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 ...
Altoona has played a big role in world soccer history, of which few people may be aware. William Jeffrey was the head coach of the 1950 United States World Cup team that was famous for beating England 1-0 in one of the greatest upsets in soccer history. He was also the coach of Penn State for 26 seasons, winning 10 national college championships and is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Coming from Edinburgh, Scotland and playing at an early age, he had a career-ending injury. His mother sent him to live with an uncle in the United States, and he began working as a ...
James Franklin curtly interrupted a postgame questioner Saturday about Penn State not producing a 100-yard rusher this season. “Year’s not over,” he shot back. Well, yes, James, it is. The Nittany Lions’ 30-27 loss in the snow to Michigan State at Spartan Stadium doesn’t preclude a bowl trip, but it sucked the last bit of life out of the program and for sure the fan base for 2021. Maybe Franklin wants to go into some John Belushi rant — “Over? It’s not over until we say it is!” The reality is this team will begin to be dismantled as early as today. Likely, ...
PSU (7-4, 4-4) vs. Michigan St. (9-2, 6-2) Time: 3:30 p.m. TV: ABC Radio: TOONA 1430-AM & 99.7-FM This game at Spartan Stadium could be billed as the Extension Bowl, and there’s only one choice as honorary captain: Agent Jimmy Sexton. Sexton represents both James Franklin and Mel Tucker, and if you thought Franklin’s 10-year, $85 million contract announced Tuesday was over the top, consider Tucker’s contract that was confirmed one day later. It’s also for 10 years, but Tucker’s deal is worth $95 million. News actually broke a week ago that Michigan State and ...
The sweet potato pie is going to be especially tasty around James Franklin’s Thanksgiving table. Franklin mentioned the other day that sweet potato pie is his favorite turkey-day fare. Penn State announced Tuesday that it has agreed to a 10-year contract with Franklin, through 2031, worth $85 million including incentives. The breakdown is $7 million annually, a $500,000 annual retention bonus and a $1 million annual life insurance loan. Suffice to say much of the Nittany Nation will need time to digest it. Word began circulating for the past week that an extension — ...
UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State’s quarterback position got stronger Saturday. The Nittany Lions were coping with a strain of the flu that swept through the team and compromised availability for 35 players last week, including 21 because of the flu. “Thursday, it looked like a hospital ward (in the Lasch Building),’’ James Franklin said after Penn State’s 28-0 win over Rutgers Saturday at Beaver Stadium. “There was IVs everywhere. Friday was the same way.’’ The casualties included all the scholarship quarterbacks, and during the final walk-through Friday, the staff ...
