After a relaxing week at the Outer Banks with my family, Morelli OnLion returns this week with more Penn State football news, another moment to remember and a question for PSU athletic director Tim Curley.
Breaking Down the Lions: Tight End
With Andrew Quarless and Mickey Shuler, Jr., gone to the NFL, there’s really no one with a plethora of game experience left. It appears that the starting job is Andrew Szczerba’s to lose, though he sat out the Blue-White Game because of some back problems. During the 2009 season, he had just one reception for 6 yards.
Head coach Joe Paterno likes what he’s seen from Szczerba thus far.
“Szczerba is going to be fine. He doesn’t quite have the speed that either Mickey or Quarless had, but he’s going to be fine,” Paterno said. “And then we have the young kid (Garry) Gilliam, who I like. He’s going to be OK. So I think we’ll be all right.”
According to Szczerba, there’s nothing harder than sitting and waiting your turn.
But he’s put in his time and is ready for the spotlight.
“Freshman year, it’s definitely tough because you come in with a lot of high expectations. You get used to being the second or third guy. It’s kinda hard to describe. You just push through it. Not every day is the best day, but you know that your time is going to come,” Szczerba said.
There’s not much depth behind Szczerba, so look for Gilliam (a redshirt freshman) and Kevin Haplea (a true freshman) to compete for the back-up role.
Moment to Remember No. 9
Senior Bridget Franek’s first-place finish in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase propelled the Penn State women’s track and field team to a fourth place finish at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore. Franek’s gold medal was the 10th All- America citation she earned in cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field.
It was just the women’s program’s fourth gold medal finish, along with Shana Cox (400 meters, 2008), the 2008 4×400 relay team (Dominique Blake, Aleesha Barber, Gayle Hunter and Cox) and Deshaya Williams’ 2003 title in the discus. Penn State’s fourth-place finish matched the program’s all-time highest finish, equaling the 2008 team.
The NCAA trophy finish came on the heels of coach Beth Alford-Sullivan’s women’s team claiming the Big Ten triple crown, which consists of first place finishes in the cross country, indoor and outdoor championships.
Questions for Curley: Part V
Today, gantnews.com asks Tim Curley about the state of the hoops program.
GD: The men’s basketball team struggled this past season. What is your assessment of the state of the men’s program right now?
TC: I like the direction that Ed is taking the program, I like his assistant coaches, I like our student athletes, I like how they fit with what we’re trying to do here at the university. But, we both recognize, both Ed and I recognize, that certainly winning is a very important part of the overall equation, and so I was thrilled with our NIT run and the season that we had was one of the best that we had. We felt we should have been in the NCAAs that year, but it was just a tremendous run with a lot of enthusiasm generated, and it gave us a glimpse of what Penn State basketball can be all about. Last year was a step backwards, and so moving forward, I want to be supportive because I like the values, I like the leadership, I like the people in our program. I like everything around the program and I have real high hopes that we’re going to move in the right direction and make sure that we try to maximize this program as much as possible. So, at this point right now, we’re all just working real hard to support Ed and the team and his coaching staff, trying to help him to continue to do the good things he is doing and hope that the victories… two years ago they came, last year all of the tight games we lost. I’ll tell you, it was very frustrating because we were so close in so many games this past year, but all other aspects of the program have been real positive. So, I remain really upbeat and positive about the program and what Ed and the staff can do. We’re really looking forward to this coming year and supporting Ed and I hope our fans will stay with them and the program. This is a time we need them more than ever. It’s an important year coming up.
Chris Morelli is an award-winning writer/editor who lives in Centre County and covers Penn State athletics. He is also a regular on “Sports Central,” which airs on ESPN Radio in Altoona and State College. E-mail him at morellionlion@gmail.com.
