Penn State security had to turn away mourners as viewing hours for the late Joe Paterno ended Wednesday after thousands of students, alumni and admirers had filed past the football coach's closed casket to pay their respects.
The second of three days of events for Paterno was to culminate with a private funeral service and his burial in the afternoon. Penn State will host a public memorial on Thursday at its basketball arena.
The outpouring of support for the Hall of Fame coach was huge, with hundreds of people lined up outside a campus spiritual center throughout the morning in temperatures around freezing. Members of Penn State's rugby team handed out hot chocolate and took donations for the Special Olympics and the student run dance marathon fundraiser _ the two organizations Paterno's family requested receive donations in lieu of flowers.
"For a lot of people he was a teacher and a mentor as well," said Josh Toolajian, a Penn State Senior. "We're all just here to pay our respects."
Paterno served as head coach for 46 years and won two national titles before being fired last November in the wake of child sex-abuse scandal involving a former assistant.
The last few months have been emotionally wrenching for the school's students and alumni, but mourners over the past two days have focused on the inspiration Paterno provided to them, his accomplishments both on and off the field and his philanthropy.
"He was a big part of my University experience," said Penn State alumni Dana Morris. "He was a role model, a leader, an educator. He donated so much back to Penn State, in more ways than just football."
The 85-year-old Paterno died Sunday of lung cancer. He had been ousted just days before learning of his diagnosis. Paterno's son, Scott, has said his father was not bitter and remained upbeat until the end of his life.
Jerry Sandusky, the former defensive coordinator at the center of the abuse scandal, has been charged with molesting 10 boys over a period of 15 years. He has pleaded not guilty and is on bail, awaiting trial. Paterno was criticized in the days after Sandusky's arrest for not going to authorities outside campus when he was told of an allegation against the retired assistant in 2002.
Admirers put the case aside.
Thousands waited in line Tuesday on an overcast winter afternoon for the first day of visitation at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center, where Paterno family members regularly attend services.
Inside the hall, the coach's body lay in a brown hardwood casket topped by a spray of white roses. About six feet away sat a stylized black-and-white picture of the man who became lovingly known on campus as “JoePa,” smiling and peering out through his trademark thick-rimmed glasses.
Paterno's casket had an “honor guard” of two Penn State players _ one past and one present. Some mourners stopped for a moment of reflection, or to genuflect in the interfaith hall.
Others fought back tears and sniffles. The only other sounds were the occasional clicks of news photographers taking pictures.
Paterno won 409, a record for major college football, in a career admired by peers as much for its longevity as its success. Paterno also took as much pride in the program's graduation rates, often at or close to the top of the Big Ten.
A private funeral for Paterno's family will take place Wednesday at 2 p.m. After that, a funeral procession around campus will begin around 3 p.m. In a growing movement known as "Guide Joe Home," students, alumni and other supporters will come out for the procession, wearing white and linking arms. They will then walk from the spiritual center all the way downtown through State College.
On Thursday a public memorial service will take place at the Bryce Jordan Center at 2 p.m. The 10,000 tickets that were made available for the service were all gone within seven minutes on Tuesday.
