Scottie Skarzynski '73 split end died ...

[artsandletters]

I received a phone call about an hour ago from a good friend that Scottie had died. My buddy was Scottie's teammate, classmate and frat brother. Scottie had an arterial problem (my buddy called it triple A -- arterial something -- lionlurker would know) and was set to have an operation to repair that condition. The operation was postponed because Scottie was experiencing some heart problems. His wife found him at home, in his chair, passed on. His heart gave out, I guess.

The oldsters here will remember Scottie's TD catch and run against Texas in the '72 Cotton Bowl. The pass was thrown by John Hufnagel.

I spent some good times with Scottie decades ago at PSU while visiting two of my buddies who were Scottie's teammates. Scottie was from South River, NJ and went to the same high school as Theismann.

A great guy, Scottie was a knucklehead in the very best way and really enjoyed a good time and plenty of laughs. Scottie had a big snot locker. I remember telling him that his nose was so big he could eat a hoagie in the rain. He liked that, laughed. That was his nature.

 

[psuro]

Bet Joe has him running wind sprints already.

 

[lionlurker]

Abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Best wishes to his family.

 

[Bob78]

I received a phone call about an hour ago from a good friend that Scottie had died. My buddy was Scottie's teammate, classmate and frat brother. Scottie had an arterial problem (my buddy called it triple A -- arterial something -- lionlurker would know) and was set to have an operation to repair that condition. The operation was postponed because Scottie was experiencing some heart problems. His wife found him at home, in his chair, passed on. His heart gave out, I guess.

The oldesters here will remember Scottie's TD catch and run in the '72 Cotton Bowl. The pass was thrown by John Hufnagel.

I spent some time with Scottie decades ago at PSU while visiting two of my buddies who were Scottie's teammates. They all were brothers of Phi Delta Theta.

A great guy, Scottie was a knucklehead in the very best way.

None of us oldtimers will ever forget that great catch and run in the Cotton Bowl. He was open by 10 yards.
Sad news.... and far too young. He went to South River HS in NJ, wifey's HS alma mater. Also, same HS as Kenny and Roger Jackson.
Skarzynski was HS teammates with Joe Theismann and Drew Pearson. I think Theismann was a senior, Pearson a junior, and Skarzynski a soph. Those South River teams were powerhouses in the late 60s and early 70s.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

None of us oldtimers will ever forget that great catch and run in the Cotton Bowl. He was open by 10 yards.

agreed

I hope Option Bob pipes in about this. I believe he's posted several times in the past about that game, and many of the more memorable plays in the game.

 

[fairgambit]

Here are 6 minutes of highlights from the 72' Cotton Bowl. Scott's TD can be picked up at the 3:33 mark. Rest in Peace.

 

[PSU20]

I received a phone call about an hour ago from a good friend that Scottie had died. My buddy was Scottie's teammate, classmate and frat brother. Scottie had an arterial problem (my buddy called it triple A -- arterial something -- lionlurker would know) and was set to have an operation to repair that condition. The operation was postponed because Scottie was experiencing some heart problems. His wife found him at home, in his chair, passed on. His heart gave out, I guess.

The oldsters here will remember Scottie's TD catch and run against Texas in the '72 Cotton Bowl. The pass was thrown by John Hufnagel.

I spent some good times with Scottie decades ago at PSU while visiting two of my buddies who were Scottie's teammates. Scottie was from South River, NJ and went to the same high school as Theismann.

A great guy, Scottie was a knucklehead in the very best way and really enjoyed a good time and plenty of laughs. Scottie had a big snot locker. I remember telling him that his nose was so big he could eat a hoagie in the rain. He liked that, laughed. That was his nature.

Scottie became a New Jersey State Trooper after his football career, and retired as a Sgt. after 25 years. He was living in Florida at the time of his death. Only 65 years old.

 

[artsandletters]

Scottie became a New Jersey State Trooper after his football career, and retired as a Sgt. after 25 years. He was living in Florida at the time of his death. Only 65 years old.

I recall being told when Scottie became a state trooper. You couldn't help but chuckle, in a good way. A what?

Good guy, Scottie.

 

[Option Bob]

Sad to hear of Scott's death. Prayers go out to his family and loved ones through this difficult time.

I must restrain myself from talking too much about that 1972 Cotton Bowl game, for it is perhaps the most memorable game I have ever attended. My late wife and I were guests of the South Texas Longhorn Die-Hard Club, and the bus ride from San Antonio to Dallas was filled with bravado and predictions ... and references to 1969. My wife, living normally in the state of sanctifying grace, kept me from going full bore and getting kicked off the bus.

Skarzynski's long TD iced the game, as the Nittany Lion defense totally stuffed the mighty UT Wishbone in the 2nd half ... 'Horns were held w/o a touchdown for the first time in about 8 years. The ride home from Dallas was eerily quite. Few UT boosters spoke to us, though some dared to comment that "... this [1971] team isn't our best." I merely responded with something like, "Yeah, and Penn State didn't have Mike Reid, Dennis Onkotz, or Jack Ham, either. But we did have both of those RBs today in 1969."

