A Legend In His Own Time

The death of Paterno clearly marks an end of
an era in college football.

They took his life away and now, he's gone.

Legendary and former Penn State football head coach Joe Paterno passed away Sunday due to complications in his brief battle with lung cancer.

Fired by University Trustees on Nov. 9 amid the child sex abuse scandal involving former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, Paterno was diagnosed with the life threatening disease just days later. It was first reported Paterno's cancer was curable and that he would make a full recovery.

Obviously that would not be the case.

The 85-year-old Paterno had been in the hospital since Jan. 13 with health complications. But it was reported late Saturday night that he was in serious condition and fighting for his life.

Surrounded by his family and friends, Paterno died peacefully.

Just like Alabama's Bear Bryant, who died just months after retiring from coaching in 1983, Paterno couldn't live without the game he loved.

While many can't help to think of his recent fall from the top and what he didn't do, it's time to look back on one of the most celebrated, influential and remarkable lives in recent memory.

Born in Brooklyn, Paterno served a year in the Army before joining the Ivy League, attending Brown University. In 1950, following his graduation, at age 23, Paterno followed his college football coach Rip Engle to the place he would call home for more than half a century.

There, Paterno was Penn State's assistant coach until Engle's retirement following the 1965 season.

In 1966, Paterno was hired as the Nittany Lion head coach, the beginning of numerous immeasurable contributions and an unfillable legacy. That year, on Sept. 17, Paterno recorded his first of many Division I wins, beating Maryland 15-7.

In only his third and fourth seasons at the helm, Paterno led Penn State to back-to-back undefeated seasons, but both weren't good enough to gain a National Championship.

1973 would be the next time the Paterno-led Nittany Lions would go undefeated. Groomed by the Brooklyn native, running back John Cappelleti became the first and only player in school history to capture college football's most prestigious award, the Heisman Trophy.

Under Paterno's watch, Cappelleti rushed for 1,522 yards that season and finding the end zone 17 times.

Despite not going undefeated in 1982, Paterno claimed his first National Championship in their thrilling 27-23 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs.

In 1986, Paterno capped off his fourth undefeated season with his second National Championship in five years, beating the Jimmy Johnson-led Miami Hurricanes, 14-10, in the battle of good versus evil. Sandusky's defensive schemes confused Miami quarterback Vinny Testaverde, causing him to throw five interceptions.

To go along with his two National Championships, Paterno finished the '94 season with his fifth and final undefeated season. One of Paterno's most sigificant victories came in 2006, when his Nittany Lions were opposed by fellow college football legend Bobby Bowden and his Florida State Seminoles in the Orange Bowl.

The game went into a third overtime, where Penn State finally outlasted Bowden and Co. on a Kevin Kelly 29-yard field goal, 26-23.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you
are with me; your rod and your staff,
they comfort me." Psalm 23:4

In his 46 seasons at State College, Paterno, much like his traditional gameday uniform, with his thick-rimmed glasses, highwater pants, that by his own admission were used to save on cleaning bills and white socks, became not only a fixture in college football, but an American icon.

He recorded 10-plus victories in 21 seasons. Only six schools in NCAA history have more than Paterno, alone. Those six programs consist of Oklahoma (32), Alabama (31), Nebraska (27), Michigan (25), USC (24) and Texas (22).

Paterno holds the FBS records for the most wins (409), bowl appearances (37) and bowl victories (24). He is also the only coach with to win all four of the current major bowl games - Fiesta, Orange, Rose and Sugar.

The now-late Paterno saw 244 of his players be selected in the NFL Draft, including 33 in the first-round.

Quickly building a reputation for excellence, Paterno single handedly put Penn State on the map and not only built a one of the most recognizable football programs in the country, but an academic juggernaut. There continue to be many words to describe Paterno, ambassador, educator and class to name a few.

However one wants to remember the life of this iconic yet, now controversial figure, at least remember this. There will never be another JoePa and in light of his passing Happy Valley is and will be anything but happy for a long time.