I have met a handful of truly great men in my life.
State College Spikes General Manager Jason Dambach is one of them. He is the consummate professional in and out of work and a man I have grown to admire.
Jason just lost his fiance, Kerri McEachern, to a rare form of cancer. I want to express my sorrow to both families but also my gratitude to witness the love they shared.
It's mind-numbing to think that a beautiful 23-year-old women can die so young. It is just not fair. Kerri and Jason deserved better. They deserved more time.
I cannot begin to imagine the range of emotions this couple has gone through - the highs, the lows and now the goodbye. For the first time in my life, I truly understand what love is. Love is Jason and Kerri.
Jason has been so strong through this entire process. He was balancing a new job, a relationship and Kerri's fight against cancer. That is not an easy thing to handle and Jason did it with class, grace and kindness.
He made the three-hour trips to her home in Gilbertsville on the weekends to hold her hand. He sent out e-mails to keep friends and family up to date on Kerri's progress.
He made her better by just being in the room. He stood by her through good times and bad.
Men like this don't come by very often. Men like Jason are one of a kind and who I strive to be like. He will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Mike Mueller
Altoona
(Note: The writer is a sportscaster for WTAJ-TV).
JoePa right on expansion
I almost fell off my chair when I read the words "Pitt" and "expansion" in the same sentence from Joe Paterno concerning possible Big Ten expansion.
For someone who is continually cast as "old school," Paterno really showed some foresight and ingenuity with his comments.
Let's face it: Our out of conference games will continue to be weak, save Alabama and Virginia. A conference championship game makes a ton of sense.
Mark Patla
Plainsboro, N.J.
