Decades Of Attendees - Part 1

Coach Groves coached at Penn State for many years after his 11 years at Willam and Mary and 2 with the Army.  At the recent Reunion Awards Dinner, we had all the various decades pose with Coach Groves.

Here are the first two Decades of Attendees:

The 1960s.

The 1970s.

The Rusty Boot Is In Good Hands

The "Rusty Boot" is our newest annual award given at the Alumni Reunion.  It is meant to represent the very best in all Nittany Lions.  Although the criteria are vague (almost ephemeral!) at this point, the first two recipients are certainly among the very best Nittany Lions ever.

Last year, the award went to Coach Groves himself.  And the boot was placed prominently at Coach's residence in State College for all visitors to peruse.

This year the award went to Coach Gary Schwartz, long-time Men's Assistant Coach and former Head Coach of the women's team.  Even though he went on to coach elsewhere, there is still a tinge of blue in his blood.  It was wonderful having him at all the reunion events this year!

And since Coach Groves was somewhat upset that the boot was taken from his residence for the presentation, Coach Schwartz gallantly returned it to Coach Groves' residence immediately following the presentation!  Anyone can see the bronzed javelin boot of Assistant Coach Bill Whittaker when they visit Coach Groves.

Coach Gary Schwartz and the Rusty Boot.

Two More Golfers Join The Hall Of Honor

With their victory in the 2017 Coach Harry Groves Golf Tournament Doug Kent and Bill Malchano secured their second engraving on the Championship Cup.  That means they join the others in the Hall of Honor.  Ken Brinker rounded out their "Foursome" and secured his first appearance on the Cup.

Bill Malchano, Doug Kent, Ken Brinker.

Mike Sands Is Coach Harry Groves' Son, As Explained By Him

Our group is primarily dedicated to honoring Coach Groves and his contributions to our overall formation as people worthy of Nittany Lion lineage.  But one person has the title of "Coach Groves' son" more than any of the rest of us.  Mike Sands proudly praises Coach Groves at every opportunity, and it is a pleasure to watch!

We will be hearing more from Mike Sands soon!

Champions!

"The Best One Ever" And A Thank You

The turnout and enthusiasm for the 2017 Penn State Track and Field Alumni Reunion and 2017 Coach Harry Groves Golf Outing were certainly through the roof this year.  And an anonymous long-term attendee of our event described it as "the best one yet".

Thanks certainly go to Founder and Keeper of the Beer Clark Haley and Event Coordinator Harry Smith for putting it all together.  And thanks to everyone involved for rejuvenating my psyche this weekend after a few trying months! My "old" friends and the many new friends I have made were the best medicine I could ever have been given.

I will have much more to come in the coming days about the event, as I must consolidate several sources of pics and videos with my meager digital skills.  Until then, here is a pic of my foursome and the golfers in this year's tourney.

Me, Steve Balkey, Mike McCahill and John Ziegler.

7 Foursomes!

  

The Alumni "Run" Continues To Grow

Runners head out.

Most of the group.

Roar!

The Annual Alumni "Run" attracted 25 runners this year in addition to a half dozen or so coffee and donut imbibing hangers-on.

Considering the light rain, it was one of the largest groups we have had!

The Alumni Mile In A Small World

Coach Gary Schwartz

Ken Cooper

Proof of a full mile!

Jake Bartholomy and Ken Cooper

Kevin Keely O'Brien, Owen Dawson, Ben Dover and Steve Shisler. Not pictured Vince Accardi.

The Alumni Mile was held this AM at the State College High School track and was a big success even though only 2 brave souls toed the line.

A few of us were there to witness the 31st year in a row with a sub-5 minute for Ken Cooper. His 4:40 mile bested Jake Bartholomy's 5:16, which is remarkable for a once a week runner!

And I had breakfast with Michigan Coach Mike McGuire, who happened to be one of Coach Gary Schwartz 's assistants at Kansas in the 90s before heading back to his Alma Mater!

Ben Flanagan and Coach Mike McGuire of Michigan.

The Track Is Ready

I am in State College early for my annual one night of bachelorhood.  Of course a Kung Pao meal is in order followed by rest and relaxation.  I stopped by the track on the way to the Hampton Inn and there was some last minute workouts going on by Ohio State athletes.  The entire Hampton Inn is occupied by Michigan and Illinois, thus answering the question as to why we had to change our 15 year home for the Reunion main accommodations.

See some of you tomorrow.

Will Mother Nature Win The Coach Groves Tournament For The First Time?

