BREAKING NEWS: Family says former Penn State coach Joe Paterno has died — AP

msnbc ^

[07Jack]

RIP Joe Pa.
This story is so tragic on so many levels.
At the start of this season I could have never imagined anything like this.

[martinidon]

Well, even if you feel he reported it and that was all he needed to do; at the very least he should have had Sandusky banned from the sports facilities. I would have demanded he be banned from the campus.

[Caipirabob]

The only thing Joe was guilty of was to trust whomever he reported the incident, to do the right thing. My prayers go out to his family.

We'll never know the extent of the cover up nor his involvement with not denouncing a monstrous pedophile amongst his staff feasting upon children right under his nose.

It does not look good and the silence speaks louder than anything he may deny.

In my eyes, if he knew anything and didn't crucify the bastard he's as guilty as anyone else involved.

I have nothing to say on his death other than he goes to meet his true judgement under the eyes of the all knowing. If that means a ticket to eternal peace then so be it.

Career over the shattered lives of children...easy to imagine he died from humiliation.

[mazda77]

Nope, they took him off the respirator last night from what I was able to discern. This was the announcement that he had officially passed away.

[Never on my watch]

I think it is disgust with Paterno’s inaction more than “hate”. I must admit a degree of hate for Sandusky, however. There is a millstone waiting for him.
JoPa’s legacy is forever and justifiably tarnished.

[jersey117]

R.I.P. Jo Pa

[Caipirabob]

Just to clarify - there is no compromise with evil. Turning the other way is compromise and accomodation. "Oh, someone else will deal with it" is a disgusting and inhumane response in knowing there's an active pedophile right next to you victimizing innocent children.

There's a horrid conspiracy here working to protect this sort of thing. It's been buried by the media and there are far too many people dismissing these horrors in light of the man's football record.

To hell with all of this.

[backslacker]

Bless JoePa’s soul as he meets his Maker

JoePa has a statute of himself on the Penn State campus which he acknowledged and did nothing about. The students gathered by the statute for a candlelight vigil. This is a clear violation of the 2nd Commandment, which the Catholic Vatican has wiped out (The 10th Commandment split into to to cover the Vatican's deceit).

Was JoePa aware of Exodus 20:4?

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/01/joe_paterno_is_very_sick_but_c.html

[momtothree]

I pray that JoePa made peace with Our Lord for any and all wrongdoings in his life. This prayer is no different than any prayer I would say for anyone. Ultimately, we are all judged for our life by a God who knows what was in our heart and the truth of our life. Every action, deed, word, and thought is known by Him.

[csvset]

At least he won’t have to testify at any trials. /s

[linn37]

RIP Joe.

[kabar]

A sad and tragic end to a life that was on balance full of good deeds. I don't hold him blameless for what happened in the Sandusky case, but it was a difficult decision to report on a friend and colleague of over 30 years. He did not try to cover up the incident, but he also didn't follow through on prosecution of the offense. Loyalty versus principle--a struggle that has played out through time.

"In addition to his legacy as a coach, Paterno is highly regarded for his contributions to academic life at Penn State. After the announcement of his hiring in 1966, Paterno set out to conduct what he called a "Grand Experiment" in melding athletics and academics in the collegiate environment, an idea that he had learned during his years at Brown. As a result, Penn State's players have consistently demonstrated above-average academic success compared to Division I-A schools nationwide. According to the NCAA's 2008 Graduation Rates Report, Penn State's four-year Graduation Success Rate of 78% easily exceeds the 67% Division I average, second to only Northwestern among Big Ten institutions.

Paterno is also renowned for his charitable contributions to academics at Penn State. He and his wife Sue have contributed over $4 million towards various departments and colleges, including support for the Penn State All-Sports Museum, which opened in 2002, and the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center, which opened in 2003. After helping raise over $13.5 million in funds for the 1997 expansion of Pattee Library, the University named the expansion Paterno Library in their honor.

Paterno is a political conservative and a personal friend of former President George H.W. Bush, endorsing the then-candidate in a speech at the 1988 Republican National Convention. Paterno was also a close personal friend of President Gerald R. Ford. In 2004, his son Scott Paterno, an attorney, won the Republican primary for Pennsylvania's 17th congressional district but lost in the November general election to Democratic incumbent Tim Holden.

"I brought my kids up to think for themselves since day one," Joe Paterno said in 2008. "I got a son who's a Republican, who ran for Congress, Scott. I'm a Republican. I've got a son, Jay, who's for Obama. I've got a daughter, who I'm pretty sure she's going to be for Hillary. So God bless America."

[Jenny217]

RIP Joepa and thanks.

[tomkat]

Methinks some of you sanctimonious bastards on this thread and similar others doth protest entirely too much.

Might just lead curious minds to gravitate to overcompensation as a plausible explanation . . .

[FreeReign]

He shouldn’t have gone to the local police with only a hear-say story.

Why not?

[NEPA]

Paterno follwed the law in '02. The police could not have acted on second hand info. That's why PA law is set up the way it is. By reporting to the AD instead of police something could be done. Going to the police in '02 would have been even less effective because the police could not have acted on info from Paterno. It had to either come from McQueary who had first hand info or the proper authorities at Penn State. Like it or not, that's the law in PA.

Paterno is a convenient target but Sandusky is the accused perv. I think the fact that the police and DA did nothing in the '98 accusation may have played a role in '02.

[combat_boots]

I said RIP last night.

But I remember some years ago that rumors swirled about Paterno retiring or some such. Someone(s) wanted him gone.

I hold him responsible for letting Sandusky have keys to the State Penn locker rooms, showers and facilities. Generations of boys are now FUBARed men.

Now, the wealthy homosexual donors, the former PSU gay- friendly President and his connections, the wealthy gay alumni and politicians can rest a little easier. And Sandusky may skate as a result.

For all the glory and reputation, State Penn is now tarred with a shame that will take a long time to overcome. I would never send or pay for a child or grandchild of mine to go there. Who knows who’s left of like mind as Sandusky?

[kabar]

Agreed. Joe Paterno may have died of lung cancer, but in reality, he died of a broken heart.

[ratzoe]

Well said, Racer1

[rbg81]

I think he was diagnosed with cancer only AFTER he was fired.