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Football coach Joe Paterno dies at 85 Joe Paterno won 409 games in 46 years as the head football coach for Penn State University, the record for a Division I football coach. He guided his teams to national championships in 1982 and 1986. Paterno died Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012 from his battle with lung cancer. His diagnosis was revealed shortly after he was dismissed as head coach by the Penn State board of directors in the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Sandusky, his former assistant coach at Penn State from 1969 to 1999, is charged with more than 50 counts of sexually abusing young boys over a 15-year period.
An Oct. 29 victory over Illinois made Joe Paterno the winningest coach in college football history with 409 victories.
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Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
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Jan. 12, 2012
Much of his first interview since his dismissal from Penn State was done with him sitting in a wheelchair at his kitchen table.
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Jan. 12, 2012
In 2002, when assistant coach Mike McQueary reported seeing inappropriate contact between Jerry Sandusky and a young boy in the locker room showers, Joe Paterno said he “turned it over to some other people, people I thought would have a little more expertise than I did. It didn’t work out that way.”
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Jan. 12, 2012
Sue Paterno, left, Joe Paterno’s wife of 50 years says of the manner in which Joe was fired from Penn State: “After 61 years he deserved better.”
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Jan. 12, 2012
Joe Paterno is interviewed about his dismissal at his home in State College, Pa.
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Jan. 12, 2012
Mounds containing 12,000 letters (his grandchildren counted them) adorn the Paterno house.
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Jan. 12, 2012
Joe Paterno has yet to figure out his next step. “Right now I’m trying to figure out what I’m gonna do,” he said. “Cause I don’t want to sit around on my backside all day,” he said.
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Jan. 21, 2012
Penn State students kneel as they pray after lighting candles at the Joe Paterno statue outside Beaver Stadium in the Penn State University campus in State College, Pa.
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REUTERS
Jan. 21, 2012
People gather at a statue of former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno in State College, Pa.
John Beale
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AP
Feb. 19, 1966
Joe Paterno, as the new head football coach at Penn State, left, poses with his 2-year-old daughter Diana Lynne Paterno, right, his wife, Suzanne Paterno, and their 1-year-old daughter, Mary Kathryn Paterno, in his home in University Park, Pa.
Paul Vathis
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AP
June 26, 1969
Paterno, coach of the East All Stars, explains a play to quarterback Buster O’Brien, right, of Richmond during a practice session for the Coaches All-America football game in Atlanta.
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AP
Dec. 14, 1971
Paterno, left, is shown with Cliff Speegle, an official of the Southwest Conference, as they toured the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
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Dec. 29, 1972
Paterno and his All-American quarterback John Hufnagel, second from right, take time to exchange a few words with opposing Oklahoma coach Chuck Fairbanks and his quarterback Dave Robertson in the New Orleans Sugar Bowl stadium.
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AP
Dec. 6, 1973
Paterno clutches the Lambert Trophy in New York after it was awarded to his team as emblematic of collegiate grid supremacy in the east.
Dave Pickoff
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AP
Jan. 1, 1975
Paterno celebrates after his Nittany Lions defeated the Baylor Bears in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Penn State won the game, 41-20.
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AP
Nov. 27, 1977
Paterno and his quarterback Chuck Fusina talk late in the fourth quarter in Pittsburgh. The Nittany Lions were trying to keep the ball away from Pitt and keep their 15-7 lead.
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AP
Nov. 11, 1978
Paterno raises fingers in a victory gesture after Penn State defeated North Carolina State 19-10.
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AP
Dec. 28, 1982
Paterno pulls the arm of his quarterback Todd Blackledge, urging him to hurry and finish signing autographs at the conclusion of a practice session in New Orleans.
Jack Thornell
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AP
Jan. 1, 1983
Paterno is carried off the field following the Nittany Lions’ 27-23 defeat of Georgia in the Sugar Bowl to claim the national championship at the Superdome in New Orleans.
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AP
Jan. 15, 1983
Paterno, left, with his wife, Sue Paterno, rides through downtown State College, Pa. The parade with coaches, the team, eight bands and officials was held in spite of a snowstorm.
