Joe Paterno, the former Penn State football coach who lost his job amid a child sex abuse scandal allegedly involving his former defensive coordinator, has lung cancer, his son Scott Paterno said Friday.
"Last weekend my father was diagnosed with a treatable form of lung cancer during a follow-up visit for a bronchial illness," Scott Paterno said in a statement released Friday afternoon. "He is currently undergoing treatment and his doctors are optimistic that he will make a full recovery.
"As everyone can appreciate, this is a deeply personal matter for my parents, and we simply ask that his privacy be respected as he proceeds with treatment."
The 84-year-old Joe Paterno, who had the most wins (409) of any NCAA Division I football coach, was fired last week after former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was charged with 40 counts in what authorities allege was the sexual abuse of eight boys. Two Penn State officials were also charged with perjury and failing to inform police of the allegations; Paterno is not facing charges.
Paterno coached at Penn State for 61 years, including 45 years as head coach.
Friday's announcement coincides with news that the NCAA is investigating Penn State in connection with the Sandusky charges and the university's handling of the allegations.
"This unprecedented situation demands the NCAA evaluate the university's accountability" and application of NCAA bylaws," NCAA President Mark Emmert said in a letter to the school dated Thursday. The NCAA and Penn State made the letter public on Friday.
FULL STORY
Okay, he has lung cancer.
What a rotten way to go.
Of course, this doesn't change anything about the PSU scandal at all...
In other news, a co-worker has lung cancer.
This has no impact of the PSU story, either.
Where in that article did it say Paterno having cancer changes the scandal or impacts it in any way? This is a news story, it would have been published regardless of whether or not the scandal existed because it is about Joe Paterno.
Yeah I have a feeling that the announcement is a sympathy grab. Everyday that goes buy the story gets worse and worse adn sooner or later the NCAA needs to get involved. yes this was an off field thing, but the cover up was designed to keep the programs image in tact to keep the moneyand the recruits rolling in. Serious consideration needs to be given to heavy penalties against Penn STate including forfeiting victories earned during the cover up.
Who suggested it changes anything? Anyone getting this much press would certainly get a notation of a cancer diagnosis. Hardly odd.
Changes what? That Paterno is guilty? PROVE IT!!
WHO CARES???? Why is this breaking news?
Precisely!!! Who cares? If it's treatable, it's just another vist to the doctor, and I for one don't need to hear about every one of Joe Paterno's visits tot he doctor.
praying for him.
Why don't you pray for his victims, instead.
Hey i prayed to Santa Clause for a bike and got one. I'm sure he is cured now you have said a prayer for him...
let's just ignore it, hope no one notices, and hope it doesn't get out of hand, eh?
who cares?
Actually, his doctor first discovered the cancer years ago, but didn't tell anyone.
+1
One more reason to suspect the timing of the announement
You, Hopphead, are a moron!!
Real classy, Tony
How convenient.
Sad situation. The firing was also a sad situation, since Joe molested no one. Joe didn't personally see any molestation. Joe reported what was told him about the incident to his superiors, and was told that it would be investigated. Should Joe have gone over the head of his superiors and called the police? That might not have set well with his bosses.
I agree!
Joe knew what was going on and he did nothing to stop it
I don't know that he's innocent of molestation. If you protect a pedophile you may be a pedophile
You are a moron.
I have to get back to you again – did you really say it might not have gone well with his bosses if he reported anything?? tell me you did not say that – who gives a crap about him or his bosses – what about the kids
Someone I know closely works for a MAJOR corporation and they aren't even allowed to call an ambulance for an emergency before first going to superiors and the on-site medical staff. Same way with anything - if they saw someone smoking weed on break, they aren't to call the police, they are to report it to "superiors". And for all the HATERS out there, when there is "procedure" in place, I don't care WHO you are, I don't know too many people that would risk their JOBS and security of their OWN families to go above their boss's heads. They can all talk the talk, but I really highly doubt when it came down to the nitty-gritty that very many would have done anything different than what Joe did.
Right on Cecillia!!! I can't believe that someone would say that....."That might not have set well with his bosses.".... who gives a *#&!*#$ about his bosses. His main concern should have been for the children only. Period. End of discussion. Goodness!!! This man is not a god folks – he's just a stupid freakin sports coach.
Joe was 70-some years old. I find it hard to believe he knew all the dirty details. I was molested in my grandparents own house and my grandfather, after finding out about it, never spoke a word about it to anyone that I'm aware of. That doesn't make it right but that's how people of that generation handle and handled things. They weren't media driven or running to the police over every thing. I'm so tired of saying the same thing over and over. Joe didn't witness anything. He had here say. Maybe he should have/could have done something more or different, but he didn't. Have all of you never done anything bad? Driven away from an accident scene? Seen something you wished later you had done something about? And realistically to the blabber mouth about "so what about your bosses" - tell that to someone who has a family to feed and support. Granted, Joe didn't have to worry necessarily about that at that time, however, a lot of people do. You want to blame someone, place the blame where it adequately belongs –with Sandusky for being the CREEP, McQueary for not reporting it and going to Daddy and Joe, and then Curley and Shults for brushing it under the rug. Until proven otherwise, and coming from a victim of molestation, I believe Joe did all that he should have done other than maybe telling McQueary HE needed to go to the police. So tired of everyone's supposedly HIGH moral standard and what THEY would have done. Until you are presented with the same situation, you really don't know HOW you would handle it. Get over yourselves.
well said Mare
wow poor guy he loses he job and then he gets lung cancer
Get me a violin!
it's treatable? aw damnit...
i hope someone says the same for you when you or someone you care about gets diagnosed with lung cancer
'grace'...what an ironic name for you.
Uh, no Grace. Best hope you don't contract cancer soon, G-R-A-C-E. Colon, esophageal, liver, Bladder, spine, hmmm...
So what? Is this supposed to set aside what he has done. NO WAY. As far as I am concerned it just means he is closer to judgement day. He should still be prosecuted!
For what? What on earth should Paterno be prosecuted for?
Prosecuted for what exactly? He did exactly what he was supposed to do. I sure hope all of you haters out there are as pure as the driven snow when you, too, meet your maker. If not, the joke might be on YOU. Funny because a lot of the people who are so repulsed usually end up being the same people doing the molesting. Probably glad someone got caught and you didn't.
this is not who I really am most of the time, but you know, I don't care
Just showing your true colors, that's all...you are who you are, all the time.
Gotta love karma....
I got it.....LOSER!!!! Right Beth? LOL
Finally some good news out of Penn State