Throwback Thursday IN COLOR!!!

My kids used to say that I was born before color was invented, and maybe they are right.  But our great friend and Oregon Duck alum Dan Martinez dug up more pictures of Greg Fredericks from his archive even he didn't know he had.  And they happen to contain an Oregon Duck a few of you might know!

Rather than being dismayed at Pre pulling away from Greg at the finish, I would rather note how no one else is even in the pictures!

My Readers Are The Best: And I'll Never Doubt Our New Blog Laureate Again

The 1974 AAU XC Championship listing from Mike Fanelli's vast archives was a big hit.  The only way to top it would be photographs from that meet.  And Dan Martinez, our best Oregon Duck connection, has come through for us again!  Both Mike and Dan have always been invited to our Reunion and Golf Outing.  It would be a pleasure to have a Duck and a native Philadelphian amongst our ranks.  Please chime in with who is who among the runners pictured. (Hint: There seems to be 2 Nittany Lions lurking in the photos somewhere?)

And it turns out that Larry Mangan was 100% correct and both the previous Blog Laureate and I were 100% wrong.  Larry will now be tasked with his newest Group title as Blog Laureate, a position that has been unfilled for far too long.

The Coach Groves Spiked Shoe Meet was known as the Coaches Conference Meet in its early manifestation.  I'm not sure who did the legwork on this but I am impressed.  The telltale article was found in the Reading Eagle of all places.

1979 Coaches Conference XC Meet

1. Larry Mangan   24:40   5.2 mile  (Course Record)
2. Alan Scharsu     24:56
3. John Zeigler
4. Tom Rapp
5. Jeff Adkins
6. Ricky Garcia
7. Jim Clelland

I cannot thank my readers enough for making this site almost factually accurate! hee hee hee All errors in fact are usually my responsibility.  But most times, my readers rescue me.

Murder At The Penn State Track! And More Roommate Pictures

A suspect is still at large in the Tuesday murder of the large tree at the entrance to the PSU Outdoor Track Facility.  An All Points Bulletin has been issued and the suspect is thought to be in hiding in either Greece or Italy.  Zeus (aka Jupiter) struck the tree with a lightning bolt under the cover of darkness during a storm.  Penn State authorities had to put  the tree down the following day.  A replacement will not be available for approximately 60 years.

Photo by Course Marshall Greg Fredericks.

Photo by Golden Putter Attendant Greg Fredericks.

 And our Oregon Duck connection Dan Martinez sent me some additional photos of Alan Scharsu from Walt Chadwick's wonderful vintage track photo site.  Bon Appetit.

An Invitation, A Mystery Alum and a New Friend

First up, here's an invitation for everyone to attend a reception at the Penn Relays!

Second, our Oregon Duck and Left Coast Friend Dan Martinez came across this pic of a golden era Nittany Lion.  Does anyone know who this is?

And last, but NOT least, is a preview of additional pics from my new friend Greg Reyner ('82 to '86).  Let's not let Greg know my Shot Put PR. Hope to see him on the Links soon!

It Must Be Nice to Be the King

Dan Martinez, our former Oregon Duck friend in California sends us this great item in response to our previous post about the other post from our Vintage Track and Field friend George Brose...

When the crowd at Franklin Field saw Bruce Dern in the 4 x 880Y relay, they chanted "Go, Elvis, go!".  This set off head coach and monumental disciplinarian Ken Doherty who suspended Bruce unless he shaved his sideburns and cut his hair.  Bruce chose full follicular force instead of track and field.  Even his dad, a Board of Trustee member of the University of Penn could not dissuade Coach Doherty.  Bruce dropped out of college and turned to other endeavors.

The King.

PHILADELPHIA, FEB. 8 -- SIDELINED OVER SIDEBURNS - Bruce Dern, relay runner with the University of Pennsylvania two mile relay team, looks over his clippings after he was ordered sidelined because he refused to shave off his sideburns, ala Elvis Presley style. Dern, 20-year-old son of a University trustee, was ordered benched by Coach Ken Doherty.. Additional Information: Bruce Dern University Pennsulvania

Photo Submissions and Physics Goodies

Our Oregon/Southern California connection Dan Martinez noticed my earlier photo of Friend of the Group Patrick Davey from a late 70's Dogwood Relays.  He sent along these beauties from the 1978 NCAA 5000 M 10000 M where Pat placed 3rd.

Photo by Bill Killian

Patrick Davey and Joseph Nzau. Photo by Bill Killian.

Then there's this submission from Official Physicist (Nuclear Engineer!) Brian Boyer.  Here's a view from his IAEA workplace in Vienna in 2010. Brian will be attending the Alumni Reunion and will be the starter at the Alumni "Run"  He's coming from New Mexico, what's your excuse?

And here's one from the same window in 2001:

Seems Physics must foot the bill for some extensive building contracts!

And Happy 95th Birthday Richard Feynman.

