nlc newsletter (spring 2014)

2 31 SPORTS ... ONETEAM

Inside this IssueStructure enhances value of tickets ..........4Campaign close, Caravan shape calendar .5Coach Franklin brings energy ...............6-7Student-athletes prove best of CLASS ....8-9PHOTOS: Endowment Dinner ............. 10-11Letter Jacket Ceremony binds tradition ..13Rockwell returns to women’s volleyball .13Many travel approaches, options ...........14Sanderson serves as a voice of sport .....15PHOTOS: Signing Day, Signature Event ....16First-person from leadership forum .......18Remembering Ellen Perry ......................19

Departments3 NLC Notebook // 12 Compliance Corner // 17 Gift List

On the CoverCoach James Franklin was named as the 16th head football coach in the 127-year history of Penn State football on Jan. 11, 2014. (Photo by Mark Selders)

STARTING SHOT

With 107,844 fans in attendance, Beaver Stadium itself roared at times last fall during the Nittany Lions’ thrilling, 43-40 four-overtime victory against Michigan. Such enthusiasm and see-it-in-person action throughout the season helped Penn State rank fifth nationally in home attendance in 2013. It was the 23rd consecutive season Penn State attendance has been ranked in the top five nationally. (Photo by Mark Selders)

About the NewsletterVolume 34, No. 2U.Ed. ICA-14--28

The Nittany Lion Club Newsletter is a quarterly publication sent to all Nittany Lion Club members. The newsletter is published by the Penn State Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Nittany Lion Club Web Sitewww.nittanylionclub.com

Athletics Web Sitewww.gopsusports.com

Executive EditorsMark Wharton, Nikki Potoczny

ContributorsPenn State Athletic Communications

Nittany Lion Club Mission StatementThe Nittany Lion Club, comprised of Penn State alumni and friends of the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, was established in 1959 to create greater interest in and financial support of Penn State varsity athletics. Members of the Nittany Lion Club make possible grant-in-aid support for more than 800 student-athletes each academic year and provide operational support for the University’s entire 31-sport intercollegiate athletics program.

50Number of Penn

State football players who earned a 3.0 or higher GPA during

the Fall 2013academic semester.

83Eighty-three Penn

State student-athletes from seven fall sports

earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.

During its 21 years in the conference, Penn State has had a total of 4,560 Academic

All-Big Ten honorees.

DID YOU KNOW?

3ONETEAM

Dear Nittany Lion Club Member:

As I write this letter, I am well into several months on the job as the Assistant Athletic Director for the Nittany Lion Club. From a once outsider’s perspective, I knew of Penn State as an excellent academic and athletic institution. Now, after experiencing first-hand the passion and unity of Penn Staters, I value and feel the pride and tradition that exists here. This experience, so far, has been life changing for the Whartons. We are incredibly fortunate to be a part of this Penn State family.

The passion that our alumni, fans and students have for this great University is unmatched. Penn State has been through a tremendous amount of challenges the past several years. Penn State has remarkably persevered and held firm to what it truly is and always will be about. I believe that great days are ahead of us.

In recent months we have welcomed two new hires that have come “home.”

Coach James Franklin comes back to his home state to take the reins of our Nittany Lion football program. Arguably one of the nation’s top football coaches, he has proven his leadership with unprecedented success in the Southeastern Conference at Vanderbilt University, where he set school records in wins and bowl appearances while continuing to graduate his student-athletes. In my interactions with Coach Franklin and his staff, I’m confident they will represent Penn State with class and honor.

In addition, Penn State hired its 18th president, Eric J. Barron, former president at Florida State University. Dr. Barron and his wife, Molly, spent 20 years at University Park before embarking on his journey to prepare him to come back to Penn State and lead our University during this pivotal time in our history. On behalf of Penn State and the Nittany Lion Club, we welcome you back to the Nittany Lion family!

Our athletic programs continue to thrive through our fall and winter months with men’s soccer winning the Big Ten championship and both the men’s and women’s soccer programs

advancing to the NCAA Tournament. The women’s indoor track and field team won the conference championship and field hockey once again won the Big Ten championship and advanced to the NCAA’s. Our women’s volleyball, wrestling and fencing programs won national championships.

Our winter and spring sports continue to excel with many being nationally ranked. At the time of this letter, Penn State stands second in the Learfield Sports Director Cup, ranking all universities on their athletic success. The tradition continues!

Still, the most important part of our successes is the continued achievement of our student-athletes in the classroom.

Penn State had 83 student-athletes representing our fall sports earn All-Big Ten accolades. The recognition comprises student-athletes that had a grade-point average of over a 3.0. Penn State received the second highest honorees in the Big Ten Conference for the fall of 2013.

In closing, this spring the Nittany Lion Club and the Penn State Alumni Association will once again roll out the Coaches Caravan — featuring Coach James Franklin along with other Penn State head coaches. The caravan will target Franklin’s focus of “Dominate the State” with stops throughout Pennsylvania and the region.

For information about the Coaches Caravan, check out the Nittany Lion Club website at GoPSUsports.com or the Penn State Alumni Association website.

Thank you all for what you do for Penn State and the Nittany Lion Club!

For the Glory!

NLC’s impact personal, professional as success continues for Penn State

NLC: THE TEAM BEHIND THE TEAMS

NLC NOTEBOOK

CALENDAR NEWS

Visit www.nittanylionclub.com to print and utilize the NEW online

version of the Nittany Lion Club calendar.

Soon members will receivea Nittany Lion Club mailer

with exclusive membership itemsin place of the past printed calendar.


Structure enhances season tickets, offers optionsThe new variable pricing structure for single-game football tickets available to Nittany Lion Club members provides exclusive pre-sale opportunities and offers tickets at prices lower than those available to the general public.

The structure also enhances the value of season tickets.

“Our Nittany Lion Club members and season ticket holders are very important to us,” said Assistant Athletic Director for the Nittany Lion Club Mark Wharton. “We feel this year’s single-game NLC ticket prices, as well as the extra benefits that our members receive add up to even more of an advantage to being a season ticket holder for Penn State football. We’re excited to see our members showing their support for the team again this fall in Beaver Stadium.”

