(Image source: Washington Post / ESPN)

BY ANDREW CARTER

ANCHOR ANTHONY MARTINEZ

Former longtime Penn State coach Joe Paterno died Sunday morning. The 85-year-old had been battling lung cancer. CNN has his family’s statement.

“It is with great sadness that we announce that Joe Paterno passed away earlier today … His loss leaves a void in our lives that will never be filled.”

Paterno died as the winningest major college football coach of all-time with 409 victories. But Paterno was fired in November after the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal made headlines. He was diagnosed with lung cancer shortly after.

Paterno’s death was a point of controversy this weekend after Penn State student-run website OnwardState falsely announced he had died on Saturday night. (Video Source: ESPN)

Just moments later, without naming its source, CBSSports also announced Paterno’s death. As word got out, and Twitter exploded, Paterno’s son Scott Paterno was forced to deny CBS’ report.

“CBS report is wrong - Dad is alive but in serious condition. We continue to ask for your prayers and privacy during this time.”

Following Scott’s statement, CBS issued an apology. And now under the microscope, Onward State also responded.

“‘To the Penn State community and to the Paterno family most of all, I could not be more sorry for the emotional anguish I am sure we caused,’ wrote Devon Edwards, Onward State's managing editor. ‘There are no excuses for what we did.’”

As rumors of Joe’s death circulated, ESPN grabbed video of students and locals gathering at his statue on campus.

“More than a hundred folks gathered by a statue of Joe Paterno, which is adjacent to the football stadium, a sort of impromptu vigil happened throughout the evening on Saturday night,  well after midnight.”