STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania (January 22, 2012) — Pennsylvania
State University coach legend Joe Paterno — a man synonymous with the University who
led the Nittany Lions football team for 46 seasons and amassed a record-setting
409 victories — died January 22 at age 85.
“We grieve for the loss of Joe Paterno, a great man who made us a
greater university. His dedication to ensuring his players were successful both
on the field and in life is legendary and his commitment to education is unmatched
in college football. His life, work and generosity will be remembered always,”
Penn State President Rodney Erickson said.
Erickson said the University plans to honor Coach Paterno’s “remarkable
life and legacy” at an undetermined date, following consultation by the Department
of Intercollegiate Athletics with members of the Penn State community.
Aside from his wife, Sue, and their five children, Coach Paterno’s
survivors include 17 grandchildren. Arrangements for a funeral Mass are
pending.
Coach Paterno had passionately served the Penn State
football program and the University with principle, distinction and honor since
earning a degree from Penn State in 1950. After 16 years as an assistant coach,
he was named head football coach in 1966.
Coach Paterno posted a 409-136-3 record as head coach and
was the leader in career victories among major college coaches. Coach Paterno’s
overall postseason record of 24-12-1 landed him at No. 3 all-time among coaches
who competed in at least 15 bowl games.
Under Coach Paterno’s leadership, the Nittany Lions
claimed two National Championships (1982 and 1986), five undefeated seasons, and
23 finishes in the Top 10 of the national collegiate football rankings.
In 2007, Paterno was inducted into the National Football
Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame.
“I have mixed feelings because there were so many people
that are not with me anymore who made it possible for me,” Coach Paterno said
at the induction ceremony.
“How good has it been? What we share in football; there’s
never been a greater game. We’ve been involved in the greatest game, the
greatest experience anybody could hope for. Great teammates. Guys you could
trust. Guys you loved. Guys you would go to war with tomorrow. We’re so lucky ...
we’re so lucky. If we lose what we have in football, we’ll lose an awful lot in
this country, and we’ve got to remember that.”
Aside from his contributions to the game of football,
Coach Paterno also will be remembered for his contributions to the University.
In 1998, Coach Paterno, his wife and their five chidren
pledged $3.5 million to the University, bringing their total giving to Penn
State to $4 million. The Paterno gift endows faculty positions and scholarships
in the College of the Liberal Arts, the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture,
and the University Libraries, and supported two building projects.
“Penn State has been very good to both Sue and me,” Coach Paterno said when the donation was announced. “We have met some wonderful people here, we’ve known many students who have gone on to become outstanding leaders in their professions and in society, and all of our children have received a first-class education here. I’ve never felt better about Penn State and its future potential than I do right now. Sue and I want to do all we can to help the University reach that potential.”
Note: In
producing this news release, I wrote it as if I were writing it for Penn State.
Therefore, I relied heavily on a University biography of Coach Paterno in crafting
this news release; many portions of the biography appear in this news release.
Sources
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