Although an exact date has not been set, the Nittany Lion Club exclusive single game pre-sale will most likely be scheduled sometime this May/June.

Ticket locations at that time will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Variable pricing determines individual game prices from many factors including expected demand for that game, and will provide more pricing choices for Penn State fans this season. Variable pricing is common throughout ticketed sporting events and is used for home football games at some Big Ten Conference institutions, including Iowa, Maryland, Ohio State and Wisconsin.

The evaluation of the variable pricing structure started in the fall of 2013. Several factors were evaluated to develop the pricing structure, including prices on Nittany Lion TicketExchange, other secondary markets and direct ticket sales information like sale patterns and pricing. That information was joined together with fan feedback to develop the best system possible.

The system was created to increase the value for season ticket holders, address demand for more pricing options and put Penn State in the best possible position to fill Beaver Stadium for each home game.

Even with those changes, the NLC remains committed to keeping games affordable. There was once again no increase in season tickets prices for Penn State football for the 2014 season.

Aug. 30 ...............................vs. UCF (Dublin, Ireland) .............. 8:30 a.m. (EDT)Sept. 6 ..................................AKRON ..................................TBASept. 13 .........................................at Rutgers ............................................TBASept. 20 ......................... MASSACHUSETTS ............................TBASept. 27 ..........................NORTHWESTERN ............................TBAOct. 11 ..........................................at Michigan ...........................................TBAOct. 25 ............................... OHIO STATE................................TBANov. 11 .............................. MARYLAND ................................TBANov. 8............................................. at Indiana ............................................TBANov. 15 ................................ TEMPLE ..................................TBANov. 22............................................at Illinois .............................................TBANov. 29 ...........................MICHIGAN STATE ............................TBA

SCHEDULE

5ONETEAM

Option provides a way to grow NLC membership, impact


Dedicated Nittany Lion Club members helped Penn State football draw the fifth-largest average attendance in the nation last season, but room for growth remains and tickets remain available.

NLC members know the value of membership and we hope to grow membership with the season-ticket program aimed at recent grad-uates. Alumni who earned an undergraduate degree from 2010 to 2014 can purchase up to two season tickets for $300 per ticket for the seven-game home schedule this fall. The cost includes a $50 NLC donation and is a savings of 35 percent from the regular $460 season ticket price. A total of 2,500 seats will be made available for the Recent Gradu-ate program on a first-come, first-served basis for James Franklin’s inaugural season as head coach. The seats will be located in the North Upper Deck, in Sections NAU-NLU. Current members are en-couraged to let fellow alumni who qualify to know about the option.

Members of the Nittany Lion Club and Penn State Alumni Association have access to spe-cial pricing for the Penn State Coaches Caravan scheduled to make 17 stops in 10 days this spring.

Building on his mission to “Dom-inate The State,” football coach James Franklin and several head coaches will participate in the annual event that includes 13 stops in Pennsylvania, including four on Penn State campuses. Additional stops will be in Baltimore, New Jersey, New York City and Washington, D.C.

Franklin is scheduled to par-ticipate in all 17 stops and will be joined by various coaches at different stops on the tour. At each event, Penn Staters will be treated to a message from the coaches and have the opportunity to ask questions. In addition, each stop will feature a meet-and-greet session with the coaches during the lunch or evening receptions prior to the programs.

During each of the Coaches Caravan events, Franklin will meet with alumni and fans to talk about his core values for the program, vision for Penn State football and preparations

for the 2014 season, as well as how all Penn State alumni and fans can help build on Penn State football’s tradition of excellence.

“The pride and passion for Penn State, the football program and all of our teams is very obvious. We are looking forward to get-ting around Pennsylvania and the region to visit with all of our proud Penn Staters,” Franklin said. “The opportunity to share our vision for this program and bring this family back together excites our entire staff.”

The Penn State Coaches Car-avan, jointly sponsored by the Penn State Alumni Association and the Nittany Lion Club, kicks off May 1 with an evening event in State College. The Coaches Caravan customized coach will roll out of Happy Valley on May 6 for events in York and Hershey, followed by stops in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. (May 7) and Uniontown and Pittsburgh (May 8) during the first full week. The Coaches Caravan will visit Nittany Nation

strongholds across Pennsylva-nia and the Mid-Atlantic through May 22.

Coaches on the Caravan have helped champion Penn State’s “OneTeam” philosophy, with the 31 varsity teams, athletics, 24 campuses, communities and constituencies all playing a role in the Nittany Lions’ academic and athletic success. Penn State has captured six Big Ten championships and one NCAA crown thus far in 2013-14, with 14 Big Ten crowns the past two years, while earning an NCAA Graduation Success Rate of 88 percent.

Four of the Coaches Caravan events will be held on Penn State campuses, with stops at Penn State York, Penn State Fayette (Uniontown), the Penn-sylvania College of Technology (Williamsport) and Penn State Erie, the Behrend College. The May 21 lunch event will be held in East Stroudsburg, Pa. at East Stroudsburg University, Frank-lin’s alma mater.

Special Caravan pricing for NLC members

Celebration prompts changesA celebration for the end of “For the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students,” during which Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics raised the most money of any unit at the University ($340 million), has prompted a change in typi-cal Blue-White Weekend activities.

While an autograph session will return, and the game itself kicks off at 1:30 p.m. April 12 in Beaver Stadium, there will not be a Nittany Lion Club Blue-White Event the morning of the game.

The focus of on-campus activities during the weekend will be on the campaign — which was on target to surpass its $1 billion goal.

Coaches Caravan TicketsVisit nittanylionclub.com for more information

and special Nittany Lion Cluband Alumni Association pricing.

COACHES CARAVAN

Schedule of stops for the 2014 Caravan:

May 1State College

May 6Penn State York

Hershey

May 7Baltimore

Washington, D.C.

