After two months of tension, confusion and sadness, the Penn State community received another jolt on Sunday with sudden passing of football coach Joe Paterno. Now, friends and fans are working to look past Paterno's last weeks as coach to his 46-season legacy, during which time he led the team to 409 victories and two national championships.

The Penn State Board of Trustees made the decision to fire Paterno on November 9, four days after former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was arrested and charged with multiple sexual assault crimes.

Paterno maintained that he had fulfilled his legal obligation by reporting a suspected assault to his superior at Penn State. However, the Board maintained that Paterno should have done more, and that his lack of action was a "failure to fulfill his moral responsibility."

Penn State students and alumni disagreed vehemently and violently, even rioting in support of their beloved coach. A few days after his firing, Paterno was diagnosed with lung cancer.

Just 10 days ago, Paterno entered the Mount Nittany Medical Center for treatment for what his family said was a minor complication in his treatment. In a hospital room just a half-mile from Beaver Stadium, Paterno succumbed to the disease. He was 85 years old.

While the details of Paterno's condition and death are largely unknown, many believe that the allegations and unrest definitely played a part in both his mental and physical health. "I suspect the emotional turmoil of the last few weeks might have played into it," said athletic director Tom Osborne.

Certainly, it is hard to see past the last few months. But former Penn State cornerback D'Anton Lynn offers hope that we will soon be able to remember Joe Paterno for what he did for the university and for the State College community. "No matter what people say, you can't take away what he did for Penn State and college football," he said. "I don't think there will ever be a college coach that will ever have that impact again."

Source: Centre Daily Times, "At PSU, tension over ouster, then grief for JoePa," Genaro C. Armas, Jan. 23, 2012