[UPDATED 6:29 PM Pacific]
According to Penn State student website Onward State Joe Paterno has died at the age of 85. Onward State is reporting that the Penn State players were notified of Paterno’s passing via email.
However a Paterno family spokesman is denying the report to the N.Y. Times. Another report by NPR is reporting that Paterno is still alive but “gravely ill.” Jay Paterno, Joe’s son, also tweeted that his father “continues to fight.”
If reports are true, Paterno’s passing would represent the loss of one of the most iconic figures in college football history. His diagnosis came in November just days after his dismissal as head football coach at Penn St. University.
Although Paterno’s legendary coaching resume includes 406 wins and a pair of national championships, his legacy may now forever be stained by the accusations of sexual misconduct by assistant coach Jerry Sandusky and Paterno’s alleged inaction after learning about incidents related to Sandusky’s charges.
For more details of the story, check out the full report via the Huffington Post.
