First stop after the 5.5 hour drive was CC Peppers - tradition.
After buying our parking passes for two days, we went to the Lasch area. Nobody in Holuba, so we head for Rec Hall. My son says there's KJ as this kid is walking from Nittany Apts. We pull over and ask - were you really upset you weren't miked up yesterday? He laughs pretty good and says - yes, I was, man. As he walks away, he's still laughing.
Rec Hall is locked up tight. We get in through the recreation center doors and stumble on the Lorenzo Wrestling complex. Long story short, Vincenzo invites us in to watch instead of standing and looking through the windows.Pictures, no videos. Watch for about an hour and Coach Sanderson walks over starts talking after the workout was complete. Talked to him for 5-7 minutes and thanked him and his wrestlers for the exciting season, and on behalf of all Nittany Lion fans in Ohio, a huge thank you. It was like old college buddies getting together talking to him.
Left and did get the chance to walk around Rec Hall some. My courage ran out as I did not go to the women's volleyball offices to complete my wish list - meeting Russ Rose.
Money burning a hole in my son's pockets, so off to the College Ave clothing stores.
Day of clinic is tremendous.
Franklin is all over Holuba listening to his staff speak and meeting/greeting with the visiting coaches. My son and I walk up to him and I apologize for missing his phone call. He gives me a very different look - like, who are you man? I pull out my phone and play the message he left on my cell phone. NOTE - it was not his phone, but a former player's who is a head coach north of Columbass with a very very highly rated recruit; no names mentioned. Yes, James Franklin finds out while recruiting I am a big Penn State fan. He writes a note to me, then decides to Facetime me. I was filling my truck with gas and left my phone on the console. Missed two attempts at Facetime Coach James Franklin. He hears the message and starts laughing. We talk a couple of minutes, then my son asks if he will sign his "college visitation" form so he can be excused from school those two days. Franklin reads it and chuckles as he signs it.
Listen to Rahne and Spencer/Gialliano (sp?) speak. Rahne laughs when asked about the shuffle passes in the bowl game. Said he's sure people wanted him fired after that. Spencer is a hoot. The man is laid back and intense at the same time; I know it sounds odd. He is now my son's favorite coach. We talk to him about the same kid Franklin was recruiting when Franklin called me. Kind to take picture with my son.
Speaking portion of the clinic is finished and it's time for the social. My son and I want to speak to Pry before we leave for the night. We get the chance, and I show him a picture of himself, Spencer and that highly-rated recruit's head coach, my former player and ask why he let Spencer in the photo. He asks how I have that picture and I explain. We talk to him about the recruit and other things for 5-7 minutes. He calls Spencer over and they take a photo with my son standing just like they did with my former player now head coach when they visited his high school. Pry gives the "number 1" and I said - yeah, we need to show the number 1. As my son raises his arm to put on their shoulders (he's 6' 3" and they are under 6'), Coach Spencer punches him in the ribs!
I was clicking pictures and happened to get that captured.
Was a nice 52 degrees and some sun Friday. Leaving to drive back to Phillipsburg, we hit a moderate snow that had me driving 45 mph. Not fun for this "flat-lander".
Saturday was S & C coaching staff. With Coach Paterno, their were 2 full-time coaches; now 5. This is an obvious help. Interesting tier system with in-season training. Coach Losey talked about the nutrition portion of training, and that has definitely changed over the last 5- 7 years.
O'Brien. Funny and informative. Good speaker that kept us engaged even though the topic was not for my son and I directly. Said he is not surprised Penn State is doing well because Coach Paterno built a great foundation for them to work from. Talked about being down 3 scores to NW and how McGloin kept his composure to bring them back. Gave me a different view of himself after his talk.
Millen and some guy who acted pretty much like "my poop doesn't stink" were there. Millen looked tired and I hope he beats whatever it is he is battling.
Spoke to a couple of friends I had made while attending clinics in the Paterno years. I was told O'Brien reminded people of the young fiery Joe Paterno. Hands on. Franklin more of a CEO. Franklin has his pulse on every aspect of the program, just not as much on the in-practice coaching. I will say though, Franklin added his comments to the different coaches who were speaking to help clarify the program's stance on the topic being discussed. The man has a ton of energy.
A mention was made about the administration, and I asked who did like the administration?
Sounds like O'Brien did not get along very well with the administration in place while he was at PS.
I then find out the pompous man with Millen was trustee Suhey. No wonder I had that feel about him.
It was a great trip for what could be the last "father-son only" trip before my son heads to Grand Valley State in Grand Rapids, MI this fall. I told Pry my son would be a great student-manager for him. He said "yeah!", but I followed by saying the $52,000 annual for out of state hurt the chances.
