Paterno eyes some big things for PSU

Joe Paterno is quite the comedian. If you don’t believe me, just ask him.

The 80-year-old Penn State football mentor joked about making a grand entrance into Beaver Stadium on the day the Nittany Lions recently kicked off the 2007 season against Florida International.

"I’m going to drop in from a parachute," he said.

Paterno said he is still recuperating from a broken left leg suffered last season when one of his own players clobbered him on the sidelines on a running play.

The leg is still causing him some problems.

The media will never go one better on Joe, though.

Asked when he was going to retire from coaching Paterno replied, "I’m too nosey. I’ve got to know what’s going on."

I guess that means he’s going to be around for awhile.

No. 17 Penn State was looking for bigger and better things this season, however, preseason injuries have decimated the Lions’ defensive line and JoePa has been busy switching players around while filling some of the spots where shortages apparently are showing.

He would apparently like to turn the pages ahead several weeks until some of his key defenders return from injuries.

Outside of the injures that have been plaguing PSU this season, the team will be young with a lot of inexperience dotting the roster.

And then, too, several incidents could hurt the defensive side with tackle Chris Baker and safety Anthony Scirrotto having been involved in an off-campus fight.

They are scheduled for trial in October.

Several other PSU players were supposedly involved in the melee.

Paterno punished his entire team for the incident by making then clean up Beaver Stadium following each home game this season.

Two other players, tight end Andrew Quarless and backup cornerback Willie Harriott were charged by Penn State police with underage drinking.

Both may sit out three to four weeks.

But with all of these setbacks, Paterno is still looking for some big things.

He sees a light at the end of the tunnel.

This is a record-breaking season for Paterno who is now in his 42nd season as head man of the Lions. There have been 798 coaching changes at NCAA Division I schools since Paterno worked his first game as head coach on Sept. 17, 1966. That is totally amazing for one man to coach that long at one school.

He is surpassing another well-known football coach by the name of Amos Alonzo Stagg.

Remember him?

Stagg was head coach at the University of Chicago for 41 seasons from 1892-1932.

With all the misfortunes this year, Paterno didn’t look the worse for his dilemma as his Nittany Lions opened with a smashing 59-0 conquest of Florida International. That one set up the big one with Notre Dame last weekend in which the Lions posted a convincing 31-10 conquest over the Fighting Irish.

Wilt on air

Veteran broadcaster and sports announcer, Hugh Ringer, is once again behind the microphone for Thiel College football games.

His contests are being aired on NewsTalk 790, WPIC-FM.

Hugh is a tremendous announcer and he brings the action right into your living room, just like you were sitting in the stands.

This year, Hugh has a new sidekick in Rod Wilt, a former politician who knows Mercer County people and its football players.

He will be the color commentator for Ringer.

The Tomcats are coached by Jack Leipheimer, a Hickory High School grad, who also was an assistant coach at Allegheny College (Meadville) prior to taking over as head man of the Tomcats.

Leipheimer is now in his seventh season as head man at Thiel.

Beaming in

Grove City College is putting some light on the subject, namely the Wolverine football games.

Saturday evening the Wolverines’ home turf at Robert E. Thorn Field will be lit up for the Wolverines home encounter with Waynesburg. Kickoff time is 7 p.m. so come early and enjoy the festivities which include fireworks slated for 6:30.

Lights were added to the field in 2006 but the Wolverines have never played a night contest on the field.

Night football for the Wolverines is something new and it has generated a lot of excitement for Wolverine fans.

Here’s wishing for a victory for Coach Chris Smith and his Wolverines come Saturday evening.