Joe Paterno. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Supporters of longtime Penn State football coach Joe Paterno are marking the anniversary of his death with a candlelight vigil.
The Hall of Fame coach died of lung cancer on Jan. 22, 2012, at age 85. On Tuesday, supporters are holding a vigil at a mural in State College that includes a depiction of Paterno. A family spokesman has said the Paternos would not take part.
Organizers say they will light 409 candles, one for each of Paterno’s victories before 111 were stripped as part of NCAA sanctions in response to the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal.
Sandusky was convicted in June of 45 counts of child sex abuse and is serving a lengthy prison sentence. His arrest tarnished Penn State’s storied football program and led to Paterno’s firing.
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