Gunny Was a Remarkable Man

 It is with sadness that I report the passing of Roger "Gunny" Roll.  It is hard to describe Gunny in just words, but here are a few items I find interesting...

• He was Coach Groves' best friend for many years.  Years that were difficult for him.
• He would take 10 mile runs with the team in my early years.  Teams that were in the top-4 in the Division I NCAA XC. I probably couldn't do that 1 year after graduation!
  
• He had more than 1 Purple Heart from Vietnam.  I think the number was three, but really "just 1" would garner my greatest respect.
• He taught me many things in those days, sometimes in words, and sometimes by just watching how he interacted with the world around him.
• I never heard him say a negative thing about anyone.  
• He was a long-time Official for NCAA meets in both XC and Track and Field.

Never had an interaction with him that wasn't positive.  RIP  (Thanks to Mark Heckel for the photo and the word on the news.)

 We have lost all 3 of these giants of PSU Track Alumni (Golfers) in the last several years.

No Football, No Problem

Took the absence of a football game in State College to visit Daughter the Elder AND Coach Groves. My day's workout is most likely the walk Greg Fredericks and I took with him. It was fun hearing Coach tell me about all the wrong moves I was making along our way. Took me back to 1977 in my mind. And I will admit I was sweating a little too!

Included are pics of Coach, the Rusty Boot on prominent display,  and the sign that Gunny Roll hit in his accident before the first XC meet of the season.

The Coach Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational

Don't forget to get your orders in for the store!  It closes in 9 days!!!!

It was a pleasure seeing so many friends at the Meet today!  Let me try to name as many as I can...

• Coach Harry Groves
• Coach John Gondak
• Coach Bill Whittaker
• Dan Curran
• Laura Loht
• Owen Dawson
• Isaiah Harris
• Elyse Skerpon
• Steve and Beth Shisler
• Dave Felice
• Artie Gilkes
• Greg Fredericks
• Tim Backenstose
• Nick K.

Daughter the Elder, Pooky and Coach Groves.

Photo by Daughter the Elder.

Photo by Daughter the Elder.

And there is one person I expected to see but didn't.  Roger "Gunny" Roll was involved in an automobile accident after having dinner with Coach Groves and others last night.  He did not attend the meet, but is said to be banged up "just a little" and did not go to the hospital. He won't be using that car again, as both were totaled.  If you know his history and service to our country, you can understand him trying to avoid a hospital trip.  Everyone keep him in your thoughts and prayers. There is no one quite like Gunny and PSU T&FXC owes him a debt of gratitude beyond measure.

The Women dominated the meet, while the Orangemen of Syracuse ran away with the Mens title.
Airship 800U did indeed see some action, but I did not push things to the limit.  I have some aerial shots of both starts and action from the Womens leaders at 4K and the Men at 7K.  It was fun flying the bird on a hot day in State College.

Reggie Dunlop Might Have Been Our Coach This Day

 Early in the 1979 Cross Country Season an intrepid cast of characters set out in a van for the home of the Charlestown Chiefs.  Instead of meeting the Hanson Brothers on the ice, we met a bunch of other runners for the Johnstown 10K.

But we did use the Cambria County War Arena as our dressing room.  That's the scene of much of the filming for what Paul Newman called his favorite movie, Slap Shot.  We actually dressed in the stands right where goalie Denis Lemieux met player/coach Reggie Dunlop after asking Manager Joe McGrath "Who Own the Chiefs?"    Owwwwwns...




Several of us set PRs for the 10K, and everyone knows Johnstown has hills!

Penn State Runners:

  5.  Gary Black                 29:58
  7.  David Baskwill           30:37
  8.  Brad Althouse            30:40
11.  Mark Hawkins            31:01
12.  Marc Dunmire            31:14
14.  Don Ziter                     31:33
15.  Doug Kent                   31:54
18.  Rich Prann                  32:17
19.  Ray Krombel               32:20
23.  Mark Fordney             32:50
26.  Mike Cook                   33:07
42.  Roger "Gunny" Roll   34:53

I further pissed everyone off after the race by winning a pair of running shoes randomly from a local running store, delaying the return to State College!  They ended up giving me an injury...

