Reports surfaced shortly before 9 p.m. ET that Joe Paterno had passed away, with tributes pouring in from all corners of the Internet for the coaching legend. Within minutes, the family took to Twitter to knock down what appears to be premature speculation on Paterno’s demise.
“I appreciate the support & prayers. Joe is continuing to fight,” a tweet from Jay Paterno, the coach’s son, read.
“CBS report is wrong – Dad is alive but in serious condition. We continue to ask for your prayers and privacy during this time,” another son, Scott Paterno, wrote.
In an update on their website, the Patriot-News wrote that “sources close to the Paterno family say that the family is tremendously upset with CBS Sports and other news media who have erroneously reported Paterno’s passing.” The paper also reports that Paterno is awake and able to communicate with family and friends who have come to see him.
OnwardState.com was actually the first media entity to report Paterno’s death. The website has subsequently retracted their initial report.
“Our 8:45 pm tweet about Joe Paterno’s death appears to be inaccurate, according to @JayPaterno, who says he’s alive,” the site wrote in a tweet. “We were confident when we ran with it, and are still trying to figure out where our process failed. We apologize sincerely for error.”
The last official update on Paterno’s status was a statement from a family spokesperson, who wrote in a statement that “Paterno has experienced further health complications. … His doctors have now characterized his status as serious.”
(Photo credit: @KevinHornePSU)
UPDATED 10:31 p.m. ET: The managing editor of OnwardState.com, Devon Edwards, has resigned in the wake of the website’s erroneous report.
Watch out for those Cavaliers!
It’s sooner, rather than later. Btw, this isn’t from his lung cancer, per se. It’s complications from it’s treatment. Because these complications are often overcome, is the reason he was placed on a respirator. My father died after being diagnosed with lymph node cancer. 7days later he walked into his dr office for his first chemo treatment. He had a bad reaction. 12 hours later, he passed away.
he will be remembered fondlely. sorry, fondly.
The communication breakdown seems about right.
A media Member resigns because once again breaking the story is more important than accuracy. How come nobody at ESPN ever resigns when they continually butcher things?
We continue to ask for your prayers and privacy during this time,” another son, Scott Paterno, wrote.
———————————————————
How about some prayers for those young boys that were raped by Sandusky because JoPa kept his mouth shut?
Pftcensorssuck….get over it already…the dude is about to die…all this rape talk will be forgotten in a couple of years anyway…..just look at Big Ben Rapelesberger in shittsburgh……rape us ok by todays standards as long as you win games..and nobody won more than Joe….not like he was the one in the showers in the first place
How bout some thoughts and prayers for the victims? Ya know , several of those that could have been prevented were it not for Paterno being only concerned with a coaching record,
@kennypowersmfceo Rape of children is NEVER ok. Paterno didn’t know about the rape of some flunky at a party, he knew about the rape of little kids. There is no comparison here. And he might as well have been the one in the shower. It was his in-action (along with others) that would force other kids to suffer.
As for Paterno’s current situation, its a shame. Its a true shame that this scumbag is getting the easy way out… he doesn’t deserve as much.
CBSSports has some ‘splainin to do…
@Stakex …..never said it was ok our that I condone child rape in any way, shape, or form….but the man is on his death bed and isn’t getting the easy way out….he is old as shit and it truly is a shame to see someone who had such an impact on sooooo many student-athletes lives over the past forty years be reduced to basically nothing because of some pedophile. Joe went to his superior about the issue and according to state law Joe is not at fault since he followed the chain if command which is way he isn’t being charged with anything….. So if anyone is to blame for not speaking out its the DA who suddenly went missing before all of the allegations came out
How come a student can do the right thing and not the ‘great man’?
The real question is…if one of the rape victims could help Joe in any way, shape, or form would they???
They should tell Joe one of his grandkids is in the shower with Sandusky right now and see him hop off his death bed to try and save them….lololol
His children should deny the reports of his death, their father denied knowing that he could do more to save little kids lives. BTW—have a friend that was raped at 7….they are 33 today and still cannot trust a person. It takes a lifetime to fix 5 minutes of some old mans fun. SAD!!!!!!
Keep fighting, Joe Pa!
Looks like John Lennon was right about instant karma.
It’s kinda unfair to ignore a lifetime of good work because of one big lapse in judgement. But it’s also repugnant to deify him and dismiss the seriousness of that lapse of judgement because children’s lives were placed at risk as a result.
I certainly hope he fully recovers, and eventually understands why he was fired. Based on that last interview he gave, it was clear it had not yet sunk in.
All you people focusing on the kids need to not write on this post. Go start a charity or make a speech at your church if you really care that much. I could care less about the victims right now. It’s all about Joe Pa and giving him back some dignity before the poor man passes after being stripped of everything by the university in an unjust manner.
Ishud… Your comment is gibberish and makes absolutely no sense what so ever… Somebody didn’t get enough attention as a child huh?
If the report is accurate that he’s being taken off the ventilator, he may have anywhere from hours to days left before his passing. My mother-in-law was in a similar situation, and that’s what doctor told us. And they were right unfortunately.
It’s a shame that for all the great, not just good, things that Paterno did in that community and for that university, his one single biggest mistake is what he’s going to be remembered for. Must be incredibly hard to live under a microscope like that. Great when things are going well. Tough when a mistake is made. I’m sure he wishes he could have and would have done more. It’s a shame that the actions of Sandusky will ultimately define not only Paterno, but so many others.
While he should have done more morally as many of you claim. You all who sit there and call a man who is dying a scum and a piece of trash are just as morally wrong. If you were in his family, friends and supporters shoes you would be upset if people were saying things like that about your parent, grandparent, friend or whatever if you believed in them. You all would be up in as saying things like I can’t believe people would wish death or ill-will on my loved one.
Maybe he should have done more. Maybe he did do more with his passing, when it happens we will never know his whole side of the story. But I will admit I am ashamed as a human being to be associated with those who wish anyone who is dying the harsh ill feelings that many of you are wishing on Joe Paterno
Is it just me or when Paterno was modeling for that statue was he also rushing to hail a cab?