How false reports of Joe Paterno’s death were spread and debunked

News spread quickly Saturday evening that former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno had died. Except, he hadn’t. (Paterno’s family announced his death on Sunday morning.)

Here is an account of how the misinformation spread.

Best Roof Talk Ever: We're all off the field

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Too often people, even while encouraging unity and tolerance, continue to classify themselves in ways that keep them separate from the population as a whole. The world is split into teams and it’s everyone against everyone else. ‘Uniting’ is not about finding unity, as it were, but more about growing stronger to defeat those who see things differently than you.

Before a presidential election, a candidate will try to unify the party to take on the other one. After an election, a President will try to unify the country if he can convince us that we all have a common enemy.

Being as apathetic about politics as I am about college football can make this whole ordeal frustrating at times, especially when one side is cheering the defeat (or worse, moral defeat) of their opposition.

Aren’t we all technically on the same team? I mean, sure, there are things we would like to see happen to those that disagree with us. Sure, it’s natural to revel in their hypocrisy, even when it means dissolved marriages and broken hearts (things that probably would have been dissolved or broken eventually, right?).

But what about in the case of the Sandusky child abuse? Hell, let’s call it what it was. The media may not be comfortable saying “child rape” but I don’t think that should stop me. I mean, it makes me shudder to even think about those words next to each other. It disgusts me more than just about anything else I can think of.

Isn’t that one of the worst crimes that one can commit?

So how can Penn State students and alum still pledge loyalty to JoePa? Trust me, I am friends with many a Penn State fan on Facebook and otherwise. And I saw a lot of solidarity posts that, summed up, read in three parts:

1. This scandal is really sad
2. We are bigger and better than this scandal (as a whole)
3. WE ARE! (Penn State) (worst team cheer ever? thanks, we know) 

However, I can look at those posts, and, while shaking my head, attempt to understand. These kids who spent four years living and breathing blue and white don’t want to let one incident tarnish their school’s reputation, and they sure as hell don’t want to let themselves be defined by it either. I get that.

But honestly, if a dozen or so kids were molested and/or raped at the hands of a superior, couldn’t the school pride just wait? Couldn’t the support for the other 45 years of Joe Paterno’s head coaching just go on hold for awhile?

I mean, seriously, where are the priorities? Are they actually more concerned with protecting the reputation of their demigod than seeing that justice is served for innocent children and respect served to the victims of the crimes?

Keep reading, and consider this co-signed.