May 8Penn State Fayette

Pittsburgh

May 13King of Prussia

May 14Philadelphia

Scranton

May 15Whippany, N.J.New York City

May 20Penn CollegeWilkes-Barre

May 21East Stroudsburg University

Lehigh Valley


Upbeat Franklin brings energy, ‘process-oriented’ approachA visit to a Penn State men’s ice hockey game was just a part of Coach James Franklin’s meet-and-greet efforts almost as soon as he arrived. (Photo by Mark Selders)

Fifty-five days into his job at Penn State, foot-ball coach James Franklin was talking about the start of spring football practice.

He was talking about a positive attitude, work ethic, competing in everything, and a will-ingness to sacrifice. Those four things form the foundation for the tradition-rich program under Franklin’s direction, and he has a clear approach in mind.

“We’re a process-oriented organization,” Franklin said. “We’re just trying to take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves.”

That’s why Franklin was more worried about practice habits and toughness than he was about how the Blue-White Game at the con-clusion of spring practice would be conduct-ed. He said he hoped to play a full-fledged game but admitted what does happen April 12 in Beaver Stadium relies largely on the 14 practice dates leading up to the spring game.

He’s more worried about getting to know members of the team beyond what he had

seen on film during his first month and a half on the job.

He’s not worried about setting specific goals, either. His process-oriented approach seems set on people to start. Especially the stu-dent-athletes on his team.

“What I’m worried about is them waking up every single morning and being the best they can possibly can be, academically, athletical-ly, socially and spiritually, and the rest of the stuff will take care of themselves,” he said. “The most important thing to me is I want to make sure that at the end of the spring, we have great chemistry and organization. Once you have great chemistry and the kids know how much you care about them, then you can maximize their experience here and max-imize their potential. But it starts with that. It starts with trust. It starts with the relation-ships.”

Among the changes under Franklin will be the opening of practice to parents. Plus, be-cause he did not have the chance to meet the families of existing players as a recruiter, he

hopes to add a parents picnic to Blue-White Weekend. “We’re going to need the parents’ support, so that’s going to be a big part of it. Like I said, we’re not a goal-oriented team, but if I had to say one goal, it’s about the relationships and the chemistry, and the trust with the kids,”

Franklin was named the Nittany Lions’ 16th coach on Jan. 11. A native of Langhorne, Pa., he led Vanderbilt University to unprecedented success the past three years, including con-secutive nine-win seasons and bowl victories the past two years, as well as back-to-back Top 25 finishes, all for the first time in VU history. His 24 wins, including five straight to finish the 2013 season, are tied for the most by a Vanderbilt mentor in his first three years as head coach. In his 20th year of coaching, Franklin was a two-time All-PSAC quarter-back at East Stroudsburg University.

Those credentials and success brought him credibility to Penn State, and his energy and personality have helped ignite the passions of many Nittany Lions fans. He has consistently encouraged fans to rally around the football

program, challenging them to make the passion and support they have displayed during his public appearances so far a reality on Saturdays in the fall.

“You’ve heard me say before, we’re going to sell out every single game next year. I believe that,” Franklin said. “I’m going to keep pounding the table on that because we need to do that. We need to do that from a recruiting perspective. We need to do that from a financial perspective. And I truly believe once we get everybody pulling the rope in the same direction that we can build something really special here.”

Franklin has taken every op-portunity to support other Penn State programs and meet other coaches, too.

“I’ve had a lot of conversations with Cael (Sanderson). I love to go to the wrestling matches and sit there and not only watch the guys compete, but watch him. He’s an impressive guy; he re-ally is. He’s built an impressive program,” Franklin said.

It’s much more than just one sport to Franklin. More than his

sport, and more than a couple of sports. Although new to the Penn State family, he’s already a 31-sport, “OneTeam” kind of guy.

“You look at what our volley-ball program has been able to do.You look at soccer and you can go on and on. Basketball, women’s basketball, and I’ve had a chance to go and watch all those programs compete, and watch the support they get,” he said. “That is the thing that probably blows me away more than anything is the sup-port this university and these athletic programs get from this community. We want to build on that.”

So far he’s done that from in-person meetings to social media exchanges. He plans to keep on doing it, too. He practices what he preaches about how he wants his team to practice.

“We’re going to go out there and enjoy ourselves,” he said. “We’re going to work hard, move fast and be the best we can possibly be to represent Penn State.”

7ONETEAMNLC: THE TEAM BEHIND THE TEAMS

Coach James Franklin met with fans at a wrestling match (top) and had a family photo taken with wife Fumi and daughters Addy and Shola during his first days on campus. (Photos by Mark Selders)

“We’re going to work hard, move fast and be the best we can possibly be.”

— James Franklin


CLASS ConnectionCandidates, finalists across variety of sports reflect Penn State’s commitment

John Urschel won the 2013 Senior CLASS Award for Division I Football in the Football Bowl Subdivision. (Photo by Mark Selders)

Although the Senior CLASS Award lost its title sponsor, (formerly a blue-and-white home improvement store), the award has not lost it’s blue-and-white tint — thanks to the impressive success of Penn State student-athletes in the national program that focuses on success in the classroom and as a competitor.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award honors the attributes of NCAA Division I senior student-athletes in four areas: community, classroom, character and competition. The award program is designed exclusively for college seniors who are utilizing their complete athletic eligibility, remaining committed to their university and pursuing the many rewards a senior season can bring.

Award winners are determined by a selection process that includes college coaches, national media and fans. Each year the program honors seniors in 10 different sports, and in the past year Penn State produced nominees in six sports (tied for the most of any institution), five finalists and two winners.

Penn State’s Senior CLASS candidates were:l Men’s basketball, Tim Frazier (Houston), finalist;l Women’s basketball, Maggie Lucas (Narberth, Pa.), finalist;l Football, John Urschel (Williamsville, N.Y.), winner;l Lacrosse, Austin Kaut (Morton, Pa.), candidate;l Women’s soccer, Maya Hayes (West Orange, N.J.), finalist; andl Women’s volleyball, Ariel Scott (Ridgewoood, N.J.), winner.