Sorry for the length.
OL
After buying our parking passes for two days, we went to the Lasch area. Nobody in Holuba, so we head for Rec Hall. My son says there's KJ as this kid is walking from Nittany Apts. We pull over and ask - were you really upset you weren't miked up yesterday? He laughs pretty good and says - yes, I was, man. As he walks away, he's still laughing.
Rec Hall is locked up tight. We get in through the recreation center doors and stumble on the Lorenzo Wrestling complex. Long story short, Vincenzo invites us in to watch instead of standing and looking through the windows.Pictures, no videos. Watch for about an hour and Coach Sanderson walks over starts talking after the workout was complete. Talked to him for 5-7 minutes and thanked him and his wrestlers for the exciting season, and on behalf of all Nittany Lion fans in Ohio, a huge thank you. It was like old college buddies getting together talking to him.
Left and did get the chance to walk around Rec Hall some. My courage ran out as I did not go to the women's volleyball offices to complete my wish list - meeting Russ Rose.
Money burning a hole in my son's pockets, so off to the College Ave clothing stores.
Day of clinic is tremendous.
Franklin is all over Holuba listening to his staff speak and meeting/greeting with the visiting coaches. My son and I walk up to him and I apologize for missing his phone call. He gives me a very different look - like, who are you man? I pull out my phone and play the message he left on my cell phone. NOTE - it was not his phone, but a former player's who is a head coach north of Columbass with a very very highly rated recruit; no names mentioned. Yes, James Franklin finds out while recruiting I am a big Penn State fan. He writes a note to me, then decides to Facetime me. I was filling my truck with gas and left my phone on the console. Missed two attempts at Facetime Coach James Franklin. He hears the message and starts laughing. We talk a couple of minutes, then my son asks if he will sign his "college visitation" form so he can be excused from school those two days. Franklin reads it and chuckles as he signs it.
Listen to Rahne and Spencer/Gialliano (sp?) speak. Rahne laughs when asked about the shuffle passes in the bowl game. Said he's sure people wanted him fired after that. Spencer is a hoot. The man is laid back and intense at the same time; I know it sounds odd. He is now my son's favorite coach. We talk to him about the same kid Franklin was recruiting when Franklin called me. Kind to take picture with my son.
Speaking portion of the clinic is finished and it's time for the social. My son and I want to speak to Pry before we leave for the night. We get the chance, and I show him a picture of himself, Spencer and that highly-rated recruit's head coach, my former player and ask why he let Spencer in the photo. He asks how I have that picture and I explain. We talk to him about the recruit and other things for 5-7 minutes. He calls Spencer over and they take a photo with my son standing just like they did with my former player now head coach when they visited his high school. Pry gives the "number 1" and I said - yeah, we need to show the number 1. As my son raises his arm to put on their shoulders (he's 6' 3" and they are under 6'), Coach Spencer punches him in the ribs!
I was clicking pictures and happened to get that captured.Was a nice 52 degrees and some sun Friday. Leaving to drive back to Phillipsburg, we hit a moderate snow that had me driving 45 mph. Not fun for this "flat-lander".
Saturday was S & C coaching staff. With Coach Paterno, their were 2 full-time coaches; now 5. This is an obvious help. Interesting tier system with in-season training. Coach Losey talked about the nutrition portion of training, and that has definitely changed over the last 5- 7 years.
O'Brien. Funny and informative. Good speaker that kept us engaged even though the topic was not for my son and I directly. Said he is not surprised Penn State is doing well because Coach Paterno built a great foundation for them to work from. Talked about being down 3 scores to NW and how McGloin kept his composure to bring them back. Gave me a different view of himself after his talk.
Millen and some guy who acted pretty much like "my poop doesn't stink" were there. Millen looked tired and I hope he beats whatever it is he is battling.
Spoke to a couple of friends I had made while attending clinics in the Paterno years. I was told O'Brien reminded people of the young fiery Joe Paterno. Hands on. Franklin more of a CEO. Franklin has his pulse on every aspect of the program, just not as much on the in-practice coaching. I will say though, Franklin added his comments to the different coaches who were speaking to help clarify the program's stance on the topic being discussed. The man has a ton of energy.
A mention was made about the administration, and I asked who did like the administration?
Sounds like O'Brien did not get along very well with the administration in place while he was at PS.
I then find out the pompous man with Millen was trustee Suhey. No wonder I had that feel about him.
It was a great trip for what could be the last "father-son only" trip before my son heads to Grand Valley State in Grand Rapids, MI this fall. I told Pry my son would be a great student-manager for him. He said "yeah!", but I followed by saying the $52,000 annual for out of state hurt the chances.
Sorry for the length.
OL
