Doctors say Joe Paterno is in 'serious' condition

The doctors of former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno have listed him in serious condition after he suffered from complications due to lung cancer.

According to ESPN, Paterno was diagnosed with a treatable form of cancer in November, just after he was fired for his involvement in the child sex abuse allegations against Jerry Sandusky.

"Over the last few days Joe Paterno has experienced further health complications," said a spokesman for the family in a statement. "His doctors have now characterized his status as serious."

The 84-year-old Paterno was rumored to have died on Saturday, but his son Jay Paterno set the record straight on Twitter, writing "I appreciate the support [and] prayers. Joe is continuing to fight."

Although his final days at Penn State were anything but a fond farewell, Paterno is still well-loved by the Penn State community. During his 46-year long career with the university, he too the team to 37 bowl games and was seen as a groundbreaking coach.

People.com reported that Penn State was playing football videos at Beaver Stadium and students have been congregating around Paterno's statue in his honor. The mood was somber and quiet, a stark contrast to the riots and protests that took place around campus when it was announced that Patterno was being fired.