"We go to Florida and I get the money." 

-Denis Lemieaux.

    

Carpe Diem

A Rare Totally Curmudgeonly-Free Post by your favorite Curmudgeon!

There are great things happening in the Penn State Track and Field World.  And every one of you can help in any number of ways.  So get off your butt and seize the day!

I spent yesterday in State College. The State College I have come to know and love. At one point at a pivotal moment in my world, the temperature dropped 10 degrees in minutes, snow, rain and sleet began and grayness enveloped the Valley.  And I wasn't even crabby!

How can that be?  What could possibly make ME ignore something to complain about so easily?  Well, Number 1 on the list is this man...

Yeah, you younger people recognize Billy Francis immediately.  I was taken aback while taking pics at the Penn State Open when I recognized a PSU Alumni Singlet in the distance. (and I swear there's another new sale coming!)  I couldn't figure out who it was until he got close.  Billy was in San Diego just 1 day before, enjoying 95 degree temps and possibly "chillin" (or whatever you young hipsters do nowadays!)  But there he was, fighting for position amidst the runners 3 or 4 years younger than him! (hee hee hee, Billy)

I greeted him and received a big hug in reply.  And I've been happy ever since.  I'm not making that up.  I've only ever met two people like Billy, one of them being Billy. (The other was John "DNA" Kauffman for what its worth.)  These two people have the rarest of touches in this crazy world.  The glass is always half full, and might as well be overflowing for these two.  I learned in my numerous Genetics classes (all A's BTW!) that you are either born happy, or not.  Billy wasn't just born happy, he was born to BE happy and make those around him happy.  God bless you Billy.  I'm a big fan.  And everyone should friend him on the various social media.  It will be worth it.  It's also why he has been named our Group's Undersecretary of Fun.

Other Reasons For Not Being Crabby:
  

• Got to see Coach Gondak and Roger "Gunny" Roll at the meet.  Both in good shape and working hard.  Gunny was able to send my greetings to Coach Groves.  (And don't the rest of you ever fail to thank Gunny for what he has done for our Country, our Team and Coach Groves whenever you see him!)

  

  Gunny and Coach Gondak.

•  Got to meet Craig Houtz who has been taking photos for PSU Athletics since 1977!  He has just digitized most of his collections.  Maybe we will be able to tap into some great pics of days of yore!
•  Got to see Daughter The Elder place 2nd in the PSUAC Conference in the Penn State Open in the snow, sleet and rain!  Next up, the USCAA Nationals in Florida, with Jim Ryun in attendance!
  
   
•  Got to see Coach Teri Jordan at the meet.  Talked about her son Dan Jordan's new job in Florida and reminded her not to miss the next reunion!  

  

  Coach Teri Jordan.

A Quick Post On The Coaches Reception and Sykes/Sabock Challenge

 

Track Alumni Golfer Owen Dawson paces the One Mile with a splendid 1200M (sorta 1200!) while wearing his Alumni Singlet.  Always a highlight in my book!

After Owen's excellent 1200M (sorta 1200!), future PSU Track and Field Alumni Golfer Robby Creese took over and won the mile with this year's #1 NCAA unconverted Mile of 3:57.86.

 Ex-Freshman Roommates Tom Rapp and Larry Mangan reunite at the Ashenfelter Complex.  Tom's wife Mary Rawe was also an All-American and 1977 Freshman classmate of all of us.

Alumni Golfer, past foursome teammate and William and Mary head coach Steve Walsh actually got me to pose for a very rare pic of myself.  I promised him I would post it on the blog with it all, despite my overall desire for anonymity. During the entire day, I noticed  that I was the shortest person in every room I was in.

Coach John Gondak arranged the whole affair to bring as many Alumni together as possible and to honor past coaches.  Coach Teri Jordan thanked the crowd of over 100 with a brief speech.

Coach Groves gave an even briefer speech, but was mobbed all night by everyone there.  Just as it should be.

