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

Star Tribune

Last update: October 11, 2007 - 5:29 PM

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.

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