Shane Conlins reflections on JoePa: At this sad time, I would like to say that my thoughts and prayers go out to Sue and the entire Paterno family. The world has lost a truly great man, husband, father and lastly, coach. He taught all of us former players how to develop into better people and demonstrated how one was to live their life, on and off the football field. Soon following the abrupt actions last Fall, I had the privilege to sit with him at his kitchen with my good friend and fellow teammate Dan Delligatti. It was humbling and heartbreaking to find that he only wanted to ask about about me and my children. He asked about my mother and father referring to both of them by their first name. Pretty unbelievable when you consider how many players he coached. He proceeded to say to me, Shane, you know why I was tough on you and your teammates when you were younger? It wasnt to prepare you for the NFL, it was to prepare you and your teammates for life. To prepare you to better husbands, fathers, businessmen. And good humble, men. Other than my own father, I credit Joe for making me the man I am today. Fortunately I was able to tell him that in person and he proceeded to give me a hug. In parting, he said in his unforgettable, raspy Brooklyn accent, How about we found a skinny kid from Frewsburg, N.Y. and made him an All-American and All-Pro linebacker! I truly loved that man for everything he was about and stood for. - Shane Conlan, 86
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 04:20:52 +0000
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