University Park , Pennsylvania ( CNN ) -- The funeral procession carrying the remains of former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno traveled Wednesday past Beaver Stadium , where he paced the sidelines for more than five decades . People along the procession , some dressed in Penn State colors , shouted out , `` We love you , Joe ! You are Penn State . '' Others held signs or stood in silence . A second public viewing was held earlier at the campus spiritual center before the private funeral and burial service in downtown State College . Paterno 's blue hearse was accompanied by several vehicles carrying family members and others . Tuesday , some mourners dabbed their eyes ; others made the sign of the cross as they walked past the closed casket that was covered with roses . A black-and-white photograph of a smiling Paterno rested nearby . Paterno died Sunday at the age of 85 . A public memorial service is scheduled for Thursday at Bryce Jordan Center on the Penn State campus . All tickets for the event had been distributed by Tuesday morning , the university said on its Facebook page . The legendary coach 's career with the Nittany Lions abruptly ended last fall amid criticism of his response to alleged child sexual abuse by a former assistant . A university spokeswoman said Tuesday that administrators have heard about a petition drive seeking to add Paterno 's name to the football stadium , but it is too soon to discuss such initiatives . `` There are discussions that will be ongoing , but at this particular juncture , we are focused on the services on campus , '' she said . `` There will be future discussions about a variety of ideas . '' Flags were flying at half-staff in Paterno 's honor , and President Barack Obama phoned the family Monday to offer his condolences . `` It was very meaningful to my mother and very moving , and it was awfully nice of the president to call us , '' Paterno 's son , Jay , said Tuesday . He and his sister , Mary Kay Paterno Hort , did n't directly address criticisms of their father for how he handled a 2002 report that an assistant coach had allegedly caught former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky molesting a young boy in a shower at the football complex on campus . Joe Paterno passed the report on to two university executives , who were later accused by authorities of misleading investigators and failing to properly report the abuse . In his final interview with The Washington Post , Paterno said he felt inadequate to deal with the situation . In Paterno 's 46-season tenure as head coach , the Nittany Lions won two national championships , went undefeated five times and finished in the top 25 national rankings 35 times , according to his official Penn State biography . Paterno worked 61 years at the school . He became the winningest coach in major college football history on October 29 , just days before the Sandusky case became public . The school fired him November 9 . CNN 's Sarah Hoye , Julian Cummings , Susan Candiotti and Laura Batchelor , and contributor Sara Ganim contributed to this report .
Crowds line streets for funeral procession . No more tickets left for Thursday memorial service , Penn State says . Joe Paterno died Sunday at age 85 . Administrators are aware of a petition to add Paterno 's name to the football stadium .