Higgs Is On The Run

But it can't hide!*

The very last of the experiments done at the Tevatron in Illinois are finally being analyzed and are coming tatalizingly close to unmasking the last of the great subatomic particles.  The hiding places are now down to a narrow spectrum of weights (remember a GeV, although a voltage is also a mass because E=mc(squared)), 115 to 135 GeV.  It's only a matter of time now.  Poor bastard doesn't have a chance...

The world is changing.

Here's 10 weird stories about the Higg's Boson.

*Thank you to my myriad of Physics junkie friends for all of the links. You know who you are.

Reunion Details and Surprises Released!

And Sign-Up Sheets are available!

Coach Sullivan's Invitation

Sign-Up Sheet

Fill it out, print it up, and throw it in the mail with the proper funds!

There are several packages of activities available.

Everyone is invited.

All proceeds go to PSU Track Scholarships.

And after 4 years of inept trying on my part, our alliance with the PSU Track/XC Program has given us Horace Ashenfelter III as our special guest!  Come celebrate this remarkable man at this year's Reunion!

Nittany Lions in the "Post-Season"

NCAA Indoor Championships, Boise, Idaho.

1. Robbie Creese -  Mile
2. Casimir Loxsom - 800 M
3. Mens 4 x 400 M  (Aaron Nodolsky, Brannon Bennett-Green, Casimir Loxsom, Brady Gehret)*
4. Evonne Britton - 60 M Hurdles

IAAF World Indoor Championships, Istanbul, Turkey.

1. Ryan Whiting** - Shot Put
2. Ryan Foster (Australia) - 1500 M
3. Dominique Blake (Jamaica)  - 400 M (?)
4. Aleesha Barber (Trinidad-Tobago) - 60 M Hurdles
5. Shana Cox (Great Britain) - 400 M

* The four who set the qualifying mark.
** Honorary PSU Track Alumni Golfer and Volunteer Assistant Coach

Here's Joe Kovacs at the USATF Indoor Championships with a PR and almost qualifying for IAAF.

Physicist Creates Car Map For Morons Like Me

There isn't much that Physicists can't do when they put their minds to it.  They can even create a foldable car map that idiots like us can use over and over again.  Check the link to see how easy it can be.

How to Tell If You Are Eligible To Golf In Our Tournament

1. Do you have more than 80% of both thumbs, and are they opposable?
2. Have you ever seen a Tiger Woods ad?
3. Have you mini-golfed in the past 20 years?
4. Can you remain upright on 2 appendages for 30 seconds at a time, kinda?
5. Does sitting in a golf cart with cup-holders appeal to you?
6. Have you seen Caddyshack at least once?
7. Do you have any connection to Penn State Track and Field or Cross Country or know someone who does?
8. Do you like to have fun with others in an outdoor environment?
9. Do skinny distance runners carrying sticks not scare you?
10. Do you want to stay on Coach Groves' good side?

If you can answer yes to all of these, or tell a convincing lie about most of them, you are eligible! As you can see, almost everyone is eligible and desired for our golf tourney.  Complete newbies to the most frustrating game on Earth have won our tournament and have had their name engraved on the Coach Harry Groves Memorial Cup.  This year is your chance.  Make Founder and Professor Emeritus Clark Haley proud and sign up for both the Reunion and the Golf Tournament this year. Sign ups will begin this week.  Keep your eyes open for emails, Facebook alerts, web site rants and even snail mail!

New Singlets Thrill the Crowds at Florida's Gulf Coast

Reactions are uniformly and overwhelmingly positive whenever the Penn State Alumni Singlets are unveiled.  You doubters were wrong!

Those awaiting their 2012 Penn State Track and Field Alumni Singlets will be receiving their very own shortly.  We will make them available again some time soon!

From Jeff Sanden:

  The fun was plentiful.  February 23, 2013 is hereby proclaimed to be
> the 2nd Annual PSTFAG Official Winter Race Outing.  Get your singlet
> orders in today if you haven't already.

B1G, B1G School Record in the 4 x 400 and Another Creese Gem

The Mens 4 x 400 set a school record in the 4 x 400 at the Last Chance Alex Wilson Invitational at Notre Dame today.  Aaron Nodolsky, Brandon Bennett-Green, Cas Loxsom and Brady Gehret ran a scintillating 3:05.22, more than 2 seconds better than the school record!

