As I got in line down the block of the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center on the campus of Penn State Tuesday afternoon, I don't think I had fully realized why I drove the three hours to pay respects to a man I had never met.
Football coaches come and go, just look at every University around, except at Penn State. There will never be another Joe Paterno in our lifetime.
Before I go any further, I want to make it clear; this blog post isn't about anything but what Joe Paterno did for the Penn State Football Program. Period.
For 46 years, Paterno conquered the football world, two national championships and five undefeated seasons with an outstanding overall record of 409-136-3 prove that. But its how Paterno did it is what is truly amazing.
Sure, the man won football games, but he also had an outstanding graduation rate. He also donated millions of dollars back to the school that employed him, including a $100,000 donation after he was fired over the telephone.
He also did things like call a run-of-the-mill senior student prior to her graduation because her mother sent him a note saying he was the reason she went to Penn State, and because she couldn't afford a lavish gift, a short meeting with the coach would be the best gift of all. From what I understand, Joe laughed when she told him she was going into journalism.
So as I approached the closed-casket adorned with flowers guarded by two Penn State players, I began to grasp why I was there. The teary-eyed procession around me also helped me realize that this man spanned more than just one sports journalist's ideal of a program coach.
Before leaving the room, Paterno's youngest son, Scott, was shaking hands and giving hugs to all that left the room. He was engaged with the women in front of me who said, "Thank you for sharing him with us."
He replied, "He was too big to keep to ourselves."
I then went to the Paterno Statue and witness the love and support from fans on a different level. The statue was surrounded with a 7-foot radius of flowers, T-shirts, jerseys, candles, teddy bears and other Penn State memorabilia left behind by others who also came to show support.
A hand written sign covered in the water that stuck out to me that I'll remember for years to come said, "We Are Because You Were."
As I started to drive away back to Morgantown, I had to pull over for one last picture. It's the one attached to this story. To me it's very symbolic.
Joe Paterno undoubtedly gave his life for that University and should be remembered for all the good he did during his time on Earth.
While other coaches will continue to come and go, take money from a University they have no allegiance with, selfishly try to move up the coaching ranks, we need to remember that there was once a man who also achieved the highest success who did it for the love of the game and the love of a University.
I'm glad I took in a once-in-a-lifetime experience and for at least a day I get to say, We Are Penn State.
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