thedailywhat:

RIP: Joe Paterno, the legendary coach of Penn State’s Nittany Lions football team, passed away today of lung cancer. He was 85.

“It is with great sadness that we announce that Joe Paterno passed away earlier today,” said his family in a statement. “His loss leaves a void in our lives that will never be filled.”

Paterno — best known as JoePa — served as head coach at Penn State for 46 years, leading the Lions to 409 victories — the most by a single college football coach.

His final days at Penn State were sadly marred by the child sexual abuse scandal of former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, and allegations that Paterno didn’t do enough to notify the authorities upon learning of the now-infamous “shower incident” between Sandusky and a 10-year-old boy.

Paterno was dismissed by the Board of Trustees on November 9th. He later called the scandal “one of the great sorrows of my life,” and admitted that he should have done more.

Prior to the official confirmation of his passing, a false death report by Penn State student news website Onward State spread online after being picked up by CBS Sports. It was quickly retracted — though not quickly enough — and Onward State’s managing editor, Devon Edwards, announced his resignation. 

[ap / poynter.]

This man changed lives. Forever respect the relationship between coach and player.