Craig Houtz
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AP
Jan. 2, 1987
Paterno is shown at a pep rally for his team in Phoenix.
Jim Gerberich
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AP
Sept. 5, 1987
Paterno walks around his players as they warm up before a game against Bowling Green in State College, Pa.
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Nov. 2, 2001
A seven-foot bronze sculpture of Paterno, outside Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa., was unveiled in October 2001, when Paterno got his 324th win, making him the career wins leader among major college coaches.
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AP
Jan. 1, 2003
Paterno walks the sideline during the Capital One Bowl against Auburn, in Orlando. Auburn won, 13-9.
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AP
Nov. 22, 2003
Paterno makes a point with side judge John Roggeman during the first quarter of a 41-10 Penn State loss to Michigan State.
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AP
Sept. 4, 2004
Paterno leads his team onto the field before a game against Akron.
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AP
Aug. 26, 2005
Paterno talks with the media after practice in State College, Pa.
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Nov. 5, 2005
Paterno acknowledges the crowd during warmups before a game against Wisconsin in State College, Pa. Penn State won, 35-14.
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Jan. 26, 2006
Paterno speaks to athletes and drama students at Mount Hebron High School.
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The Washington Post
Aug. 12, 2006
Paterno, bottom right, sits next to senior tackle and team co-captian Levi Brown for the team photo during media day at Beaver Stadium .
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AP
Sept. 16, 2006
Paterno stands with his players before they ran onto the field before a game against Youngstown State. Penn State won, 37-3.
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March 23, 2007
Paterno watches a spring football practice in State College.
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June 9, 2007
Paterno’s shadow is projected on a wall during a news conference where he discussed the coming football season at a university alumni event.
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Oct. 8, 2011
Penn State President Graham Spanier, left, and Paterno visit during warmups before a game against Iowa in State College, Pa.
Gene J. Puskar
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Oct. 29, 2011
Penn State President Graham Spanier, left, and Athletic Director Tim Curley, right, present Paterno with a plaque commemorating his 409th collegiate win after a game against Illinois in State College, Pa. Penn State won, 10-7. With the victory, Paterno passed Eddie Robinson to become the winningest head coach in Division I college football history.
Gene J. Puskar
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Nov. 9, 2011
Joe Paterno arrives home on Nov. 9 to a sea of reporters, protesters and supporters in the aftermath of child sex-abuse charges against former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.
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Associated Press
Nov, 8, 2011
In the days following Jerry Sandusky’s arrest, students held rallies in support of Joe Paterno outside his home in State College, Pa.
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Nov. 9, 2011
Joe Paterno and his, wife, Sue, greet the well-wishers camped out on their lawn in November.
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Nov. 9, 2011
During a Penn State Board of Trustees press conference, Steve Garban, left, and John Surma announce that Penn State president Graham Spanier and football head coach Joe Paterno will leave the university immediately.
Patrick Smith
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Getty Images
Nov. 11, 2011
People gather in front of the Old Main building for a candlelight vigil on the Penn State campus in State College, Pa.
Matt Rourke
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AP
Nov. 12, 2011
A Penn State football fan displays a sign before the first game in years played without Joe Paterno.
TIM SHAFFER
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REUTERS
Nov. 12, 2012
Penn State fan Gary Buck hugs a statue of former Penn State coach Joe Paterno at Beaver Stadium before the Nittany Lions took the field for their first game without Paterno on Nov. 12.
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Associated Press
Nov. 12, 2011
Penn State interim head football coach Tom Bradley directs his team.
TIM SHAFFER
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REUTERS
Nov. 12, 2011
Part of the Penn State student section watch pre-game warm ups.
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Nov. 12, 2011
Nathan Stupar (34) of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts after his team lost.
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GETTY IMAGES
Aug. 12, 2006
Paterno climbs up into the stands to take his place for the team photo during media day at Beaver Stadium. Paterno will retire as Penn State coach at the end of the football season, his 46th with the Nittany Lions.
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AP
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