(Image Source: Los Angeles Times)

BY JOSH LANDER

ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

To say the death of the winningest head coach in college football history comes at a controversial time would be an understatement.  

Wednesday, Joe Paterno’s funeral amassed that same debate: hero? Or villain? Here’s KSAT with reaction.

“Joe Paterno should be put in the same boat as Bin Laden.”
“The last action that you do, right or wrong, will be haunted forever.”

David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune writes Paterno’s funeral reignites the opposing views of his legacy.

“The first paragraph of every obituary on Paterno required mention he won more college football games than any Division 1 coach — 409. Duty obligates the next line to include Paterno presided over one of the biggest scandals in college sports history that resulted in longtime Penn State assistant Jerry Sandusky being charged with child sex abuse.”

The Huffington Post’s Hank Koebler says the idea that Paterno’s death would somehow bring the end of the controversy surrounding his life is false.  

“The Sandusky scandal contrasts starkly against what was previously thought to be known about Paterno. The juxtaposition has created a mountain of perplexing questions about what to think of Paterno's life, so it is only natural to look for answers in Paterno's death. In this case, though, answers and closure are nowhere to be found. Sometimes there are deeper meanings to events, but other times there is nothing but a cold and harsh reality.”

But it appears those close to Paterno remain in his corner.  As thousands lined the streets to watch Paterno’s casket drive by, Honorary Chair of the Joe Paterno Library, Michael Kirschner, unveiled his experience. Video courtesy ESPN.

“Look at the 3 hour line of people who want to come pay their respects.  I just visited with somebody who drove 8 hours with 2 young kids.”

Mourners visited Paterno’s casket for nearly four hours Wednesday morning.  A campus memorial service is scheduled for Thursday at Bryce Jordan Center, the school's basketball arena.