Goodbye, Joe.

Joe Paterno died of metastatic small cell carcinoma of the lung this morning at 9:25 AM surrounded by his family. He was 85.

Words fail me at the moment. There is just so much to say that it is beyond the capabilities of this meager blog. All I wish to add to the official statement is that I hope this legendary coach will be properly honored — that bygones can be bygones and that there will be no asterisks next to his achievements. I would hope that the Maxwell Club would think again about restoring his name to their coaching trophy, that he will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously, and that other knee-jerk reactions of that sort can be reversed. There will never be another like Joe.

The Nittany Turkey wishes the Paterno family comfort at this time of loss.