The Lions' Pride

Maybe he did and we just don't know about it. More likely though is Joe probably didn't think he was going to lose that fight and die and he would be able to share his side. Doesn't matter though, the media and Freeh would have painted the same picture and joe would have had to be alive to face it. Probably better off.

I wonder what Posnaski knows, if anything more than us.

I remember some of Joe's final post game presser's.....quite honestly he was in bad shape for quite a while, people seem to forget that...he wasn't right for the better part of 2-3 years..pretty much since AQ ran him over

I'm pretty sure the family knew it was terminal.

I think the OP raises an interesting question, especially considering the family's intense attention toward impression management.

There are lots of "Rumors" out there that he did just that. The "Rumor" states that he did make a video with instructions not to release it until after the Sandusky case was over or after sentencing if/when he was found guilty. I guess as to not interfere. The "Rumor" also states this video was part of his will and that is why the Paterno family tried to "seal" his will. Once the "Unsealed" the will the family removed the video. Just rumor so I don't know.

My former boss was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in June of 2008 and continued to act as our company president while undergoing chemo and radiation until he passed in February of 2009. To say he was functioning at a diminished capacity would be a huge understatement. Chemo drugs are very tough on your ability to function mentally in addition to the obvious physical effects. He was our main salesman, and on many occasions forget how software he helped design and had used and demonstrated for nearly a decade functioned. He embarrassed himself on numerous calls with large perspective clients because he simply could not remember basic things. Accuracy of an interview with someone in a similar state isn't something I would give a lot of credence to and may explain why Sally didn't get accurate answers.

Let's be honest and realistic though. Don't you think a guy that got check ups on a weekly basis knew that he had cancer way before the Sandusky saga, ie all his medical issues the last two seasons. Why else restructure your contract to make it your last year? I think Joe knew 2011 was going to be his last season regardless of the JS debacle. I think it only got diagnosed as terminal towards the end of the year.

I just remember, that leading up to the Nebraska game, everyone was saying that there was going to be a special announcement at the Nebraska game, that Joe was going to announce his retirement, but the JS scandal broke public, Joe was fired, etc.

I think his biggest mistake in providing clarity for us all was allowing others to script his interviews. Hiring that PR firm was the biggest mistake. For a man who stuck it to the media and spoke so bluntly for over 60 years, I hated to see his press releases, that letter to the alumni, and his interview with Sally Jenkins. I think the PR firm did more harm than good.

Again, it would be nice to hear it from the horse's mouth; its just unfortunate that he passed, so we can never hear his side of the story in full detail. All we have left are misleading statements to a Grand Jury and the Sally Jenkins interview. f

I understand the letter, but its very hard to believe that he wrote that letter back in December and that it surface one day before the Freeh Report. It doesn't even read like its in Joe's words. It seems more like damage control to me than a heart felt letter that was written three weeks before his death.

I guess it is about perception. To me it read genuine. I could even see him writing it all himself. He was an English major at Brown, ya know.

Definitely agree with you, just having a tough time accepting that view. I'm a police officer, so when I view these things its through a lens of realism rather than hopefulness (Takes a while to figure out how to do this.) In all reality, as a cop, (I'm not a cynical a-hole one either because I know there are a lot out there that are) I always hope for the best, but search for the most realistic answer. I just wanted to clarify the way I was viewing the topic because I know a lot of people are emotion heavy on this and wanted them to know that my statements are genuine and not just trying to start a fight. I know you didn't view it that way, I'm just clarifying for anyone else that might get involved in this thread. AKA i'm not fueling the rage.

For what it's worth.I hate to see a university that I have admired for decades suffer this tragedy.Penn State is a class act and I hate to see such a great school have to suffer just because a handfull of people didn't do there jobs.I hope the best for u and I wish people would see the fact that a lot of people are suffering that shouldn't be because they had nothing to do with this.Keep your heads up and be proud.The students and alumni should decide how to move forward and everyone else should stay the f*** out of it.

There morons and think the only thing that sells is negative news.i think eventually the university will turn this into something positive.Like programs for victims and there family's.i know that doesn't seem possible right now but you have to think possitive during hard times.