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Neil Rudel

Should the Big Ten have league games in Week 1? Rudel-Giger point-counterpoint

Sure -- it provides immediate urgency By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com I have no problem with opening the season against a Big Ten team. In fact, I kind of like it –- even if it’s on the road, where Penn State has started the conference schedule seven straight times and 12 of the last 13 seasons. (This is one of James Franklin’s new themes, dating back to the Big Ten media days last month. New athletic director Pat Kraft also doesn’t like it and plans to address the matter with the conference.) The advantage of playing a league game right from the outset is it ...

’Burg rises to meet the moment

Tonight Who: Hollidaysburg vs. Pearland, Texas When: 7 p.m. TV: ESPN At stake: Winner plays Thursday night against today’s Tennessee-Hawaii loser. By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com WILLIAMSPORT — We already know Hollidaysburg has made history by becoming the first team ...

Local team shines on grandest of stages

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com BRISTOL, Conn. — Hollidaysburg is advancing to the Little League World Series — a first for any Blair County team — and boy is it ever deserving. The little guys from the county seat punched their ticket Friday in decisive fashion by beating ...

Middle LB 1 of 2 top priorities

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com Shaking out the notebook (yes, I still use one) from Penn State football media day: Linebacker U James Franklin’s top priority is replacing punter-kickoff man Jordan Stout, who was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round. His second mentioned concern is linebacker, particularly in the middle, a position that handles the defensive calls. The leading candidates are underclassmen Kobe King, a redshirt freshman who appeared in four games last year and made three tackles, and sophomore Tyler Elsdon, mainly a special teams player last ...

Clifford needs to prove he’s worthy of trust

When Sean Clifford decided to come back for a sixth season at Penn State, it seemed like a good idea both for the Nittany Lions and for him. He’s not viewed as a high-round NFL prospect, and his experience — he’s started 33 games — would presumably give the Lions their best chance to ...

Vesnesky ‘bled red and white’

When he was informed a few months ago, in his home, by radio colleague Bernie Jubeck that he’d be enshrined in the Saint Francis Athletics Hall of Fame, Joe Vesnesky’s reaction was immediate. “I started bawling,” he said. Vesnesky was under the impression Saint Francis wanted to tape ...