Vigil planned near Penn State to mark 1-year anniversary of Joe Paterno's death
Coach died of lung cancer at age 85
Joe Paterno, whose career as the most successful coach in college football history ended abruptly amid allegations that he failed to respond to a sex abuse scandal involving a former assistant, died in January after battling lung cancer. …
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Posted: 01/22/2013
Last Updated:
148 days ago
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Supporters of longtime Penn State football coach Joe Paterno are marking the 1-year anniversary of his death with a candlelight vigil.
The Hall of Fame coach died of lung cancer on Jan. 22, 2012, at age 85. On Tuesday, supporters are holding a vigil at a mural in State College that includes a depiction of Paterno. A family spokesman has said the Paternos would not take part.
Organizers say they will light 409 candles, one for each of Paterno's victories before 111 were stripped as part of NCAA sanctions in response to the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal.
Sandusky was convicted in June of 45 counts of child sex abuse and is serving a lengthy prison sentence. His arrest tarnished Penn State's storied football program and led to Paterno's firing.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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