Candidates move from that status to finalists and, eventually, winners, depending on the outcome of the selection process and public fan voting. Voting takes place on the Senior CLASS Award website yearly during the month leading up to each sport’s NCAA championship.

It was a stellar year for Penn State senior student-athletes, but it’s that way regularly with the Senior CLASS Award.

For example, Kaut, who was just named a candidate at the start of his season, follows fellow Penn State men’s lacrosse players Mathew Mackrides (2012), who was a finalist, and Nick Dolik (2013), who was

a candidate. Kaut, a business management major with a 3.29 grade-point average, is a three-time All-Colonial Athletic Association First Team member and the 2013 Ensign C. Markland Kelly Jr. Award winner as the nation’s best collegiate goalie. He grew out his curly hair as a high school senior in honor of his grandmother and he’s involved in several charitable and community efforts.

Depending on the sport, as many as 100 nominees are submitted for the awards each year. The selection staff reads through every nomination, considering each against the four-pronged criteria of classroom, community, character and competition, to come up with each sport’s field of candidates.

“When we sit down as a staff some people come in thinking one factor might be more important and others might have a strong opinion about another aspect. As we compare and discuss them, though, it’s really interesting what comes out,” said Laurie Bollig, director of communications for Premier Sports, which facilitates the award. She has worked with the internal selection committee for the past five years. “What you see is that these are good stories and these are good kids.”

She said Penn State’s submissions are compelling and complete, which benefits the student-athletes. Penn State’s winners clearly show that combination of success in terms of those four Cs.

Urschel finished his undergraduate degree in three years with a 4.0 GPA, earned his first master’s degree in math in one year and is working on a second master’s degree in math education. He has taught math classes to Penn State students while playing football. In the community, Urschel has participated in the Penn State Uplifting Athletes Lift for Life, an event that has raised nearly $500,000 the last four years for the Kidney Cancer Association. He has also volunteered at the Penn State Dance Marathon (THON) Make-A-Wish event, the THON pep rally, the Special Olympics Pennsylvania State Summer Games and Relay for Life.

“I am honored and grateful to have been selected the Senior CLASS

Award recipient,” Urschel said. “I have tried to represent my team, University and family as best as possible during my time at Penn State. I am very appreciative and thank my family, professors, coaches, teammates and friends for all their support and help they have provided with all my academic and football pursuits at Penn State.”

Scott, a public relations major with minors in business and liberal arts, has maintained a 3.8 GPA in her major. She is an active member of the Penn State chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America and has earned Academic All-Big Ten honors while also being selected as a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. Since her freshman year, Scott has volunteered regularly with the Special Olympics.

“We are so proud to see Ariel earn this award that speaks to the way she has approached her time at Penn State,” said head coach Russ Rose. “Not only is she a leader on the court, but she’s a standout student-athlete in the classroom who is also actively involved in the community. The way she carries herself is representative of everything that embodies this award.”

She’s clearly not alone in that approach. Classy seniors seems to be the norm among those who wear blue and white.


Women’s basketball player Maggie Lucas was a nominee and finalist for the Senior CLASS Award this year. Men’s lacrosse goalie Austin Kaut is a nominee, the third in a row for Penn State men’s lacrosse, who could become a finalist this year. (Photos by Mark Selders)


Meet and GreetDonors, student-athletes interact at annual Endowment Dinner.

(Photos by Mark Selders)

11ONETEAM

Meet and Greet


Donors, student-athletes interact at annual Endowment Dinner.(Photos by Mark Selders)

Last fall more than 500 people attended the Forever Blue & White endowment dinner which is held yearly for scholarship recipients and their respective donors. Each student-athlete, who has received a scholarship for that year, is invited to attend the dinner to meet their donor and thank them in person. To view photos from the event go to http://bit.ly/1dKjl28 online.


COMPLIANCE CORNER

Autographs: Not always as simple as ‘just sign here’ Several times a year, and almost always in support of charitable efforts, Penn State Intercollegiate Athlet-ics makes student-athletes available for autograph ses-sions — and the response from fans and supporters is always positive.

It’s not as simple as giving them a Sharpie and letting them go, though.

There are rules — from the NCAA and the University itself — and the Compliance Office enforces those rules, while trying to provide the kinds of interactions and opportunities Nittany Lion Club members and all fans appreciate.

“Autographs are one of the more challenging areas, and definitely a hot spot in terms of compli-ance,” said Matt Stolberg, associate athletic director for compliance and student-athlete services. “Student-athletes are able to make an appearance or use their likeness to support permissible causes — and we do that with Pink Zone, THON and several other activities — but they’re not allowed to sign things that get sold. So we try to put them in a position to succeed when we do autograph signings.”

That “position to succeed” means group set-tings for signings, and limiting fans to one item to be signed during such events.

Outside of those events, more than 100 requests come to Penn State for coach or student-athlete autographs each month. Those requests usually come in the form of unsolicit-ed balls, papers or other items that show up in team offices.

More often than not, though, those items go unsigned because the institutional process has not been followed.

“We try to steer people to departmentally organized events,” Stolberg said. “That way, we have a better sense of who’s asking for the autograph and what the student-athletes are signing because we’re also responsible for enforcement after things happen. So if there’s something signed out there for sale online or at

a store, it’s up to us to take corrective action.”

Stolberg and the compliance staff regularly check for such items at brick-and-mortar stores and online. They have issued cease-and-desist orders, some to the same vendors on multiple occasions, to stop the unauthorized sale of items signed by student-athletes in the past.

Still, Stolberg appreciates the interest in signed items and the connection they provide for those who support the program. As part of an effort to cut down on balls, banners and other items showing up at team offices, the Compli-ance Office plans to launch an online request system later this spring. The system would allow charitable groups and others to request a signed item, which would then be sent directly to the requesting group.

“We’re hoping it’ll be an efficient and use-ful tool,” Stolberg said. “We appreciate the passion and support of our fans. The system should allow us to meet the needs of those fans, while continuing to put our coaches and student-athletes in a position to succeed.”

