January 19th 2012
3 days of public events for Paterno starts Tuesday
For decades they cheered him, now it’s time for Penn State students and alumni to mourn Joe Paterno.
Three days of public events will begin Tuesday as Penn Staters from State College and beyond say goodbye to the man who led the Nittany Lions to 409 wins over 46 years.
The 85-year-old Paterno died of lung cancer on Sunday. He learned of his diagnosis in November just days after he was fired in the aftermath of the child sex-abuse charges against former assistant Jerry Sandusky.
Paterno’s son, Scott, says despite the turmoil, Paterno remained peaceful and upbeat in his final days and still loved the school.
Big crowds are expected to show their love for Paterno during the next few days, starting with a 10-hour public viewing at 1 p.m.