In the background just to the right of Coach is Ken Brinker, Alumni Golfer extraordinaire!  It was announced that Ken recently donated $100,000 to the PSU Track Program.  Our Chief Morale and Laundry Officer Larry Mangan is currently organizing the effort to match Ken's magnanimity.  More of that is to come.

 Penn State's Indoor 3000M Record Holder Sam Masters and Fiance came up with the best excuse for missing this year's Golf Tourney.  They are getting married that day in Missouri.  Officially, that will be the only excuse us Idiot Officers will now allow!

 Greg Fredericks received his Alumni T-Shirt from Le faucon d'orange Mark Hawkins.  He was gifted the item by us Idiot Officers for the extraordinary efforts he has made for Coach Groves in the past year.

Greg models the Special Edition Alumni T-Shirt made for Roger "Gunny" Roll for his above-and-beyond efforts for Coach Groves in the past year. 

Addendum:

Artist's conception

 On the late-night drive home, I ran over a skunk near Seven Mountains and was later almost hit head-on by a high-speed car driving the wrong way on Route 83 north of York. I really wish I could have stayed over night in State College. Two trips through the car wash has not dissipated the smell and I still have a tremor thinking about the almost crash.

Three First Meetings of Coach Groves

I have told this story once before, but here it is again...

First:  Me

When I finally decided that I wasn't going to the Division III route following several college visits after my State 2-Mile victory (Kutztown, Millersville among them) I was tasked with trying to walk on at PSU.  Every one in my family went there and I was quite familiar with everything about the school, ...except maybe Coach Groves. My only advice in this regard was "be careful" from a high school coach who had met him.

 When a friend was making a trip to State College, I hitched a ride (I didn't even have a license at the time!) and found my way to his office in Rec Hall.  He greeted me in his usual style (still til this day) and at least knew who I was.  When I finally asked if I could walk on, he asked "How much are you running right now?"  When I confidently answered "70 to 80 miles/week" (I can back that up BTW), he answered back  "that may not be enough".  He insinuated that I could join the team, but had a lot of work ahead of me.  I did do quite a bit of running from that day in June 1977 until I showed up at his office again in August.  It scared me straight and I credit that with becoming the 7th man for my first 2 meets as a Freshman (Bob Snyder was hurt!).  All in all, not a bad first meeting of Coach!

Second:  Gunny

I had the opportunity to speak with Roger "Gunny" Roll during the Womens race this past weekend.  I figured it was about time I thanked him for his service to the Nation AND his service to Coach Groves over the years. 

I also had the opportunity to ask him how they first met. Gunny was coaching the Quantico Marine team and ran into Coach at a meet in the mid-70's. Coach had once started and coached an Army team before heading to William and Mary and PSU.  Gunny's parting words following that first meeting were prophetic and were something to the effect of "I think we'll be seeing each other again."

And a short time later he was given his orders to travel to Happy Valley to head the PSU ROTC program.  The friendship between Coach and him has only gotten stronger every day since.  Any of us who ran with Gunny back in the day knows what a tough and honorable man he is.

Third:  Greg Fredericks

Greg was actually recruited by Coach John Lucas when Coach Groves took over the program in 1968.  I don't think Greg had ever met him and probably knew less about him than I did when we first met.  Coach actually has said he would not have recruited Greg.  Because he was way too slow!

 Greg arrived in University Park with a single suitcase on a Saturday evening and plopped his things down in the middle of his dorm room and waited for his roommate to arrive.  Greg is the kind of man who would wait to let his roommate pick his bed first!  There aren't many of them left in the word, to say the least.  I told him that today, the first into the dorm room probably takes both beds and tells the tardy roommate that he must sleep on the floor.  But I digress...

Seeing as it was late on Saturday, the two of them had their first dorm meal and called it a night.  They awoke early Sunday and attended church together, and used the rest of the day to look around campus and try not to get scared, I suppose.

Early Monday morning, both of them made their way to Rec Hall to check in and meet Coach for the first time.  In typical Coach Groves fashion, he bawled them out for not checking in on Saturday night or Sunday morning.   Greg isn't quite sure, but relates that 4-letter words were probably used.

