Where is Tim Curley?
Would you pay $130 to watch the Blue-White game? That's exactly what any Penn State season ticket holder will be doing when PSU hosts the four tin cans Curley's office has set up for PSU in the 2009 football season. In addition, Curley has set up what appears to be a sleepwalk scrimmage with Indiana State in 2011.
Why does this man get a free pass when it comes to scheduling? Why does the Mirror staff seem to write stores about these ridiculous opponents without any input from PSU's athletic director? Isn't one of this man's chief responsibilities scheduling opponents for PSU intercollegiate men and women teams?
Let's face it: Curley is the best first-quarter handshaker in intercollegiate athletics in congratulating the women's first-place finish in the recent Eastern bowling championships. But beyond that, he has the responsibility of carrying on PSU's reputation of playing top-notch national opponents.
That has gone by the wayside since he took over as athletic director many years ago. It is completely embarrassing.
And don't give me the football team needs to support the other non-revenue producing sports. How about hiring competent coaches who can turn men's basketball and others into revenue-producing sports by having winning seasons that people want to see?
And speaking of men's basketball, I hope Curley felt the full responsibility of keeping the men's basketball team out of the NCAAs with the pathetic scheduling effort he put forth in the 2008-2009 season.
That schedule was ranked as the nation's 309th most difficult. Thankfully, the Devry Institute and the University of Phoenix weren't available.
PSU fans need to boycott one of these games to expose this nonsense and this man's incapability of networking with schools that offer better competition.
There is one thing that Penn State loves more than Joe Paterno, and that's money. Curley is fully taking for granted the season-ticket holders and what they will take. Believe me, they will feel it and maybe that will send a message.
Shawn Bice
Hollidaysburg
Reputation in jeopardy
The Altoona Curve season is in full swing, and one thing is painfully obvious: The glowing reputation of Curve fans being the "best fans in all of baseball" is in serious jeopardy.
While the Curve team is struggling, and at times do not play their best game, I refuse to believe any true fan would use this as an excuse not to come out to Blair County Ballpark.
Although the ballclub is going through some growing pains, injuries and players constantly coming and going aren't helping the cause. Throw in the several games rained out, and it's easy to see why the guys are having a hard time getting their act together.
When Bob Lozinak brought the Curve to Altoona in 1999, he knew there were many, many baseball fans in the region, and he was sure his team would develop a loyal, supportive fan base that would guarantee a successful minor league franchise, and he was right.
Now, in 2009, Lozinak and the Altoona Curve baseball team need the "Curve Nation" to get out to BCB and get behind our guys.
When things aren't going well is when a true fan shows his true colors, and lets the players know they have all the support and fan appreciation they can give. I have had numerous players on other ballclubs in the league tell me how much they liked coming to Altoona to play, not just because of our beautiful ballpark, but because the fans were so great - even to the opposition.
A couple years ago, I had some Akron Aeros fans tell me that if Akron didn't win the Eastern League, they hoped the Curve would win it all, because the players played the game the way it should be played, but mostly because of the great fan following and unbelievable support the team enjoyed.
Altoona Curve fans have had the "best fans in baseball" reputation for several years now.
It's time to let our guys who are busting a gut trying to give us a team deserving of our support know that they already have it - and to really show them that they are indeed "Everybody's Hometown Team" and playing for "the best fans in all of baseball."
Go Curve!
Ed Leipold
Altoona
