YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES

Global Search

sports

Traffic near-miss launches Joe Paterno after driver; her husband confronts angry coach

  • Article by: Star Tribune
  • Updated: October 11, 2007 - 5:29 PM

  • share

    email

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, after several days of Internet rumors suggesting that he was involved in a road-rage incident, said that he confronted a female driver after a near accident last week, scolded her and warned her to "watch it," the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported today.

According to the newspaper, Paterno, 80, told more than 300 people at Wednesday's Penn State Quarterback Club's luncheon about the run-in on a campus street. The weekly luncheon, attended by alumni and monetary donors, is normally treated as off the record and is closed to the media. The Post-Gazette cited "multiple sources who attended" the luncheon as the basis for its report.

The newspaper's report continued:

Paterno said at the luncheon that after his close call Friday, he pulled over, exited his car, approached the other vehicle and shook his finger at the driver. He warned her to "watch it."

"Be careful," Paterno said. "I have your license number, and I will call the police on you."

According to the newspaper's sources, Paterno said a male passenger from the woman's car walked up to the coach and chastised him, saying, "That's my wife you're talking to."

Paterno replied, "That's your problem."

The woman then snapped back at Paterno,"I'm going to call the police on you."

Paterno reportedly told the woman to go ahead. And she did.

The newspaper added that according to a university police report, the unidentified woman filed her claim the same day as the incident. She stated that a male driver committed a traffic violation and acted in a disorderly manner at 12:09 p.m.

University police investigated the report and determined "there was nothing to pursue,'' Penn State vice president Bill Mahon told the Associated Press on Thursday, without confirming Paterno as the driver who was the target of the complaint. University police do not release names in cases in which no charges are filed.

STAFF REPORT

  • share

    email

explore star tribune sports

ADVERTISEMENT

LA Lakers 88 FINAL
Boston 87
Golden State 109 FINAL
Denver 101
Houston 96 FINAL
Phoenix 89
Oklahoma City 101 FINAL
Sacramento 106
St. Louis 4 FINAL(SO)
New Jersey 3
Montreal 4 FINAL
NY Islanders 2
Tampa Bay 3 FINAL(OT)
NY Rangers 4
Toronto 3 FINAL
Philadelphia 4
Winnipeg 3 FINAL(SO)
Washington 2
Dallas 4 FINAL
Columbus 2
Nashville 3 FINAL
Ottawa 4
Los Angeles 1 FINAL
Florida 3
Vancouver 5 FINAL
Minnesota 2
Calgary 1 FINAL(OT)
Phoenix 2
(21) Wisconsin 68 FINAL
Minnesota 61
Ole Miss 60 FINAL
(20) Miss State 70
Illinois 71 FINAL
(23) Indiana 84
Tennessee St 72 FINAL
(9) Murray State 68
(16) St Marys-CA 59 FINAL
Gonzaga 73
Old Dominion 63 FINAL
(12) Delaware 76
Wisconsin 54 FINAL
(18) Penn State 69
(5) Duke 71 FINAL
Boston College 62
(8) Maryland 91 FINAL
Clemson 61
Detroit 70 FINAL
(9) Green Bay 58
(10) Ohio State 65 FINAL
Illinois 66
(24) South Carolina 47 FINAL
Arkansas 68
Michigan 63 FINAL
(13) Nebraska 52
U-S-C 52 FINAL
(4) Stanford 69
(19) Gonzaga 40 FINAL
B-Y-U 70
(11) Tennessee 79 FINAL
Vanderbilt 93

Connect with twitter Connect with facebook Connect with Rssfeed

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

question of the day

Poll: I think Williams Arena...

Weekly Question

inside the StarTribune

help

Star Tribune offers digital subscriptions

entertainment

In Oscar nods, oldies are goodies

vita.mn

Vita.mn's 2012 Hotness search

investigators

A showcase of Minnesota’s best investigative reporting

Home

Lottery: Get the latest results

Home

Download our prep boys and girls hockey apps

 
Close