• 86°
franklin county times

Legend will be missed by many

We lost a legend this week. If you haven’t heard yet – because you don’t like sports, don’t own a TV or really like camping – Joe Paterno died at the age of 85.

He had been diagnosed with a form of lung cancer, but doctors said that what he had was “highly treatable.”

Apparently it was worse than expected, or there were other factors at work that contributed to his demise.

JoePa had been a coach at some level at Penn State since 1950. He took over as head coach in 1965. He would go on to hold that title for 47 years.

He was ousted from the program on Nov. 9 over failing to follow up with the athletic director over an allegation made by a graduate assistant that former assistant Jerry Sandusky had sexually assaulted a young boy in the locker room shower.

Members of the board of trustees have received death threats since canning JoePa, and a riot took place at Penn State in State College after the news broke.

I remember talking to a few people about the situation, and I surmised that JoePa would not know what to do without being a football coach.

The only plausible explanation to me as to why he stayed for so long is that he never wanted to quit.

I often said that Paterno would drop dead of something or other eventually, but he would do it on the sideline of a football game.

It turns out I was partially correct. I was wrong in that he was no longer a head football coach, let alone at Penn State, but I was right about one thing.

I believe that he died of a broken heart after being told – over the phone I might add – that he was no longer the coach of the sport he loved at the institution he loved more.

The man gave up a lot of money to better the surroundings and stay of many students. His name is on the library and a spiritual center at Penn State due to his charitable contributions.

He and his wife Sue donated over $4 million during his tenure at Penn State, and the number of guests he and his wife had for dinner over the years was in the thousands.

I was right that he would die on the sideline. He was taken away from the sport he loved and a little over two months later he was dead after being sidelined from his job. That’s no coincidence.

Franklin County

Maj. William Russell: City owes its name to pioneer settler

News

Expect closures for U.S. 43 at Walmart 

Franklin County

RCS, FCS offer seamless summer meal programs

Belgreen

Belgreen FFCLA hosts basketball tournament to help hunger

Franklin County

Phi Theta Kappa inducts honorees from Franklin County at NEMCC

Belgreen

Congratulations to the Class of 2023!

News

PHOTOS: West Elementary enjoys color run

Lifestyles

Strawberry farm offers u-pick fun

News

PHOTOS: RHS Class of 2023 seniors graduate

Belgreen

PHOTOS: Tharptown, Phil Campbell, Belgreen, Vina, Red Bay seniors graduate

Franklin County

Charles Parrish: Superintendent’s love for school system sees stadium named in his honor

High School Sports

Kiel helps obtain funds for TES bleachers 

News

Area residents among those on ICC honors lists

Franklin County

FC chooses new assistant county engineer 

News

Red Bay’s Weatherford Library gears up for summer reading program

News

NW-SCC students to showcase their art at Tennessee Valley Museum of Art

Franklin County

Tharptown High School rocketry team blasts into second place in nation

News

Vina High School holds Spring Spectacular 

News

RES fifth grade chorus presents “RES Goes Country” 

News

Addie’s Flip Tip and Tap holds 18th annual dance recital

Franklin County

Chucky Mullins: Football legend makes lasting impact

Franklin County

ACA awards foundation scholarship

Franklin County

FCS provides Seamless Summer meal programs

Franklin County

Commission announces voting location changes

x