and strongly recommended that Joe and the other figures be fired, immediately, and even on this sad day I stand by that advice.  This was a failing so great that such a severe action needed to take place.

But I am not one of the people who would like to vilify Joe Paterno.  He spent his life leading people, setting an example, and developing hundreds/thousands of young men who got to see football glory AND the unlikely prospect of a decent college degree too.  Joe Paterno's players had the highest gradiation rate in the NCAA, and there was no difference in the grad rates between white and black players, which is almost unheard-of in college ball.

Joe was a huge philanthropist, and on more than one occasion he turned down the "big bucks" of the NFL to continue his vocation at Penn State.

So I say of Joe Paterno... He certainly was not a perfect man but he did one hell of a good job overall.

RIP Joe.  Thanks for all the football excitement, but moreso for being a positive factor in the lives of so many young people.  :)

RIP Joe Paterno. :\'(

RIP sad that he only lived for 2 months after leaving his job of what 60 or so years.  :(