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I realize that this might be a sensitive issue for American college football fans, or for Pennsylvanians (I live in Pennsylvania but was never a Penn State fan).

Football coach Joe Paterno had already been diagnosed with lung cancer when the Sandusky scandal caused his "resignation"/firing in early November 2011. He was 85.

While I don't doubt that the emotional distress hastened his end in January 2012, the lung cancer aspect is usually ignored and the "died of a broken heart" angle played up.

Let's say there was no such scandal, or that whatever cover-up occurred (or not) was not brought to light until several years later. Would Paterno, with lung cancer, aged 85, had lived that much longer anyway?

Or...let's say no lung cancer; everything else occurred as it did otherwise and then he is indicted, as he probably would have been. Does he still "die of a broken heart," or live to stand trial and probable sentencing/jail time? I really can't see the man, in either situation living past 2013 or 2014.

As to the issue of vacating wins, and then their restoration several years later, any guesses as to effect upon that if he survives a bit longer?
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