'I Am Very Saddened We Have Lost Coach Joe Paterno'

Ron Maly has already written that he thinks the late Joe Paterno was mistreated, and that the mistreatment contributed to his premature death. Here's more about Paterno from readers:

"I felt compelled to tell my story about Joe Paterno because it effects me even today: Iowa vs. Penn State, Sept. 18, 1993, Kinnick Stadium:

"I was sitting on the opposing side about four rows up about the 30-yard line and you could hear conversations on the sideline many times. John Sacca was pulled from the game and I think he had just thrown an interception. Out of frustration, he did something on the field that caused an unsportsmanlike personal foul of unsportsmanlike conduct. Paterno pulled Sacca aside and was speaking to him about what had happened on the field, Sacca then started to give his side of the situation and all of a sudden Paterno grabbed him very sternly and said, 'We do not do that at Penn State.' He then put Kerry Collins in as quarterback.

"We all have that voice that says what would Dad do or Mom do, I will always remember what Paterno did. Joe Pa mentored me and I never met him or spoke to him personally. I can only imagine the impact he has had on others."

A Sports Fan

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"Thanks much for sending [the previous] e-mail. Several years ago, I watched a very short video that showed the implosion of the 1958 press box at Kinnick Stadium. They lined the thing with dynamite and took the whole thing down in about five seconds. The same thing was done to the Kingdome in Seattle, WA.

"Approximately the same thing was done by Jerry Sandusky to the lifetime of great work and great legacy achieved by Coach Joe Paterno during his 46 years as head coach and 16 years as assistant coach at Penn State.

"Nothing good was achieved to help Penn State University by their trustees' firing Coach Paterno before the 2011 football season was over. I think the trustees were trying to shield Penn State against the lawsuits that would be filed by Sandusky's victims. Firing Paterno in November did nothing to help their legal position. Some of those lawsuits have already been filed, and more will come. Firing Coach Paterno will not change any of that.

"I am very saddened that we have lost Coach Joe Paterno. Again, my thanks for your e-mail."

Best, AL SCHALLAU

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"...It's sad that Paterno went out somewhat on the dark side, because he did many things the right way. And there are far too few coaches today who walk that line. I hated to see Dr. Tom [Davis] leave the Iowa [basketball] program. I was pretty sure he'd never win a national championship, but he was a class act, and there are far, far too few of them. Paterno's mistake was allowing himself to become the most powerful man on the Penn State campus. Near the end, he simply had too much to protect, and perhaps most difficult, to keep things in perspective. Of all the qualities of people in administrative/leadership positions, I think perspective is one of the most important qualifies and the most difficult to maintain.

"A few centuries ago, Alexander Pope wrote, 'To err is human; to forgive, divine.'"

A Coach

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“It is certainly a very, very sad day. The passing of Coach Paterno is a huge loss; there will never be another Joe Paterno. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Paterno family.” -- Kirk Ferentz, Iowa football coach.

"Joe Paterno has meant so much to college athletics over such a long period of time. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his immediate family first and foremost, and then, certainly, to the extended Penn State family."-- Gary Barta, Iowa athletic director.