Autographs are just a small part of what the seven-person compliance staff focuses on. The office touches everything from initial eligibility to team travel, and their dedication to small de-tails — such as tracking down signed items for sale online — and that work can lead to long

days. Still, Stolberg and his staff enjoy the opportunity to support Penn State coaches and student-athletes, helping them succeed academically and athletically.

As quarterly reports from former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell have proven since the NCAA sanctions were

implemented against Penn State last year, In-tercollegiate Athletics conducts a program that would provide a model for many others across the nation.

Stolberg predicted that would be the case two years ago when the idea of a monitor was first proposed. Rather than chafe at the additional oversight, he said the scrutiny would make Penn State look even better — because administrators and coaches do their job well, and because they do consistently comply with NCAA and institutional rules.

That does not mean the days in the Compli-ance Office are boring, but everything from A to Z, from academics, autographs and all that follow, get serious consideration from all involved. Best of all from Stolberg’s perspec-tive, compliance personnel are usually involved from start to finish — a part of the process and a partner, as opposed to an obstacle.

“We take a lot of pride in what we do, from start to finish,” Stolberg said. “A little more attention on us in recent months only means more peo-ple know what we do. We’re a valued part of what happens at Penn State. We have a voice in making things work for our coaches and stu-dent-athletes. We all work together to do things the right way and make people proud of Penn State. We’ve always done things that way.”

CONTACTCOMPLIANCE

Members of the Office of Compliance and

Student-Athlete Services encourage Nittany Lion Club

members and Penn State fans to contact the office

with any questions they have related to compliance.Call (814) 863-8048

Sam Ficken signs the shirt of a young fan during Lift for Life last summer. (Photo by Mark Selders)

13ONETEAM

Fencers, wrestlersearn championships,merit dynasty status


Coach Bob Warming joined members of the men’s soccer team who received their jackets at the ceremony.

Letter Jacket Ceremony providesconnection to predecessors, others

Two tradition-rich Penn State programs claimed national championships on back-to-back days in late March, giving the Blue and White 15 national championships since 2007 — the most of any school in the nation during that time.

The wrestling team recorded its fourth consec-utive national championship led by individual champions David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) and Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.) at 165 and 184 pounds, respectively. Taylor, a four-time All-American and two-time champion, was named Most Outstanding Wrestler. Ruth, also a senior, became Penn State’s first three-time champion.

Penn State finished with 109.5 points, ahead of Minnesota (104) and Oklahoma State (96.5).

In addition to Taylor and Ruth — and just as important in the championship run — five other wrestlers earned All-America status. They were: junior Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa.), who finished third at 125, becoming a three-time All-American; freshman Zain Retherford (Benton, Pa.), who finished fifth at 141; senior James English (York, Pa.), who finished seventh at 149; junior Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah), who finished fifth at 174; and soph-omore Morgan McIntosh (Santa Ana, Calif.) who finished seventh at 197. Penn State became only the third team in NCAA history to win four championships in a row. Iowa won at least four in a row twice, most recently from 1995 to 2000, and Oklahoma State had three such runs, most recently from 2003 to 2006.

A day after the wrestling team capped its season in championship style, the fencing team did the same — earning its 13th national championship and third in the past six years.

Penn State recorded 180 bout victories to outlast Princeton (159) and St. John’s (156).The fencing program is now the winningest in NCAA history.

Individually, sophomore Kaito Streets (Red-wood City, Calif.) claimed the men’s saber championship. Streets became 13th individual champion in Penn State fencing history.

A new group of student-athletes received tangible evidence of their status as Penn State letterwinners during the Varsity Letter Jacket Ceremony in February.

Two hundred first-time varsity letterwinners across all sports received the traditional blue-and-white jackets during the ceremony hosted by the Varsity ‘S’ Club at the Nittany Lion Inn. Along with the honorees, the event brought together administrators, coaches and staff members.

“It is a great day for you and a great day for Penn State to be able to honor you,” said Director of Athletics Dave Joyner. “My deep-est congratulations to you because you are joining a terrific group of people that have won letters at Penn State.”

During his introduction, Dr. Joyner ad-dressed the phenomenal past few seasons of success at Penn State. Most recently, the women’s volleyball team won its sixth national championship, which was its fifth in the past seven seasons. Penn State has earned numerous Big Ten Conference titles, had several coaches secure “Coach of the Year” honors and Maggie Harding (State College, Pa.) was named an NCAA Elite 89 student-athlete.

Keynote speaker David Hall, who played baseball at Penn State and graduated in 1994, said the varsity jacket and its dis-tinctive ‘S’ mean a lot — across sports and across generations.

“You have a partnership for life. This insti-tution is committed to you,” Hall said. “Also, people who have been here before you understand what you go through, and they support you as well.” Preston Gall (Columbus, Ohio), a junior men’s gymnast and president of the Stu-dent Athletics Advisory Board (SAAB), used the ceremony to challenge his fellow student-athletes.“Don’t be afraid to be a leader,” he said.

Junior women’s gymnast Sidney Sanabria-Robles (Caguas, Puerto Rico) was among many who seemed prepared to em-brace that role. “The jacket represents Penn State and all the student-athletes. You have to be a good role model,” she said. “It feels good to get the letter because it’s something I’ve earned, not something I’ve been given.”

“It’s nice seeing all the other athletes be-cause we never really get together a lot and it’s cool that we have a connection,” soph-omore swimmer Alyson Ackman (Montreal, Quebec) said.

“It’s a great honor to be a part of a special group of people,” quarterback Christian Hackenberg (Palmyra, Va.) said. “The sup-port for each other is great.”

No student-athlete took their jacket off during the event, which ended with the sing-ing of the Penn State alma mater.


Home games for the women’s softball team (above) come each season only after thousands of miles of travel. (Photo by Mark Selders)

Coaches approach scheduling, travel with clear game planLong before they played at home in state-of-the-art Beard Field at Nittany Lion Softball Park this season, members of the softball team had already traveled thousands of miles and visited four different states to play 21 games.

They’ve been almost everywhere. That’s Arizona, Louisiana, Virginia and twice to Florida.

