We went skiing this weekend. Because I don't wear my ski jacket very often, I always go through the pockets to clear out whatever's left there from my last trip to the slopes. Usually I find an old trail map, a candy wrapper or, if I'm lucky, a couple of dollars. On Friday afternoon, I found something different.
The last time I wore my ski jacket, we weren't on a ski trip. We were at Penn State. It was October 29th. There was a freak snowstorm that weekend so I brought my ski jacket to keep me warm and dry as I sat in the stands at Beaver Stadium to watch Penn State play Illinois.
The game, like the weather, was ugly. Penn State struggled to move the ball all afternoon. Luckily, so did Illinois. After going scoreless for the first 53 minutes, Penn State managed to put 10 points on the board to take a 10-7 lead. Illinois got one final chance and moved the ball down the field into field goal range. On the last play of the game, Illinois attempted a field goal that would have sent the game to overtime. To my great delight, the kick hit the upright and bounced back. That was it. The game was over.
All in all, it was a pretty uneventul game. There were two reasons, though, why it will be remembered forever. First, it was the 409th win of Joe Paterno's career, making him the winningest coach in major college football history. Second, it was the last game he would ever coach.
When I reached into my pocket on Friday afternoon, I pulled out my ticket stub for that game. I had stuffed it there after showing it at the gate. I had no idea I'd kept it.
Joe Paterno died this morning. I read the statement that his family released this morning and thought it was wonderful. Sure, I only "knew" Joe Paterno from what I saw of him on TV or read about him in the papers or, more recently, on-line. But, it still seemed like I really knew him. I will miss him. I'm glad I have that final ticket stub.
In case you haven't seen it, here's the statement from the Paterno family.
It is with great sadness that we announce that Joe Paterno passed away earlier today. His loss leaves a void in our lives that will never be filled.
He died as he lived. He fought hard until the end, stayed positive, thought only of others and constantly reminded everyone of how blessed his life had been. His ambitions were far reaching, but he never believed he had to leave this Happy Valley to achieve them. He was a man devoted to his family, his university, his players and his community.
He has been many things in his life – a soldier, scholar, mentor, coach, friend and father. To my mother he was and is her soul mate, and the last several weeks have shown the strength of their love. To his children and grandchildren he is a shining example of how to live a good, decent and honest life, a standard to which we aspire.
When he decided to forego a career in law and make coaching his vocation, his father Angelo had but one command: Make an impact.
As the last 61 years have shown, Joe made an incredible impact. That impact has been felt and appreciated by our family in the form of thousands of letters and well wishes along with countless acts of kindness from people whose lives he touched. It is evident also in the thousands of successful student athletes who have gone on to multiply that impact as they spread out across the country.
And so he leaves us with a peaceful mind, comforted by his “living legacy” of five kids, 17 grandchildren, and hundreds of young men whose lives he changed in more ways than can begin to be counted.
This is where the magic happens.