To this day, I believe that overwhelming win over media darling powerhouse Texas 30-6 brought Penn State acceptance as a national player.

 

[lionlurker]

Great story, Bob.

 

[PSU20]

Another great player on that team, Bruce Banon who IIRC was the defensive MVP. He lives just a few miles from me. We talk PSU football when I run into him at area restaurants. What a class act.

 

[delcoLion]

I received a phone call about an hour ago from a good friend that Scottie had died. My buddy was Scottie's teammate, classmate and frat brother. Scottie had an arterial problem (my buddy called it triple A -- arterial something -- lionlurker would know) and was set to have an operation to repair that condition. The operation was postponed because Scottie was experiencing some heart problems. His wife found him at home, in his chair, passed on. His heart gave out, I guess.

The oldsters here will remember Scottie's TD catch and run against Texas in the '72 Cotton Bowl. The pass was thrown by John Hufnagel.

I spent some good times with Scottie decades ago at PSU while visiting two of my buddies who were Scottie's teammates. Scottie was from South River, NJ and went to the same high school as Theismann.

A great guy, Scottie was a knucklehead in the very best way and really enjoyed a good time and plenty of laughs. Scottie had a big snot locker. I remember telling him that his nose was so big he could eat a hoagie in the rain. He liked that, laughed. That was his nature.

RIP and condolences to the family.

I'm one of those oldsters and my memory of that game is that PSU absolutely beat the crap out of Texas in the 2nd half.

 

[artsandletters]

RIP and condolences to the family.

I'm one of those oldsters and my memory of that game is that PSU absolutely beat the crap out of Texas in the 2nd half.

I refreshed my memory of that game. PSU scored 27 unanswered points in the 2nd half.

 

[psuro]

I refreshed my memory of that game. PSU scored 27 unanswered points in the 2nd half.

2nd half team? Hmmmmmm

 

[Option Bob]

PSURO, there was something about the Cotton Bowl and 2nd half routs for Penn State. In the 1975 game vs Baylor, the Lions trailed something like 7-3 (I'll need to look up the exact score, but I'm pretty sure we only had a FG in the 1st half). Then in the 2nd half, we turned Jimmy Cefalo loose from a WB position and rolled the Bears 41-20. Tom Donchez rushing and Tom Shuman passing also had a good day. The final TD was scored by a LB (last name is Jackson, but I forget his first name) who returned an onside kick for a touchdown.

 

[wex18]

The final TD was scored by a LB (last name is Jackson, but I forget his first name) who returned an onside kick for a touchdown.

It was Joe Jackson. Refs did everything they could to keep the score closer, including calling back a punt return for a TD because of a phantom clip.

 

[Option Bob]

It was Joe Jackson. Refs did everything they could to keep the score closer, including calling back a punt return for a TD because of a phantom clip.

That's it , Joe Jackson. Thanks, Wex. I remember it was freezing throughout the game, and my poor wife wanted to head toward the exit before time expired. I persuaded her to wait until the certain onside kick ... and then Joe J takes it to the house. Awesome.

 

[psuro]

That's it , Joe Jackson. Thanks, Wex. I remember it was freezing throughout the game, and my poor wife wanted to head toward the exit before time expired. I persuaded her to wait until the certain onside kick ... and then Joe J takes it to the house. Awesome.

Joe Jackson - he's the man.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

I must restrain myself from talking too much about that 1972 Cotton Bowl game, for it is perhaps the most memorable game I have ever attended.

Greatly appreciated, Option Bob. I've seen some of your prior posts over the years about this game, and remembered how much you enjoyed it, and how much you felt it elevated PSU football in national stature.

 

[Big 0]

I received a phone call about an hour ago from a good friend that Scottie had died. My buddy was Scottie's teammate, classmate and frat brother. Scottie had an arterial problem (my buddy called it triple A -- arterial something -- lionlurker would know) and was set to have an operation to repair that condition. The operation was postponed because Scottie was experiencing some heart problems. His wife found him at home, in his chair, passed on. His heart gave out, I guess.

The oldsters here will remember Scottie's TD catch and run against Texas in the '72 Cotton Bowl. The pass was thrown by John Hufnagel.

I spent some good times with Scottie decades ago at PSU while visiting two of my buddies who were Scottie's teammates. Scottie was from South River, NJ and went to the same high school as Theismann.

A great guy, Scottie was a knucklehead in the very best way and really enjoyed a good time and plenty of laughs. Scottie had a big snot locker. I remember telling him that his nose was so big he could eat a hoagie in the rain. He liked that, laughed. That was his nature.

Triple A = Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Could have had a rupture or dissection. A rupture can be catastrophic. Open surgery used to be used to repair them, but now most commonly repaired with a stent graft.

 

[Uh Clem]

I watched that game with a fraternity brother in the TV room in our house, way back in the days when fraternites and dorms had TV rooms.