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Penn State needs more than talk

I have never written a letter to the editor in my 72 years.

Given that fact, I find it necessary to write regarding the present Penn State football team.

First, I would like to point out that I do not have the necessary skills to evaluate the coaching ability of any coach, but I was in business for 40-plus years and was required to deal with various problems on a re-occurring basis.

The present PSU team, at least entering Saturday’s game at Michigan, has numerous problems — the four-minute offense and dropped wide receiver passes to mention only two.

When interviewed regarding continuing problems, James Franklin responds regularly by suggesting we will need to talk about them in this week’s preparation. It has been my experience that that talk is never enough.

Normally a more proactive solution is required.

I have not witnessed any significant improvement in these areas to date this season. It appears talk is not providing an adequate solution.

We need only refer to a recent Mirror article involving the great (1968-69) team honored at last week’s Iowa game. The article stated that after several losses, Joe Paterno called upon numerous second teamers and underclassmen to correct the problem.

The result of that action is now of PSU legend. Talk will not accomplish the same result.

Fred Ciocca

Altoona

Will Franklin recover from OSU loss?

Last year after the Ohio State debacle, I said that I thought the James Franklin era was going to go out with a whimper.

And now we can sadly see the beginning of the end for Franklin.

This year’s OSU loss to a clearly inferior team at home is the kind of misery that eventually eats away at an entire program.

I can assure you that the elite programs of the world aren’t losing to Michigan State at home. Or to Michigan State anywhere.

The elite recruits go elsewhere, and we’re back to trying to flip kids from Louisville. I hope Sandy Barbour is getting her short list ready.

Steve Abrams

Los Angeles

Dodgers find way(s) to disappoint

I watched every game of the World Series and even the NLCS.

I am still scratching my head to understand how the Dodgers won six straight NL West Division titles and two straight National League titles and came away with nothing.

The Dodgers’ hitting and pitching were embarrassing plus manager Dave Roberts was outcoached by first-year manager Alex Cora, who was the dugout manager for the Houston Astros in 2017 and has two World Series rings to show for it.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Fox Sports showed a very dark statistic about what the Dodgers have done from 1958-88 — five World Series titles and from 1988-2018, zero World Series titles.

The Los Angeles Dodgers had everything going for them — one of the largest TV markets, an outstanding farm system, great scouting system and a beautiful stadium built in 1963 seating 56,000 fans.

When Walter O’Malley’s son sold the Dodgers somewhere in the 1990s to outsiders, two of the prior owners ruined the organization. The organization is presently owned by a group headed by Hall of Fame basketball player Magic Johnson.

Many of this year’s players will request to be traded, go the free agency route, retire and move into other baseball related positions. Most of the front office personnel along with the managerial staff will not be retained.

In short, “the more things change, the more they will remain the same.”

Watch for the Milwaukee Brewers to make a big move in the National League. The Boston Red Sox are young and have the proven talent to contend for the American League title for the future.

Les Hart

Duncansville

Question of the week

After one football season, how do you think Altoona fit into the Mid-Penn Conference?

Responses should be emailed to sundaybag@altoonamirror.com, faxed to 946-7540 or mailed to Voice of the Fan, P.O. Box 2008, Altoona, Pa. 16603. Letters should be kept to 150-200 words.

The Mirror reserves the right to edit for length, clarity and fairness. Full names and addresses must be included with all mail.

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