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Cory Giger

Lions’ RB competition should be fun to watch

The answer to today’s question is obviously the new starting quarterback, but I’ve written like 27 stories about Sean Clifford leading up to the season, so let’s go in a different direction here. My original pick was the wide receivers, in large part because I think Justin Shorter is going to be a star — in college and also possibly in the NFL someday. But Neil selected first in our topic and took the receivers, so I’ll go with the running backs. The “or” group. Penn State’s season-opening depth chart has four running backs essentially listed as first-teamers. ...

Giger: Year two big for Rahne, who needs to show more this season

Now that Penn State finally has named Sean Clifford the starting quarterback — a no-brainer for months, really, since Tommy Stevens transferred — the big question entering the season is if coordinator Ricky Rahne can get the most out of the new QB and overall offense. Make no mistake, there will be pressure on Rahne to perform his job at a higher level this fall, and scrutiny if he doesn’t. No, he’s not on the hot seat. Nor should he be, entering just his second season as a college offensive coordinator. He deserves time to grow into the position, to figure things out with ...

Coach Franklin knows the value of work-life balance

UNIVERSITY PARK — There are a ton of workaholics in the world, and some jobs require that you be available to work pretty much all the time. When you’re young and single, you just deal with it. You embrace it, even. For many people, that constant drive to work becomes part of their ...

Trading Vazquez could bring Bucs big return

This is a big day for the Pirates, or at least it could be. The Bucs have one of the most sought-after players in the majors at the trade deadline in lefty closer Felipe Vazquez, and what they decide to do with him today will have major implications for the franchise in the coming years. Vazquez is a stud. The kind of late-inning stopper who, if he goes to the right team, could end up being the key piece to a World Series run. The Dodgers would love to have Vazquez. And if they get him, they would significantly increase their already strong championship odds. Other teams certainly ...

Ryan critical of club’s focus

Following a particularly brutal loss to Trenton on Tuesday night, perturbed Curve manager Michael Ryan pointed across the field to the opposing club and said, “Playoff team.” Then the manager pointed into his own clubhouse and said, “Non-playoff team, right now.” Ryan made numerous critical comments about his club just a few minutes after a closed-door team meeting following a 4-2 loss to Trenton at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The Thunder won the Eastern Division in the first half and already have locked up a postseason berth. “We talked about, what did you learn from ...

Giger: Robot umps should be welcomed

It’s time for robot umpires calling balls and strikes in baseball. No matter how much you may be against that change, you can bank on it coming to the major leagues in the not-too-distant future (say 3-5 years). In case you missed it, the independent Atlantic League debuted the robot umpire technology in its all-star game this past week. It worked great, by all reports, with no controversy whatsoever. If we have the technology to accurately call balls and strikes, we should use it. Because baseball umpires are, quite frankly, pretty terrible at it. A study released earlier this ...