With northern weather that’s the game, though, and first-year coach Amanda Lehotak has no plans to use travel this year, or any year, as an excuse for how her team performs.

“From my point of view, we don’t hide anything. When we are recruiting and with the team we have to travel,” Lehotak said. “Our mentality is that we’re just going to be tougher than you. We are going to have the same enthusiasm, same focus and we’re not going to make any excuses. A lot of great schools do it every year across the country.”

Baseball coach Rob Cooper, also in his first season, preaches that same mentality. He also promises to tweak the team’s schedule in the future. This year’s slate was pretty well set before he arrived, and a spring break trip to California might not be repeated in the future — even though it put him within two hours of where he grew up, allowing his mom and sister to attend the game.

Cooper wants to find a balance between competition and cost when crafting a schedule. In addition, he has to work with 56 playing dates and a University limitation that his student-athletes can only miss 7.5 class days per semester. So bigger trips during spring break will always be a mainstay, but a savvy approach will complement trips to places like North Carolina or South Carolina in the future with more home games.

“My goal is to put our guys in as many championship caliber environ-

ments as possible. If our goal is to reach the NCAA Tournament, they have to have experience in that atmosphere,” Cooper said.

He knows that might not happen quickly, but an investment of time to play top teams when possible is important. Long weekends (leaving Thursday and returning Sunday) are the staple of the baseball team’s travel approach. At the same time, he thinks home games are especially important — and efficient.

Part of his input on this year’s schedule was booking a two-game midweek series against NYIT that provided a home-opening victory two days after spring break ended.

“They’re a Division I opponent and we got them on their spring break to travel to us,” Cooper said. “We paid a guarantee for them to come here. For that, we still get a decent level of competition, and we get two home games while saving a lot of money. We play at home without having to have the kids miss class, charter a bus and pay for hotels and meal money. Plus, we need as many home games as possible to help the community connect with the program.”

Coaches across sports view the benefits similarly. Traveling can build camaraderie among team members and allow coaches to learn even more about their student-athletes. Depending on the sport, scheduling can be done years in advance (football) or happen just as one season ends and before another begins.

Sometimes a head coach designates an assistant to handle schedul-ing, and sometimes they do it themselves. Men’s volleyball coach Mark Pavlik handles his team’s scheduling, and likes the consistency that it provides.

“Travel for us is not overly exciting,” he said. “We’re at the same places


Wrestling coach Cael Sanderson has embraced his role as a voice for the sport. (Photo by Mark Selders)

every year, which makes it easier on the budget and it’s something I might not get to until the end of the season.”

That consistently similar schedule includes an annual trip to Hawaii or southern California along with 14 league dates in the Eastern Intercol-legiate Volleyball Association. It also builds a rotation of travel favorites, such as a restaurant in Long Beach, Calif., called Claim Jumper. “We usually let the guys pick, though,” Pavlik said. “They like salad, soup, pasta places.”

Overall, the NCAA allows 28 competition dates for men’s volleyball. Take out those 14 EIVA opponents, and other dates go quickly. It’s not always easy to get teams from the West Coast to visit Happy Valley, either. But, Pavlik has an ace up his scheduling sleeve in the coming years. As the host site for the 2015 NCAA Championship, other teams will be a bit more interested in visiting and he might consider urging them to come east in both 2014 and 2015 if they want to be one of the team’s on Penn State’s home schedule.

For coach Coquese Washington and the women’s basketball program, a good schedule features a mix of valuable games at home and on the road for different reasons. It’s just not always easy to make that happen — especially when they try to firm up most of their schedule a couple years in advance.

“The way I look at the non-conference schedule is preparation. We want to get ready for conference play, face good opponents and be in hostile environments,” she said. “Plus, you don’t always get to play who you want to play when you want to play. Sometimes schedules just don’t work out, and you make the best of it.”

Along with the practicality of preparation, Washington tries to work in some rewards for her players. That means games near the hometowns of seniors when possible and, usually, a challenging and enjoyable holiday tournament.

“The Bahamas was pretty nice this past Thanksgiving,” she said. Still, such fun scheduling is only a small part of what she hopes to do for her program. The coaching staff works to expose student-athletes to non-basketball things when they can, but the conference season, when teams get in and out of cities quickly, usually determines what happens. And student-athletes have to get back to class. Because of that, Wash-ington has an overriding approach to travel. “It’s mostly business,” she said. “We try to find ways to make it fun, but it’s fun to get home, too.”

Gymnast Adrian Evans and runner Emily Giannotti have been selected as the 2014 recipients of the Ernest B. McCoy Memorial Award.

The McCoy Award is presented annually to one senior female and one senior male stu-dent-athlete who have combined successful athletic participation with academic excel-lence. The award is named for the longtime dean of Penn State’s College of Physical Education, who also served as the Universi-ty’s athletic director.

Evans (Boulder, Colo.) earned his second consecutive All-America honor on the pommel horse at the 2013 NCAA Men’s Gymnastics

Championships. Outside of the gym, the ad-vertising major and 2014 team captain earned College Gymnastics Association All-Amer-ica Scholar-Athlete honors the last three seasons, while also earning a spot on the Academic All-Big Ten team. Recently, he was selected as one of nine finalists for the 2014 Nissen-Emery Award. Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious honors in collegiate gymnastics, Evans is the 26th Nissen-Emery finalist in Penn State program history.

Giannotti (Coudersport, Pa.) a rehabilitation and human services major, has been a fixture on the Nittany Lion women’s track and cross country teams during her career. On the course, the long-distance runner has com-

peted in three NCAA Cross Country Cham-pionships (2011-13), leading the Penn State contingent during the 2013 championships in Terre Haute, Ind. Giannotti also earned All-Region status with a 21st-place finish at the 2012 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional, which the former All-Big Ten member helped the Nittany Lions win.

On the national scene, Giannotti qualified for the 2013 NCAA Eastern Preliminary Round in the 10,000 meters and for the 2012 edition of the meet in the steeplechase. A graduate student, she placed third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships.