I Still Sorta, Kinda Have the T-Shirt

Our West Coast Friend and author of Cross Country 101, Dan Martinez sent us another great photo from "The Past" in honor of my observation that a big part of me still lives there.  It's the 1975 AAU Cross-Country Championships in Annapolis.  That's Greg Fredericks winning the race with a time of  28:57!

I actually had a t-shirt from the race because I subsequently went to the Blue Mountain Running Camp held by Navy Coach Al Cantello.  They must have had a boatload of extras that weren't sold, so us skinny runners were the beneficiaries. I loved that t-shirt and subsequently wore it out.  Luckily, my sister was able to stitch it together enough and it now resides in the middle of my 1970's T-Shirt Quilt she made for me.

Finally! The Book Review I Promised Months Ago

Seeing as I am such a poor writer, I'm not about to write a real review for a real book!  So I assigned my daughter to do the work for me.  And before you jump all over me for such cruelty, the book was meant for someone just like her to begin with.

Our friend from California and ex-Oregon Duck Dan Martinez has written a book geared toward the beginner cross country runner, although those of all ages have delighted in it.  He takes us back to those early innocent days before any of us knew what an interval or fartlek was.  Back when zits and bullies were a rather large consideration in our lives.  This all comes from the perspective of a skinny high school Freshman in California.  Cross Country 101 is a delight for this skinny nerd who in 1976 just couldn't cut it on the basketball court anymore.  Just about any of us can relate to its plot.  Some have said that the protagonist Eric Hunt is an amalgam of  the real-life Thom Hunt, Eric Hulst and Dan himself. Maybe he'll let us in on the secret when he sees this. Dan has been very active with Runners Reunited, an effort to reunite runners from the 60's, 70's and later in California.  He even has enticed my former roommate Alan Scharsu,,who lives in San Diego, out of hiding for it.

 

Review by Anne Baskwill, age 12 (a far better writer than I!) :

Cross Country 101 by Dan Martinez, Stuart Calderwood, and Liang Shan is by far the best running book I have ever read. Throughout the whole novel, Eric and the entirety of the Regal High Cross Country team inspired me to become the best runner that I can be. Watching Eric evolve from next to last at his first meet to the number one freshman at States was incredible, and the writing was exceptional. It is apparent to every runner that the author knew exactly what he was talking about when he described the typical “new runner” struggles and all of the techniques used. What made the novel great is that it wasn’t completely based on running. There was a perfect blend of different conflicts and difficulties in the book that balanced out the story and kept the reader interested. I would definitely recommend it to anyone: runners and readers.     

Get the book at Amazon:  Cross Country 101

Who Am I?

Here's a few more photos from Dan Martinez's vault he has graciously sent our way.  I think I know some of the names but there is no need to point out what an Idiot I am by getting any of them wrong.  Help us out by naming names and supplying any accompanying stories in the comments. 

 1985 Dogwood Relays.  Photo by Bill Killian.

 1984 Dogwood Relays.  Photo by bill Killian.

 1984 Dogwood Relays.  Photo by Bill Killian.

 1995 Penn Relays.  Photo by Bill Killian.

 1985 Dogwood Relays.  Photo by Bill Killian.

1984 USA Championships.  Photo by Richard Lee Slotkin.

 

1984 Dogwood Relays.  Photo by Bill Killian.

"The toughest runner I ever saw." -Coach Groves

Our new friend from California (and the Oregon Ducks!) Dan Martinez has sent numerous vintage photos since we were introduced by the wonderful digital world.  And these vintage photos never fail to get a great response from my "dozens" of readers.  I'll unveil more of these sporadically but wanted this one to be first in line.

Sometimes my grasp of facts and "the truth" is rightfully questioned by blog proof-readers, but this one is 100% certified accurate.  I heard the quote directly from Coach Groves at last year's Track Alumni Reunion and Golf Tourney. I even have it on tape.

Photo by Bill Killian.

That's PSU's very own Kathy (Mills) Parker at the 1978 AAU Championships.  And that's another tough runner behind her in Jan Merrill.  Who should have patented her compression socks way back then!

The Good 'Ole Days

Yeah, I live in the past a lot.  I was a lot smaller then, so it's easier to move around in the past. I've often said that the two of me now are twice as slow as the one of me in the 70's.  It's actually quite accurate.  Within seconds per mile really.  Good times...

Our blog has even reached the rarefied air of the West Coast where new friends are just a digital "hello" away.   Late-70's Oregon Duck Daniel Martinez visited our site and was intrigued by our remembrances of the late 70's NCAA XC heyday.

Turns out we have much in common and share friends and enemies alike. ( I just made up the enemies part)  As always, everyone is welcome in our world!  Even a Duck.

He has sent me photos for the blog, both of which are great: Both photos are by Bill Killian.

 1979 Penn Relays.

 1978 NCAA 5000 M

Dan is wondering if any of us has more photos of the 1978 NCAA XC Finals.  I said I would put the word out.  

And we'll be hearing more from Dan in the days to come.  But I have some reading to do in the meantime.  And you all know how hard that is for me.  You know, since all the reading I did while in school has kind of burned me out.  I may just hire my daughters for the hard parts...