Penn State Track and Field Alumni (Golf): 2026

"...a blogger, who is just a bullsh*tter with an IP address."

-Anonymous, Ace of Spades Blog, 2021.

"Gutless and talentless. (sic) It's your trademark since 1977."

-Redacted, 2021.

"Friendship, physics, and philosophy---this blog has it all."

-Anonymous, 2011.

"I enjoy what you are doing with this blog. It is truly the only reason to have a Facebook account."
-Darryl Jones.

"Light yourself on fire and then roll in broken glass to put out the fire!"
-from Isaiah Harris's Twitter Feed, explaining how to replicate the feeling after an 800M race.

"Even pit bulls call him Coach."
-Brian Mount, reacting to a visit to Coach Groves from Hunter Backenstose's pit bull, Blanche.

"Your blog is amazing and I’ve always loved your humor. Thanks for continually bringing me a smile."
-Don Ziter, two-time winner of the Coach Groves Golf Tournament.

"Your blog is amazing."
-Bob Trump.

"Keep up the great work."
-Nick Scarpello, after winning the 2016 Carlsbad 5K.

"Goodbye to all that. (Politics) I am turning into Jeremiah Johnson, a shunner."
-Rob Whiteside, walking the Appalachian Trail.

"I'd rather see you laying in a gutter with your head split open than to see you run like that."
-Coach Groves, following a poor showing of 800M runners at a Beaver Stadium Meet, late 70's.

"You do a fantastic job."
-Phil Caraher.

"You are amazing at blogging."
-Walt Chadwick.

"Best blog out there."
-Phil Passen.

"...it tops all sites I've seen with its sense of humor."
-George Brose, author of the website Once Upon a Time in the Vest, about our humble blog.

"Great post as usual DFB!"
-Darryl Jones.

"You just don't f*** with a f*****."
-sage advice from Coach Groves, as told to Tim Backenstose and me, 5/17/14.

"When I was a kid, I saw an illegal dice game in the bathroom at Franklin Field."
-Matthew Groves, 2013, remembering the Penn Relays Carnival.

"Don't sit next to Balkey and Artie at a track meet...You'll end up talking about hockey for 3 hours."
-Coach Groves to Rebecca Donaghue, 2013.

"The first 45 mile week I ever ran, I ran in the first 3 days at PSU- Thank you very much, Bruce Baden!"
-Larry Mangan, 2012.

"If it takes longer than a paragraph, you don't have anything to say anyway."
-Coach Groves at the 2012 Track Alumni Dinner

"If you can't get excited for The Penn Relays than damn it, you aint got no soul!"
-Coach Groves, as reported by Matt Lincoln at the 2012 Penn Relays.

"Athletics is for education and recreation, nothing else. Winning is important only in that you learn more."
-Coach Harry Groves, 5/21/2011 at the Alumni "Run".

"... for a brief time, I'm the greatest Track Coach in the world."
-Coach Harry Groves, at his Retirement 2006.

"You must do something about the cheating!"
-Coach Harry Groves, after golfing two holes with each foursome in 2009.

"We made Harry cry."
-Randy Moore, remembering the 1985 Penn Relays 4 X 800.

"Even my mother calls me Coach."
-Coach Harry Groves, circa 1977, whenever a student/athlete dared call him Harry.

Friday, April 24, 2026

Happy birthday, Coach Groves

He always enjoyed birthday wishes under the clock on his special day.

Sunday, January 11, 2026

A Reunion of Sorts At The World XC Championships

Don Ziter (81) and Mark Hawkins (81) laced them up at the 4K and later ran into Tom Rapp (81). Do you sense a theme?

Ran a lot of miles with these guys many years ago.

