Joe Paterno’s widow to appear on Katie Couric’s talk show

Joe Paterno’s widow is to give her first interview since the Jerry Sandusky scandal and her husband’s subsequent death, appearing on Katie Couric’s daytime talk show in an episode scheduled to air Monday.

Sue Paterno, who was married to the legendary Penn State football coach for 50 years, is scheduled to talk with Couric in studio for the nationally syndicated show “Katie.” The two have already gotten together at Paterno’s home in State College, Pa.

Joe Paterno was head coach of the Nittany Lions for almost as long as he was married, from 1966 into 2011. He led the team to two national titles and 409 victories, which was a major-college record until 111 of those wins were voided by the NCAA as part of the fallout from the Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal.

Paterno was fired by the school in the days after the scandal broke in late 2011. He died from lung cancer in January 2012. His on-campus statue was removed last July, days after he and three other former school officials were accused by former FBI director Louis Freeh, who headed the school’s investigation into the scandal, of covering up allegations against Sandusky.

Many Penn State faithful, including members of Paterno’s family, feel that the former coach’s role in the scandal has been overblown.

Sue Paterno’s chat will be Couric’s second big sports-related interview in recent weeks. Late last month, she talked with former Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o in his first comments since revealing that his supposed late girlfriend actually never existed.

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