Back in November, when the Penn State scandal erupted into the absolute insanity that it became and JoePa offered up his resignation (because he was kind of forced to, after all), I said he wouldn't live much beyond his 85th birthday in a blog about how Andy Rooney died after retiring. And today we learned he, indeed, didn't make it far past his 85th birthday.
Today, we lost a legendary man, and an even more legendary coach.There will be a lot of blogs and a lot of stories out there about the life and career of Joe Paterno. No one can argue with his success at Penn State. No one can argue with a career and status at a University that can compare to the tenure of a single royal on a throne - not much else lasts for over 60 years, especially in this day and age. Joe was witness to the evolution of college football to what it has become today. Not too many coaches can even come close to that claim.
Some may argue his end was coming, regardless - afterall, he was sick. But I think the scandal brought it on earlier... in his shame, he gave up his fight. Anyone who has any inkling of knowledge of Joe Paterno and Penn State football knows that he is not one to give up on anything. But the media and attention brought on and aimed pointlessly at him brought on a shame that only the questioning of one's self could bring. I still say, "Shame on all the media and the University for placing so much blame on Joe"... it was like accusing your blind grandfather of not reporting a crime he 'saw' happening. Poor Joe... did what he thought was right, only to be told it wasn't enough. And then stripped of what he loved all of his life.
I can only hope that the scandal become only a footnote in his historic life and career and truly hope everyone only remembers him for what he really was... a college football legend.
RIP Joe.
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