Former Penn State head coach Joe Paterno, his body ravaged by chemotherapy and radiation treatments for lung cancer, fiercely battled for his life Saturday night at Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College, Pa.
Paterno’s family, which includes his wife Sue, five children and 17 grandchildren, were summoned in the afternoon to the hospital, where Paterno has been under care since being readmitted on Jan. 13.
Two reports at around 6:45 p.m. MST, by CBS and another by the “Onward State” website, declared that the 85-year-old Paterno had died. But family spokesman Dan McGinn told The Associated Press the report was “not true.”
Later, two of Paterno’s sons issued tweets that refuted the website’s report.
“I appreciate the support & prayers,” wrote Jay Paterno, who worked for his father as quarterbacks coach. “Joe is continuing to fight.”
Scott Paterno tweeted, “CBS report is wrong. Dad is alive but in serious condition. We ask for your prayers and your privacy during this time.”
Both sources of the erroneous reports used social media to apologize.
A statement issued earlier Saturday by McGinn on behalf of the family said Paterno had “experienced further health complications” and that his doctors “have now characterized his status as serious.”
“His family will have no comment on the situation and asks that their privacy be respected during this difficult time,” the statement concluded.
NBC News reported that chemotherapy treatments had created complications for Paterno that resulted in his going back into the hospital.
Word of Paterno’s condition resulted in hundreds of people — students, alumni and the curious — turning out at the Paterno statue just outside of Beaver Stadium. Five students dug snow out from around the statue, allowing people to gather with candles or to place flowers at the base of the statue.
Jay Paterno tweeted that he had driven by the students, adding, “Just told my Dad about all the love & support — inspiring him.”
