JoePa lived, died for Penn State

The late, great Paul "Bear" Bryant once said, "I'd probably croak in a week if I ever quit coaching." He passed away only 37 days after coaching his last game.  For many years, former Pennsylvania State University head football coach Joe Paterno feared the same fate would eventually catch up to him as well. Unfortunately, he was right. Football kept him alive. Without football, it was only a matter of time before his illness caught up to him.  Football was his life. Penn State was his life. Without the two, many suspect heartbreak killed the legendary coach.

    When thinking of the Mount Rushmore of college football, there is a face that is indisputably present: Joe Paterno. For the coach who built his legacy on respect, love and compassion, the final few years of his career - and inevitably his life - were engulfed in pain and controversy.  Over the past few seasons, Joe Pa suffered a series of crippling illnesses and debilitating injuries. Having sustained a broken leg, a broken hip and, most recently, cancer, Paterno limped down the stretch of his career, coaching a majority of games from the comfort of the Penn State press box. Through pain and sickness, he remained steadfast and resolved to continue to coach as long as he lived.  During his 61 years at Penn State, Paterno racked up 409 victories, ranking him first on the all-time win list.  He also led the Nittany Lions to five perfect seasons and two national championships.

Six months ago, when talking about Coach Paterno, words like: "father," "innovator," "icon" and legend were used to describe this timeless man. In light of recent events, however, he has been described as "selfish," "sick" and "disgusting." It seems the national love affair with the man that embodied Penn State's institutional values, but after the Jerry Sandusky rape scandal, one can't help but view Paterno through jaded eyes.

Many wonder what the legacy of Paterno will be. Will he be remembered as the man who dedicated 61 years of his life to a school and to a football program, making it into the university we all know today? Will he be remembered as the coach beloved by thousands and father figure to the hundreds of young men who donned Penn State jerseys for more than a half century? Will he be remembered as the man who stood by and knowingly allowed a number of young boys to allegedly be raped and molested  by former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky? Many believe the image and legacy of Paterno has been scarred as a result of his perceived role in the rape scandal.

Through all of this controversy, the stalwart Paterno never showed a sign of weakness. As a true testament to his character, he never once used his illness as a crutch as he was bombarded by several months of questions and allegations. Unfortunately, it was probably his stubbornness to ask for help that eventually led to his passing.

Just over a month ago, Paterno was fired by the school he loved and lived and breathed for.  Joe Paterno was Penn State, and Penn State was Joe Paterno. They had been connected for more than a half century, leaving their paths forever intertwined.

After the news of Paterno's firing rang through State College, students and former players alike flocked to the statue of Paterno in front of Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lion football team promised that if the team won their division in the Big Ten, they would lock arm-in-arm and march the game ball to Paterno's house and deliver it personally to their former mentor and coach. Unfortunately, the team fell just short of clinching a bid to the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game.

Early Sunday morning, Paterno called close friends, family and former players to his hospital room to bid a final farewell. Just hours after the group left, Paterno passed away at the age of 85 from complications of lung cancer.

Upon the news of his death, students and former players returned  to the statue of Paterno to pay their respects and chanted, "We are Penn State!" Thousands gathered at the statue to leave hats, flowers, cards and other mementos to pay homage to the former coach.

Though Paterno is gone and no longer with us, his statue will remain standing at the foot of Beaver Stadium in State College, and his legacy will forever live on in the hearts and minds of those lucky enough to know him and those who watched him on television from a distance. The legend of Joe Paterno will never die and college football will never be the same.