"Mark Robinson was on his cellphone early Wednesday afternoon. He had flown from Tampa and was at the airport in State College, Pa. He was on his way to see Joe.

"I have to be here," Robinson said.

Hundreds of former Penn State players had told themselves that since Joe Paterno died. They've made the trip to Central Pennsylvania to say goodbye to their coach, to a man they loved and admired.

There was a report Tuesday that more than 800 former Penn State players had passed before Paterno's casket as it lie in the spiritual center on campus, with coaches and fans, lines stretching for blocks."