 Here's the Accu-Weather forecast for Friday, Saturday and Sunday for State College and surrounding areas.  So far, Mother Nature has never won the tournament, but she has apparently been practicing. I am happy that I purchased a Penn State Track Alumni Rain Jacket during the last Group Store sale!  Now I need matching pants... Another sale will be occuring after the Reunion! Let me know what you want to be included this time!

Friday Day

50°Hi RealFeel® 47° Precipitation 77%

Colder with rain

• SE 7 mph
• Gusts: 10 mph

• Max UV Index: 2 (Low)
• Thunderstorms: 5%
• Precipitation: 0.28 in
• Rain: 0.28 in
• Snow: 0 in
• Ice: 0 in
• Hours of Precipitation: 5.5 hrs
• Hours of Rain: 5.5 hrs

Friday Night

44°Lo RealFeel® 40° Precipitation 79%

Rain

• NNE 6 mph
• Gusts: 9 mph

• Max UV Index: N/A
• Thunderstorms: 2%
• Precipitation: 0.55 in
• Rain: 0.55 in
• Snow: 0 in
• Ice: 0 in
• Hours of Precipitation: 9 hrs
• Hours of Rain: 9 hrs

Saturday Day

52°Hi RealFeel® 53° Precipitation 63%

Cloudy and cool with a couple of showers

• NNW 5 mph
• Gusts: 8 mph

• Max UV Index: 2 (Low)
• Thunderstorms: 20%
• Precipitation: 0.37 in
• Rain: 0.37 in
• Snow: 0 in
• Ice: 0 in
• Hours of Precipitation: 3 hrs
• Hours of Rain: 3 hrs

Saturday Night

45°Lo RealFeel® 39° Precipitation 14%

Mostly cloudy

• NW 7 mph
• Gusts: 10 mph

• Max UV Index: N/A
• Thunderstorms: 5%
• Precipitation: 0 in
• Rain: 0 in
• Snow: 0 in
• Ice: 0 in
• Hours of Precipitation: 0 hrs
• Hours of Rain: 0 hrs

Sunday Day

65°Hi RealFeel® 66° Precipitation 55%

Mostly cloudy, breezy and warmer with a passing shower

• NW 14 mph
• Gusts: 22 mph

• Max UV Index: 6 (High)
• Thunderstorms: 20%
• Precipitation: 0.04 in
• Rain: 0.04 in
• Snow: 0 in
• Ice: 0 in
• Hours of Precipitation: 1 hrs
• Hours of Rain: 1 hrs

Night

45°Lo RealFeel® 42° Precipitation 5%

Mainly clear

• NW 8 mph
• Gusts: 16 mph

• Max UV Index: N/A
• Thunderstorms: 3%
• Precipitation: 0 in
• Rain: 0 in
• Snow: 0 in
• Ice: 0 in
• Hours of Precipitation: 0 hrs
• Hours of Rain: 0 hrs

Still Strong After All These Years: Brian Boyer Joins 800U!

58 to be exact!  Our Official Physicist participated in the UN Interagency Games in Vienna last weekend.  He ran an 800M leg in a relay and came in 2nd in his age group in the 10K. (Cas Loxsom and Brannon Kidder need to be informed!)  I wonder if Brian is thinking of lacing up his spikes at Ken Cooper's Alumni Mile on 9:00AM Friday morning at the State College High School Track?

And see the update to the dinner schedule for Saturday night!

Schedule Of The Alumni Reunion And The Big Ten Championships 2017

Friday, May 12

9:00AM-10:AM - Alumni Mile (competitive) at the State College High Track

12:00PM-7:00PM – Tailgate on the hill of the backstretch

 7:00PM-11:00PM - Meet and Greet at Ramada Inn (1450 S. Atherton) (814) 238-3001

                                   Picking of the foursomes – Always a treat!

                                   Putting Contest

                                   Texas Hold’em Tourney – 9:00PM (first 20 players, $25 entry, 50/50 payout)

                                   Bar Crawl – to follow…

Saturday, May 13

9:00AM – 10:30AM – Alumni “Run” – Lion Shrine next to Rec Hall, includes coffee, donuts and a jog if                    you wish!

11:15AM – Putting Contest – Mountain View Country Club, 50/50 payout, $10 entry

12:00PM – 5:30PM – Coach Harry Groves Golf Tourney at Mountain View Country Club

12:00 – 1:00PM – Tour of Beaver Stadium, $15 cost.

7:00PM-8:00PM – Social gathering with current team members at Pegula Club Level

6:30PM-11:00PM – Alumni Dinner and Awards Ceremony, apps and keg 6:30PM, dinner is at 7:30PM