Jimmy Cefalo recalls Paterno's influence
Jerry DiPaola | Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012 12:00 a.m.
When Jimmy Cefalo was at Pittston High School in 1974, he decided he wanted to go to the University of Georgia after graduation.
Then, Joe Paterno visited his house.
It was a Sunday night and Cefalo was returning from a recruiting visit to Georgia.
"I was going to tell my parents I finally decided where I wanted to go school," said Cefalo, recalling the story after standing guard by Paterno's casket for an hour during visitation at the funeral.
"There was a light on the kitchen. Sitting at the table was Joe, and my mom was ladling pasta sauce over his spaghetti, and my dad was pouring him a glass of his homemade wine."
Joe ignored me, looked at my mother and said, 'Mrs. Cefalo, this pasta is better than Mrs. Cappellitti's (referring to the mother of Penn State Heisman Trophy-winning running back John Cappellitti.)' "
Cefalo's future was set.
"I never had the conversation with my parents about going to Georgia," Cefalo said. "Because Joe recruited the mothers. He didn't recruit the kids. He couldn't care less what I thought.
Cefalo, who went on to became a star wide receiver for Penn State and the Miami Dolphins and later a TV journalist, said Paterno recalled the story years later when they met on the field before a Penn State game.
"He runs over to me and says, 'How are Gertie and Chuck?'"
"When my mom died, I get home, turn on the answering machine and it's Joe's voice. Same with my dad."
Cefalo paused to wipe away tears.
"Do you have any wonder why we are so loyal to him?"
The entire episode is watch-worthy. 