Watch more video of 2012 Alex Wilson Invitational (Notre Dame) on flotrack.org

Robby Creese ran another bold and exciting race in the Mile, coming in second with a PR of 3:58.94.


Watch more video of 2012 Alex Wilson Invitational (Notre Dame) on flotrack.org

Le Faucon D'Orange Wins Division at Gasparilla Distance Classic!

* Addendum:  The initial "Official" Results I depended on from Gasparilla were in error.  The Orange Hawk's accomplishment is only slightly diminished, however.  Check the comments for updated results.  I'll let the rest of the post stand.

In a stunning development, Penn State Track and Field Alumni Golfer and recent Singlet Facilitator  Mark Hawkins has won his age division at the 2012 Gasparilla Distance Classic.  His time in the 15 K event was a remarkable 55:51.87!  Also making his comeback official, Jeff Sanden ran a spirited 1:08:16.81.  Don Ziter was also spotted in his brand new Alumni Singlet but results are down at the moment. They have promised photos of the festivities and I'll hold them to it.

My admiration and congratulations eclipse my overall jealousy at their feat.  Those younger than us will realize the remarkable nature of their performances soon enough.  In other news, Florida is trying to recover from the influx of early PSU old-timer Spring Breakers.  they still know how to party, I hear.

In further news from halfway across the globe, Ryan Foster was seventh in the 1500 M at the Melbourne Track Classic in  3:45.89. He soon heads to the IAAF Indoor World Championships in Istanbul.  Good luck Ryan.

Robby Andrews Leaves Virginia: PSU is 800 U

With the loss of his coach, Robby Andrews, two-time NCAA 800 M Champion, has announced he is leaving the University of Virginia team.  Much speculation has, of course, followed the announcement.  The good folks at Track Focus put up this wonderfully semi-humorous flow chart to try to figure out where he will end up.  One of the results is "Cas and the Boys Welcome you to Happy Valley".  Can you imagine the 4 x 800 possibilities?  Robbie has always seemed to be an all-around great guy and exactly the kind of athlete PSU would be proud to have.

The Secretary of Recreation: "PSU is 800 U" Enters Politics?

That's Rick Santorum on the bottom right of this photo of the Tau Epsilon Phi Fraternity in 1980. And that's Steve Black on the upper left side of the photo.  Rick apparently had the highest GPA among the brothers until Gary Black came along. I'm waiting on the official transcripts for verification.

I'm officially nominating Steve for a new cabinet post in our ever-enlarging Federal government; that of Secretary of Recreation.  If they don't want the government to get larger, I feel we could get rid of the Dept. of Education and divert the funds to the new Dept. of Recreation.

B1G News! Special Guest to Appear at Reunion Dinner

It's time to get your Hotel reservations for the Penn State Track and Field Alumni Reunion and the 11th Annual Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament..  You'll want to do it soon, as Reporters from around the world will be descending on State College for the Jury Selection in the Trial of the Century in Bellefonte.  Get your reservations in before the Talking Heads from the Cable Network You Love to Hate and the others confiscate all of them.

This year, the Saturday Night Dinner and Golf Awards Ceremony will be held at the Indoor Sports Complex and will feature the biggest name of all in PSU Track History. No one will want to miss it.  And while you are at it, come golf with us while you are at it.  All skill levels are represented, from complete beginner to slick pro.

I may have made up that slick pro part!

The Good, The Bad And The Bearded Ugly: PSU is 800 U

First, The Good.  1983 4 x 800 Champions of America with Paul McLaughlin, Randy Moore, Mike Cook and Ken Wynn. I was there in the stands...

The Bad.  Here's Mike Cook leading off in the 4 x Mile at another Championship of America Race at Penn Relays.  This one didn't turn out as well for Mike, who has acknowledged he "rigged" soon after the photo was taken.  I think both he and the large bear on his back rigged!  The nasty graffiti that appears on the Collegian photo was posted in the Locker Room at the next week's Monday practice.  Mike relates he kept it and found it among his relics recently.  Both Mike and I think we know who wrote it, but that's for another day.  Mike will be making his way to State College again this year to beat me at both golf and the Alumni "Run".  I hope he brings his Penn Relays Watch with him!

The Ugly.  Check out Mike beating both Ken Wynn and Steve Shisler in this photo from the Penn State Open 800 M in 1982.  Talk about ugly beards!