Nike Founder Defends Paterno, Gets Standing O

'This is a sad day!' former Penn State coach declares

(NEWSER) - Jerry Sandusky is an expert at running his mouth when he should probably shut it , so it comes as little surprise that the retired Penn State coach, now facing child sex abuse charges, felt the need to issue a statement on Joe Paterno's death. "This is a sad day! Our family, Dottie and I would like to convey our deepest sympathy to Sue and her family," Sandusky says in a statement obtained by the AP . "Nobody will be able to take away the memories we all shared of a great man, his family, and all the wonderful people who were a part of his life." Click to see who's protesting Paterno's funeral . More»

Tributes paid to iconic coach's complicated legacy

(NEWSER) - Candles, flowers, and mourners surround Penn State's statue of "Joe Pa"; the men's basketball team observed a moment of silence before its game today; and the tributes are rolling in as State College pays tribute to the complicated legacy of Joe Paterno :

• Former Penn State President Graham Spanier: "He was a distinguished American, a legendary coach, and Penn State's greatest ambassador."
• Penn State's Board of Trustees: "We grieve for the loss of Joe Paterno, a great man who made us a greater university. His life, work, and generosity will be remembered always. The University plans to honor him for his many contributions and to remember his remarkable life and legacy."

Penn State confirms death of beloved former coach

(AP) - Joe Paterno, who racked up more wins than anyone else in major college football but was fired from Penn State amid a child sex abuse scandal, has died, his family confirmed this morning. He was 85. Paterno "died as he lived," read the statement. "He fought hard until the end, stayed positive, thought only of others and constantly reminded everyone of how blessed his life had been." Paterno's son Scott announced Nov. 18 that his father was being treated for lung cancer, which was diagnosed in mid-November during a follow-up visit for a bronchial illness. More»

President tours state to discuss Sandusky aftermath, Paterno firing

(NEWSER) - Penn State's president is holding town-hall meetings for alums as fallout from the Jerry Sandusky scandal continues, and audiences aren't going easy on the school's leader—especially where Joe Paterno is concerned. At his second of three stops, Rodney Erickson heaped the blamed squarely on Sandusky, the AP reports. "It grieves me very much when I hear people say 'the Penn State scandal.' This is not Penn State. This is 'the Sandusky scandal,'" he said. "We're not going to let what one individual did destroy the reputation of this university." More»

He defends self in NYT interview, says Paterno never spoke of allegations

(NEWSER) - Jerry Sandusky says he was never confronted by Joe Paterno about his suspected sexual misconduct, denies having his access to children restricted at his charity before becoming the subject of a criminal investigation, and completely denies ever sexually abusing children in an extensive and exclusive interview with the New York Times . Sandusky claims that his interaction with children over the years came from his charity work and there was nothing sinister about it. “It was, you know, almost an extended family,” he says. More»