Any other first meeting stories out there?

A Friend In Need, Is a Friend Indeed: or My Day in Happy Valley

It was a whirlwind of 24 hours from start to finish, and I was admittedly at less than my best.  And my best isn't usually that good!  But I'll attempt to bring you the highlights of my travels through the Alumni World of PSU Cross Country.

First up, we must discuss the herculean efforts that are being made by members of our group in helping Coach Groves rehabilitate from his pneumonia and broken ribs.  I can't fathom better friends than Roger "Gunny" Roll*  and Greg Fredericks, who have spent endless hours with Coach and helped him with all his daily tasks AND MORE.  Each an every one of us owe them a thank you for what they continue to do.  These efforts show the very best of Track Alumni Golfers and humanity itself.  I can't say enough in praise of them.

Roger "Gunny" Roll manned the finish line at the PSU National.

My family visited Coach for a 1/2 hour and we enjoyed a spirited talk about many topics.  I think he would appreciate a visit from all his athletes.  They apparently boost his efforts at rehab.  Those who have broken a rib know the pain involved.  Throw pneumonia on top of that and you can understand the poor hand he was dealt.  Gunny and Greg are there constantly motivating him to get better, much as he did with each and every one of us.

Second, I got to talk with many alums before and during the Penn State National Cross Country Meet.  Despite the early rain, the day turned out to be quite nice.  I spoke with several friends while at the meet, always a highlight of the day.

I got to congratulate Coach Gondak on his new duties.

The Skerpons, Robbin and Don, stopped by to see my daughter run! They haven't changed in 30 years.

John McGraw took time away from Field Hockey to watch the meet!

Former foursome teammate Coach Fritz Spence.

The meet itself was anti-climatic, as both the men and women held out top runners for next week's Pre-National Invitational in Terre Haute, Indiana.  With the reduced number of runners the Division I race was merged with the PSUAC Championships (The Penn State University Branch Campus Conference).  The Alumni team, defending champs, cobbled together a team at the last minute with Brian Fuller leading them with a 5th place finish.

The Alumni Team gets ready.

Brian Fuller places fifth overall for the Alumni team.

The PSUAC Championships were for the PSU Branch Campuses across the state.  Penn State Scranton won both team titles.  The newest team from Mont Alto managed 2 first team All-Conference runners and one second team All-Conference runner.  Martha Baskwill placed 7th in the 6K earning a trip to the USCAA Nationals in Syracuse in November.  Joining her for the trip will be the mens 4th place finisher in the 5.2 mile run, Joe Fletcher.  In addition, boxer and MMA fighter James McKeithen placed 13th.  James had no prior competitive running experience prior to last year.  The 27 year old does have a history of 2 tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, though.  One tough runner who has improved with every run of the year.

Joe Fletcher, PSU Mont Alto, 4th.

James McKeithen, right.  don't pick a fight with this runner!

Martha Baskwill, aka Daughter the Elder, conquers the White Course hill to finish 7th.

*People have pointed out that the Label for Gunny has 3 "l's" at the end, which was an error in the initial typing.  I have decided to not go back and change each and every example of it.  The third "l" now stands for "Loyal".  Thanks Gunny, for your service to Coach and to the Nation.

Coach Groves Improving

I had Greg Fredericks pass along my best wishes to Coach Groves in the hospital.  Which he did.  AND sent along this pic of Coach and Gunny.  He relates that Coach salutes all of us alums.

My personal joke to Coach was letting him know how lucky he is that Mrs. Black is here in York with me, rather than his nurse there again!

Coach Groves Turns His Thoughts to the Reunion and Golf

The 12th Annual Coach Harry R. Groves Golf Tournament is upcoming on Coach Groves' busy schedule this Spring. It will coincide with the 2nd Annual Penn State Track and Field/Cross Country Reunion on May 17 and 18, 2013. This will follow his birthday and his 68th Penn Relay appearance.  Last week he was honored at William and Mary as the Founder of the Colonial Relays.

Coach Groves, Roger"Gunny" Roll (left) and Coach Stephen Walsh (right)

Batons used during the Relays