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Johnston was in a league of his own

I was saddened to see the recent passing of Dick Johnston. In the winter of 1962 during my seventh grade year at iconic Roosevelt Junior High School, I can vividly recall the first time I watched Coach Jim Rice’s Roughrider basketball team in action. I was absolutely astounded by the shooting and ball-handling prowess of an eighth-grade guard named Dickie Johnston. Some of my fondest memories as an Altoona High student and Mountain Echo sports editor involved watching Johnston play at the Jaffa Mosque and other venues throughout Central Pennsylvania. His outside shooting ...

Franklin’s remarks need some coaching

I would like to see Pat Kraft have a discussion with James Franklin about his press conferences and comments. Franklin very rarely actually talks about football, and his continual banter about the other team’s players and coaches is really off-putting. I get that he wants to tell everyone he studies the opponent, and how good they are, but he need not tell us about how he knows and has worked with seemingly everyone in the profession. And have a little emotional intelligence. I know he is smart and uses his voice to ask for things he wants in the program. That’s all well ...

Mailbag

Nittany Lions fans leave impression I thought it was quite extraordinary when the two marching bands from Penn State and Oregon joined together for the national anthem in Indianapolis during the Big Ten title game. Maybe I haven’t been to enough games, but I never saw that before, and for me it was special. On Sunday at the airport, I chatted with a serious Oregon fan who travels to all their games. He told me that the PSU fans were the best he’s ever seen. The cheering and roaring until the very end really impressed him. I told him to just wait until next year at Beaver ...

Winning in sports adds to increased power

By Jim Caltagirone For the Mirror Credibility may be the best projector for someone’s voice. In sports, just as in politics, credibility is synonymous with winning, and winning provides a platform for the expression of opinions and observations. Although James Franklin is still seeking to fulfill the expectations that he stoked during his dissertation on what constitutes an elite football program, his teams have beaten enough middle-of-the pack opponents that he can command the attention of national media representatives. During a press conference leading up to the College ...

Sometimes folks in the NFL will change their minds about work

By Rob Maaddi The Associated Press A deal is a deal until it’s not in the NFL. Liam Coen’s decision to withdraw his name from consideration for Jacksonville’s head coaching position and sign a new contract to remain the offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay didn’t last long. Coen passed up the opportunity to become the highest-paid assistant coach in the NFL and took a second interview with the Jaguars on Thursday, leading to his eventual hiring as head coach in Jacksonville on Friday. Coen changed his mind just one day after agreeing on a deal with the Buccaneers. The ...

Players, not coaches, hold PSU back

Although I’m in general agreement with Neil Rudel’s report card after the Orange Bowl, I really feel for Drew Allar. Yes he did not have a good game, but what effective QB has only a tight end and running backs he can count on, throw to? Not many. And how does it affect his confidence when two to three of his reads/transitions are flat out covered all night, and he has to force just about every pass into a small window? I can only imagine how good he could be with Ohio State, Texas, Alabama receivers. Or our competition. Have you noticed how open their receivers get just ...