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Defections further dampen year for PSU football

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com TAMPA — The year was 1997, and a once-promising season was torpedoed by a November swoon, which was followed by the suspension of a couple key players for various indiscretions. Suffice to say the Penn State camp was none too pleased, even though the Nittany Lions still landed in the Citrus Bowl for a matchup with Florida featuring name-brand coaches Joe Paterno and Steve Spurrier. Nonetheless, when he grabbed a flip card in the media lounge a couple hours before the game, Budd Thalman, the Lions’ sports information director, summed it ...

What’s up for PSU in ’22? Peek ahead

Tangelo opts out As expected, Penn State defensive tackle Derrick Tangelo has opted out of Saturday’s Outback Bowl against Arkansas (noon, ESPN2). Tangelo marks the Lions’ fifth defensive starter to forgo the game, joining Arnold Ebiketie, Jaquan Brisker, Ellis Brooks and Brandon Smith. Standout receiver Jahan Dotson is also passing up the game to focus on the NFL Draft. Coach James Franklin said offensive tackle Rasheed Walker, who is out with an injury, will be replaced by Olu Fashanu in the game. By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com It’s been a most eventful year ...

Without NHL, Russia emerges as Olympic gold favorite

Russia, OAR, ROC — whatever the name, now that the NHL is out of the Beijing Olympics, the Russians will be the favorites for the gold medal. After the NHL withdrew from the Beijing Olympics on Wednesday to save a league schedule ravaged by virus outbreaks on numerous teams, Europe-based players are set to dominate the Olympic men’s tournament. That puts the Russians, competing in Beijing as ROC for Russian Olympic Committee, in a strong position to retain the gold medal it won in 2018 under the Olympic Athletes from Russia name. The name changes were required as part of ...

NHL has good excuse to skip Beijing Olympics

First, the U.S. diplomats and a handful of allies said “no.” Now it’s the NHL. Some party this is shaping up to be. It was just bad luck that Beijing landed the Winter Games in what turned out to be the time of COVID-19. But the decision to go ahead as scheduled rests squarely with the hosts and their International Olympic Committee cronies. Here’s hoping that like most of the people who marry solely for money, they wind up having to earn every cent. The NHL is the most anodyne of the major sports leagues, so unlike the diplomats who bowed out, it wasn’t making a political ...

Unexpected title sweet for Marauders

By Michael Boytim mboytim@altoonamirror.com HERSHEY — Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic played well enough to win the state championship in 2019 when it lost to Farrell in overtime. When the Steelers were moved up to Class 2A following that title due to the PIAA’s success formula, it seemed ...

Pry’s ascent is coronation for family

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com Brent Pry will be introduced as Virginia Tech’s head football coach today in Blacksburg, Virginia. What a day it is for him and the entire Pry family. Altoona natives Jim Pry and his wife Kathy were both 18 years old when Brent was born. “We ...