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Idiots in Charge: (Officers)

Clark Haley- Professor emeritus, Founder , web site editorial board chairman, and Keeper of the Beer
Gary Black- Chief Financial Officer and Director of Corporate Espionage
Mark Heckel - Director of Security
Harry Smith- Event Coordinator and Keeper of the Cup
Vivian Riddick - Greatest Track Alumni Ambassador
Jeff Sanden- Grand, Exalted IT Czar
skwilli- Web Site Idiot and Herder of Cats (dfbaskwill@cs.com)
Ron Moore - Erwin Shroedinger Endowed Chair For Advanced Physics
Brian Boyer- Official Physicist , European Liaison
Greg Fredericks- Course Marshall, Hole-in-one Monitor, and Golden Putter Attendant
Rob Whiteside- Roaming Coorespondent and Muse
Dick Geiger - Walk-On Progenitor Excelsior
Artie Gilkes- Director of Youth Development
Ryan Foster - Energizer Lion Emeritus
Steve Balkey - Beverage Procurement Specialist and Practice Facilitator
Mark Hawkins - Le faucon d'orange
Kay Warfel, Jeri Elder, Sarah Adams (honorary EKU Library) - Digital Archive Goddesses
Michael Henry - Digital Archive god, University of Maryland Archives (honorary member)
Teddy Quinn - Director of Fun
Bo Quinn - Ambassador of Fun
Jess Riden- Energizer Lion Emeritus
George Brose -(Honorary Member) Obersturmbahndronenfuhrer
Billy Francis - Undersecretary of Fun

Hall of Champions:

2021: Steve Brown '89, Tom Brown '22, Steve Brown Jr., John Flaherty (-5) Mountain View Country Club

2020: John Gondak, Ian Smith, Harry Smith '83, David Baskwill '81 (-4) Mountain View Country Club div>

2019: Tom Brown '22, Paul Mundy '86, Bob Gabel '81, David Baskwill '81 (-3) Mountain View Country Club

2018: Steve Brown '90, Steve Brown Jr., Brian Laird '89, David Baskwill '81 (-1) Mountain View Country Club

2017: Doug Kent '80, Bill Malchano '85, Ken Brinker, '69 (-5) Mountain View Country Club

2016: Che Aresomena '90-something, Coach Kevin Kelly, Mike McClelland '16, Kevin Fuller '13 (-2) Mountain View Country Club

2015: Curt Allison, Bill Whittaker '73, Brian Boyer '80 and Todd Kletter '98 (-2) Mountain View Country Club

2014: Owen Dawson '11, Doug Kent '80, Artie Gilkes '97, Curt Allison (-3) Mountain View Country Club

2013: Rick Kleban '85, Robert Szeyller '60, Brian Fuller '09, Kevin Fuller '10 (-3) Mountain View Country Club

2012: Brian Laird '89, Drew Hardyk, Steve Brown '90, Bill Malchano '85 (-5) The Elks Club Course

2011: Paul Mundy '86, John Gondak, Clark Haley '85, Steve Shisler '86 (-8*) The Elks Club Course

2010: Nick K. '85, Drew Hardyk, Bradd DelMuto '01, Andrew Jenkins '00(-5) The Elks Club Course

2009: Brian Boyer '80, Jim Clelland '80, Gary Black '82 '84 '86, Paul Mundy '85 (-6) The Elks Club Course

2008: Clark Haley '85, Steve Balkey '88, Mike McCahill '83, Brian Laird '89/ Bill Whittaker '73(-6) The Elks Club Course

2007: Beth (Stever) Shisler '86, Harry Smith '84, Gary Black '82 '84 '86, Clark Haley '85 (-3) The Elks Club Course

2006: David Baskwill '81, Don Ziter '81, Zeb Stewart '83, Robert Gifford '89 (-5) Penn State White Course

2005: Don Ziter '81, Paul Mundy '85, Rob Boulware '86, Robert Gifford '89 (-5) Penn State White Course

2004: Mike McCahill '83, Rick Kanuck, Doug Scharsu, Clark Haley '85 (-5) Penn State White Course

2003: Harry Smith '84, Steve Balkey '88, Chris Herr '85, Tom Rapp '81 (-2) Penn State White Course

2002: Robert Gifford '89, Brian Laird '89, Clark Haley '85 (-3) Penn State Blue Course

Penn State Track and Field Alumni (Golf)