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Backup QBs get chance to show up for PSU

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com Backup QBs get chance to show up All eyes are on the Penn State quarterback(s). Sean Clifford has made a surprisingly quick return to practice, but his availability for today’s game with Illinois (noon, ABC) remains questionable. The Nittany Lions (5-1, 2-1 in the Big Ten) should not need Clifford to beat the struggling Illinois (2-5, 1-3), but they almost certainly will need him to stand any chance next week at Ohio State. In that regard, Clifford’s injury, suffered Oct. 9 at Iowa and rumored/feared to mean a more extensive absence, ...

No, Penn State just needs to find its way around OSU

Should the Big Ten change its divisional structure, and if so, how? By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com I heard James Franklin on the topic encouraging discussion, and it’s totally understandable. As we sit here this morning, the best four teams in the Big Ten — Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan and Michigan State — are not only parked in the Top 10 but in the Big Ten East, too. Of course, if you’re the coach trying to negotiate that gauntlet, you’d peek over at the Big Ten West, see Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa (and Iowa … ...

Big Ten should not have three powers in one division

Should the Big Ten change its divisional structure, and if so, how? By Cory Giger cgsports12@aol.com Without a doubt, I believe the Big Ten should and probably eventually will realign its divisions to something that makes more sense and gives the league its best chance to maximize the number of teams it can get into the College Football Playoff. The way things currently are set up can really only hurt the Big Ten instead of helping it. Let’s say Penn State and Ohio State are both outstanding in a given year. They’ll play each other in the regular ...

Help finally arrives for MiLB players

One of the most important bit of news in minor league baseball history came out Sunday afternoon, with a wonderful announcement that was long, long overdue. Starting next season, Major League Baseball will provide housing for minor leaguers in every city. The players no longer will have to pay for their housing throughout the season, and the hope/goal is that available housing will be located already, so that players don’t have to do that, either. This is massive for the industry. Because since forever, minor league players have had to find their own housing while constantly ...

Things you need to know about bears

Would you sit in a tree stand 15 feet off the ground to attempt to bag a Pennsylvania black bear with a bow and arrow? Starting Saturday, that is the opportunity given to properly licensed hunters. For a number of reasons, I no longer hunt bears. I’ve bagged four of the creatures and that’s enough for me. But mostly, since I must do most of my hunting alone, I no longer have the strength to drag a bear out of the woods. Pennsylvania black bears are plenty busy this time of year. Their cubs are nearly as big as their mother and they are learning from her how to forage for acorns ...

Franklin, Wassell savor induction

Penn State Altoona will be making history this weekend. One of the crown jewels of Altoona and Central Pennsylvania, the school where so many of us got our start will stage its first athletic Hall of Fame induction. Two of the honorees, Tyler Franklin (Altoona) and Tim Wassell (Hollidaysburg), are well known in the local basketball and soccer communities. Franklin played from 2003-07 and set the PSU Altoona scoring record, which still stands, with 1,533 points. Wassell was a standout goalkeeper who later coached the Lady Lions to an unbeaten regular season and their first berth ...