Gymnast Evans, runner Giannotti honored with McCoy Award

Sanderson embraces leadership roleSome Penn State teams ended up in unusual places during the past year, with the women’s basketball team at South Dakota State, the men’s basketball team playing at Pitt for the first time in nine years and, looking ahead, with the football team set to play in Ireland in August.

Still, the wrestling team’s trip to Boston University was just business as usual, and perhaps even more important, with the powerhouse Nittany Lions traveling to defeat a lesser opponent for the good of the sport. With the wrestling program on the chopping block at BU, Penn State’s visit was intended to help raise the profile of the sport.

“I think when we can help with something like that we should,” Cael Sand-erson said. “We have to do what’s right for the sport when we can. We could’ve had a match somewhere else, but that was important.”

Along with his team’s travels, and because of his profile in the sport, Sanderson has become an even bigger voice for wrestling this past year. He’s helped keep the sport in the Olympics and taken a visible stand on the sport’s approach to dual meets. And, when the quiet coach and former champion speaks people tend to listen. “It is part of my job to stand up for the sport,” Sanderson said.


Many Nittany Lion Club members were able to meet with Coach Franklin during activities around National Signing Day and the first-ever Signature Event.

Signature Event, Signing Day(Photos by Mark Selders)

Fans who renewed their season tickets the night of the Signature Event had their picture taken with Coach James Franklin at center court of the Bryce Jordan Center.


We’re pleased to announce these gifts and pledges of $25,000 and above to ourFor the Future: The Campaign for Penn State Students. We sincerely thank the donors who,

through their generosity, made these important funds a reality.

Opportunities exist to endow scholarships in specific sports, in areas that meets your interest or support one of our facility projects. Of course, all such opportunities provide tax benefits. If you would

like information on how to participate, please call us at (814) 863-GIFT (4438). Donors ....................................................................................... Scholarship/Naming OpportunityMichael and Carolann Bellaman........................... Bellaman Family Trustee Scholarship for International AthleticsKenton Broyles ........................................................................................................................Various ScholarshipsMartha Carter-Bhatti ............................................................................................... Edgar Levis Carter ScholarshipPeter and Kristen Chadwick ..............................................................Barth Chadwick Athletic Position ScholarshipDavid and Melissa Eisenreich ................................................................. Nittany Lion Club Program Support Fund

for the Morgan Academic Support CenterChristel L. Ertel and Gary N. Stewart ...............................................................................Football Excellence FundWilliam and Elaine Given..................................................................................................Football Excellence FundPeter and Julie Greene..................................McCoy Natatorium Naming Opportunity -- Assistant Coaches OfficeJoan Haag Beiter ................................................ C. Webster Haag and Joan J. Haag Family Football ScholarshipHowie and Pam Haldeman ................. Lasch Football Building Naming Opportunity -- Graduate Assistant’s OfficeBruce and Debbie Hershock.........................................................................Pegula Ice Arena Naming Opportunity

Bruce and Debbie Hershock and Family Retail ShopTodd and Barbara Hilsee .......................................Todd B. and Barbara C. Hilsee Abilities Program Support FundEarl Hoffman and Family ................................................................................................. Bridge to the Future FundDorothy Huck ................................................................................. Lloyd and Dorothy Huck Family Wrestling FundPaul and Judy Hummer ......................................................Hummer Family Program Support Fund for Men’s GolfWilliam and Kimberly Kerlin ..............................................................................................Football Excellence FundDaniel and Kathleen Langdon ........................................................Dan and Kathy Langdon Wrestling ScholarshipDaniel Lieberman ..........................................Nittany Lion Club Program Support Fund for the All-Sports MuseumJay May ..................................................................................May Family Endowed Men’s Basketball ScholarshipHelen McDermid and Sylvia Feldman ....McCoy Natatorium Naming Opportunity -- Women’s Team Locker RoomJoseph and Linda McKenna .............................................McKenna Family Athletic Trustee Endowed ScholarshipScott and Carole McKeon.............................................................................................................. Lacrosse FacilityJames and Janet Meister ..................................Jim and Janet Meister Endowment for Sports Medicine ResearchMark and Lorraine Roller ......Mark and Lorraine Roller Endowed Program Support Fund for Lady Lion BasketballFred H. Schaefer ..............................................................................................Fred Schaefer Football ScholarshipJohn and Paige Smith .................................................. John T. and Paige S. Smith Endowed Athletic ScholarshipRichard and Susan Sokolov .............................................................................................Football Excellence FundIvan Spinner ................................................................................................................................ Men’s Tennis TBDRonnie and Amy Stuck ......................................................................Stuck Family Abilities Program Support FundMichael and Deborah Tanitsky .......................... Michael and Deborah Tanitsky Baseball Scholarship EndowmentTom and Ginny Trite .....................................................Football Excellence Fund and Two Endowed ScholarshipsJack and Frances Tsui ..................................................................................................... Bridge to the Future Fund Richard and Marjorie Weiler .................................... Rich, Marjorie and Will Weiler Endowed Football ScholarshipGeorge Will .....................................................................................George W. Will Endowed Baseball ScholarshipSusan Bartholomew Will.........................................Susan Bartholomew Will Women’s Endowed Golf ScholarshipDavid T. and M. Joan Wilson ........................................ David T. Wilson Ice Hockey Program Support EndowmentDavid and Jane Zazworsky ..............................................Endowed Scholarship for Men’s Basketball Point Guard

and Endowed Fund for Sports MedicineSimon Ziff .........................................................................................................................Football Excellence Fund


First Person: Bernard Bennett-Green at Leadership Forum

On the first day of the Student-Athlete Leadership Forum in Providence, R.I., master of ceremonies Diana Cutaia of Coaching Peace asked, “Do you guys have a pulse?”

She asked because many of us were tired from a long day of traveling to Rhode Island, but I don’t believe that’s what she wanted to hear.

I was definitely one of those people who had to look down and check if I had a pulse. I was still happily surprised I was able to attend, and because I was a little tired from rain delays on the way there.

