Published on: Thursday, January 26, 2012

By Brandy L. Simms

The nation has been mourning the death of legendary former Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno who passed away over the weekend from lung cancer just months after he was ousted amid a child abuse sex scandal. He was 85.

Paterno, who spent more than four and a half decades at the helm of the Penn State football program, was the winningest coach in the history of major college football. He was also college football’s all-time leader in bowl victories (24) and appearances (37).

“We lost one of the best,” said Bishop McNamara head coach Bryce Bevill, a 1990 DeMatha graduate who played collegiately at Syracuse.

Bevill recalled a game during his college career where Syracuse played against Penn State.

“We went up to Penn State and they put a whipping on us,” he said.

There were a number of players with Prince George’s County ties who played at Penn State during the Paterno era including former Bishop McNamara and NFL standout Tyoka Jackson and Suitland High graduate and current San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman.

Former DeMatha head coach Bill McGregor met Paterno on several occasions and offered some fond memories of the coach affectionately known around the country as “JoePa.”

“He was an icon,” said McGregor, who noted that Paterno once spoke at DeMatha’s graduation. “He was just an incredible football coach.”

McGregor spent nearly four decades coaching football at DeMatha including 29 years as the head football coach and during that period three former players matriculated from Hyattsville to State College.

Rogers Alexander, Steve Smith and Derek Wake were all DeMatha graduates who played on the gridiron at Penn State. Wake, now known as Cameron, currently plays for the Miami Dolphins.

“One thing about Joe Paterno,” recalled McGregor, “he would always remember your name. I’m sure he (met) tons of high school coaches but he was incredible with names.”

McGregor said that he developed a good relationship with Paterno and his coaching staff including assistants Larry Johnson and Tom Bradley.

“My dealings with Coach Paterno have always been nothing but fantastic. He was always just a regular guy,” said McGregor. “He always made you feel very welcoming. He’s a total icon of college football.”