Joe Paterno turns 82
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Penn State Coach Joe Paterno celebrated his 82nd birthday today.
The legendary coach arrived Saturday at LAX to begin preparing for the upcoming Rose Bowl against USC, later checking into a Santa Monica hotel. Friends, fans and Penn State alumni sent birthday wishes via posts to a website called JoePa’s Virtual Birthday Party.
Despite the occasion, Paterno still held the team’s first scheduled Rose Bowl practice at the Home Depot Center in Carson. Afterward, at a dinner with the team, he was serenaded by his players who belted out ‘Happy Birthday’ and presented their coach with a cake.
-- Corina Knoll