Still, it was a great event and I was proud to be there. I had been nominated by my head track and field coach, Beth Alford-Sullivan, and then was selected by Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics to represent Penn State student-athletes at the regional event. Penn State has more than 800 student-athletes on campus who hold a variety of leadership positions, so it was a huge honor to be selected.

Throughout the Leadership Forum, rep-resentatives from NCAA member schools led small group discussions about a vari-ety of topics, including behavioral styles, branding, decision making, emotional in-telligence, social media and values. The goal of the forum was to help us become more effective leaders and motivators when we returned to campus.

I definitely took the discussions to heart, and I believe I gained even more by lis-tening to the speakers and interacting with the other student-athletes and administrators that were there.

One speaker that really stood out in my mind was Chris Herren. Herren is a former NBA basketball player who played for the Boston Celtics. His story stood out because he battled with drug and alcohol addiction throughout his career, and after it. He lost everything, including his family and money, but somehow managed to regain his life back.

His story helped me realize how grateful I

am, and how much more that I need to do in helping others who battle with drug and alcohol addiction. I have family members who have battled alcohol and drug abuse and I have stood by and not offered help. That all will change now that I have new insight on how to approach the sensitive topic.

Interacting with the other student-athletes and administrators also helped me gain a better perspective about life overall.

Six degrees of separation is a theory that everyone is six or fewer steps away, by way

of introduction, from any other person in the world. You never realize how true six degrees of separation is until you are faced with talking to someone you don’t know and start asking small questions here and there until you eventually come to the conclusion that one of your good friends goes to school with one of their good friends who also knows you. I know that might have seemed confusing, but try and talk to a random stranger one day and you will come to realize how much you have in common.

One nugget of wisdom I took from the con-ference and believe that everyone should try and follow is to get out of your comfort zone at least once a day. When you do that, you learn a lot more about yourself as a person and about the people around you.

The Leadership Forum was more than discussions and networking, though. The NCAA rented out a Dave & Busters for all the student-athletes for a night — which was a blast! We also got to make blankets and stuff teddy bears that we gave to St. Mary’s Children Home in Rhode Island.

We also traded ideas about community service ideas we all do on our own campuses.

The Leadership Forum was a great life expe-rience that I wish everyone had the chance to attend because it was simply amazing. I made what I hope will be some lifelong friends in a truly amazing city — and was able to find my pulse, too!

Bennett-Green (Elkins Park, Pa.) is a senior major-ing in journalism.

Senior Bernard Bennett-Green, who represented Penn State at the NCAA Student Leadership Forum, recorded the nation’s fourth fastest indoor 200-meter run earlier this year. (Photo by Mark Selders)

NCAA session a chance to learn about life challenges,proudly represent Penn State

“I have family members who have battled alcohol and drug abuse and I have stood by and not offered help. That all will change now that I have new insight on how to approach the sensitive topic.”

— BERNARD BENNETT-GREEN

19NLC: THE TEAM BEHIND THE TEAMS

IN MEMORIAMEllen Perry, 1942-2014

Former Associate Athletic Director Ellen Perry, a women who helped make women’s athletics possible, prominent and successful at Penn State died in early March.

Perry, 72, was retired but her impact was ongoing, and she remained active with Intercollegiate Athletics and in the University community.

She died Tuesday, March 4, in State College.Perry was a member of the Athletics staff from 1966

until her retirement on June 30, 2002. Her career in-cluded 40 years in teaching, coaching and athletic administration.

Perry was the Nittany Lions’ first women’s swimming and diving head coach. She was named associate athletic director and senior woman administrator in 1989.

Under Perry’s tenure as a senior administrator, Penn State’s wom-en’s programs captured 14 national championships in six sports, as well as winning 17 Big Ten Conference regular season championships and nine Big Ten tournament titles. The women’s fencing team also combined with the men’s team to win nine national titles in that period.

“Ellen Perry was one of the primary forces in making Penn State an early leader among national universities in providing opportunities for women in athletics on the intercollegiate, intramural and club levels,” said director of athletics Dave Joyner. “Ellen made a meaningful dif-ference on the lives of Penn State students and staff and members of the State College and intercollegiate athletics’ communities.

“She played a significant role in Penn State’s transition into the Big Ten Conference and helped lay the foundation for the 60-plus Big Ten titles and nearly 20 national championships our women’s teams have

won.”Perry, from Reading, Mass., had management

oversight responsibilities with Penn State’s 14 wom-en’s sports as well as student-athlete services for the approximately 750 Nittany and Lady Lion student-ath-letes.

“It’s a sad day for the entire Penn State family,” said Charmelle Green, the current senior women’s adminis-trator in Athletics. “Ellen Perry was not only a tremen-dous administrator, but she was an outstanding mentor, and friend to so many. I will forever be grateful for her support, her knowledge, and her expertise. And I will miss her positive spirit and outlook on life.”

Perry guided the Penn State women’s swimming and diving program from 1970-81 and posted a winning percentage of .790 in 124 dual meets. Seven of her Penn State swimmers won a total of nine All-America citations. Four of her alumnae have coached at the collegiate level.

In 1990, the Eastern Women’s Swimming League named its team championship trophy the “Ellen Perry Cup.”

“Ellen Perry was truly an exceptional teacher, coach, and adminis-trator for more than 40 years at Penn State. I will always remember her unwavering commitment to providing competitive athletic opportu-nities for female student-athletes and her pride in Penn State’s broad-based athletic program,” said Assistant Athletic Director Jan Bortner. “As a tennis coach during Ellen’s time as senior women’s administra-tor, I got to observe first-hand her devotion, commitment, work ethic, and tireless support as a real Champion of Penn State athletics. It was a pleasure and honor to have worked with EP.”

Without her devotion and guidance, Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics would not have reached the heights it has. And her impact spanned generations.

Ellen Perry

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PAIDThe Pennsylvania State University

The Pennsylvania State University157 Bryce Jordan CenterUniversity Park, PA 16802

Sept. 19-21, 2014

nlc newsletter (spring 2014)

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