Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio has issued a statement on former longtime Penn State head coach Joe Paterno who passed away early Sunday morning after complications stemming from lung cancer.
Here is the what the Spartan head coach had to say…
“On behalf of my immediate family and the Michigan State football family, we express our deepest sympathy to Joe Paterno’s wife Sue, his five children and 17 grandchildren, as well as his extended family, the Penn State football family and the entire State College community.
“Joe dedicated his life to Penn State and college football. He had unparalleled success during his 46 seasons as the head coach at Penn State. Joe was a major player who helped revolutionize the game of college football. In his six-plus decades at Penn State, he influenced and impacted countless numbers of players and people at a championship level.
“Over the past five years, my wife and I have had the privilege of spending time with both Joe and his wife Sue. We appreciated and enjoyed the time spent at our various functions together and will forever remember him as a steward of our profession.”
Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany, who was behind the removal of Paterno’s name from the league’s championship trophy, also offered a brief statement.“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Joe Paterno,” Delany said. “His passing marks a tremendous loss for Penn State, college football and for countless fans, coaches and student-athletes. Our condolences go out to the Paterno family and to the entire Penn State community.”
Ref: Kalamazoo Gazette, Getty (image)
