Cleveland reacts to Joe Paterno's death

CLEVELAND - The Winking Lizard Tavern in downtown Cleveland was packed with football fans watching the NFL playoff game between the Baltimore Ravens and the New England Patriots. But much of the talk was about what happened before the game.

On Sunday morning, the family of Joe Paterno announced that he had passed away at the age of 85. Paterno, the former head football coach at Penn State University, was fired last November for his connection with the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse case. Sandusky is accused of abusing children over a 15-year period of time.

“It’s interesting,” said Al Neis, who received his masters from Penn State. “How we are so challenged with the last three months. Those are not conditions that we would like to remember him with.”

Neis said he and other alumni are concerned about the way Paterno will be remembered in history.

“He made a mistake and he didn’t know how to handle the situation that was presented to him," said Neis.

“It’s kind of a shame that he won’t be able to clear his name,” said Matt Aranabage, a rabid Ohio State fan. “He was known as an educator so hopefully he’ll be remembered for that.”

Paterno won 409 games as a head football coach in college football the most in NCAA history. Although the victory was short-lived, as the Sandusky scandal came out about a week later.

“I feel like all that stress kind of built up on him and it took it’s toll,” said Brian Clark, surrounded by friends all nodding their heads in agreement.

There has been some talk of removing the statue of Paterno because of the controversy. University officials deny that the statue will be removed.