Friday, February 6, 2009
Commitment, dedication, devotion.
loyalty, and an extreme love for the game
describes both volunteer assistant coach
es Amy Stranahan and Becky Reed for
the Behrend Women's basketball pro
gram.
Stranahan has volunteered tbr sixteen
consecutive years while Reed had volun
teered tier twelve straight years under head
coach Rot Fomari, who is in her six
teenth year at the position.
"They both have loyalty to me and the
program," said Fornari. "They in vested
themselves into something that they
truly believe in and stayed with it. -
Coaching for sixteen and twelve years.
both Stranahan and Reed have impacted
and made a difference in a countless num
ber of players' lives.
"They have impacted so many players'
lives. - said Fornari. "A crazy number of
lives; it's ongoing.-
In 2006, Reed was inducted into the
Behrend Lions Athletics Hall of Fame.
Players came back to support their assis
tant coach because of the mark she left
on them.
According to Fornari, there was a Hall
of Fame dinner and then reception. which
was held at the Logan House in celebra
tion for Reed's accomplishment.
"There was a whole group of players
that came back for it [the dinner]."
explained Fornari. "I didn't initiate them
to come back, didn't send out a letter.
they just came.-
Current senior baskethall players.
Ellen Kolos and Natalie Engel, agreed
that Stranahan and Reed both has e
impacted the team in a positive \\ ay.
" Coach Reed .111(1 Shanahan have been
great tor our team the four years I have
been here." said Engel. "They are always
there when \‘e need them for anything
and are an intricate part to the program
and its success. We all love them and are
grateful 'Or eves} thine they do for us. -
Stranahan and Reed are very helpful
during the games tOr Fortuut
"Reed and Stranahan have a certain
spark about them, - said Kolos. "They
limommili ll ip
SPORTS SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7
The Women's (9-8) and Men's (12-6) Basketball team
play a douhle-header against AMCC opponent, Penn State
Altoona. The women's game starts at 1 p.m. followed
by the men's at 3 p.m in the Junker Center.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11
The Women's and Men's Basketball team plays iinother double-header
against Medaille. The women's game starts at 6 p.m. and by the
LAST WEEK'S
FRIDAY, JANUARY 30
M. Swim: Behrend 37 Grove City 57
W. Swim: Behrend 33 Grove City 56
SATURDAY, JANUARY 31
M. Basketball: Behrend 78 Pitt-Greensburg 64
W. Basketball: Behrend 40 Pitt-Greensburg 69
M. Swim: Behrend 84 Mt. Union 129
W. Swim: Behrend 78 Mt. Union 133
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4
M. Basketball: Behrend 81 Hilbert 59
W. Basketball: Behrend 88 Hilbert 16
All scores based from Sports Calendar and individual team page results. If your sport
is not listed and you feel that it should he. contact cisso6oNpsu.edu
Volunteer assistant coaches committed
make things easier for coach Fornari in
game situations by keeping stat charts
that help us see where we need to
improve during games. Reed also helps
us in practice by playing defense and
challenging us to he better.-
Fomari, Stranahan, and Reed have
traveled together to numerous destina
tions I'm basketball tournaments in the
past sixteen years. According to Fornari.
they went to Italy and Las Vegas three
times. Tennessee, Massachusetts, New
York City. Kentucky, and Columbus.
Stranahan and Reed carry and perform
different roles to the Lady Lions basket
ball team.
"Stranahan helps with planning and
travel." said Fomari. "She had a vital role
with changing and implanting our
offense this year. She is more reserved
and does more work with the posts.-
On the other hand. Reed works with
the opposite end of the court along with
the guards and brings a different personal
ity to the team.
"Reed works with the defense and
guartk - said Fomari. "She is chatty,
active, will jump into the drills. and has
a lot of energy'. She is very vocal and
outspoken with the players and good at
giving feedback. -
Stranahan and Reed have a never end
men's at 8 p.m
home games in bold
SPORTS
All n•ins in itdie text
to women's basketball program
SPORTS
From left to light: Coach Stranahan, Formai, and Reed
ing love for the game of basketball.
"I'm still part of the game that I love,"
said Stranahan. "Coach Fomari has kept
us around so we must be thing some
thing right. Who wouldn't want to come
back year after year?"
Stranahan and Reed both graduated
from Penn State Behrend. Stranahan
played volleyball for Behrend and Reed
"They have impacted
so many players'
lives. A crazy
number of lives; it's
ongoing."
- Coach Fornari
played both basketball and softball.
According to the Behrend website,
Reed led her teams to two ECAC
Championships and a trip to the NCAAs
in her basketball career.
"Behrend athletics gave good life les
sons to me," said Reed. "[Volunteering]
is my way of giving back. It is also a
way to stay involved as an alumni."
Being a part of the Behrend Lions
Editorial: Behrend Steelers fans not cocky,
The following article is a
response to last weeks editorial
titled "Cocky Steelers fans have
another thing coming".
While the "non-Steeler" fans
were anxiously hoping for their
perfect, dream scenario of Kurt
Warner and Lally Fitzgerald hoist
ing the Vince Lombardi trophy,
Steeler fans knew that's exactly
what it was. A dream.
Although it was a close game
the Steelers proved all of their
fans right and won their NFL
record, sixth Super Bowl at the
demise of the Arizona Cardinals
and all non-Steeler fans.
After winning their sixth Super
Bowl, Behrend Steelers fans do
have something to be proud about
and should express their emotion.
It is not a cocky emotion or
feeling that Behrend Steelers fans
show, but instead a passion that
lives inside of every true Steelers
fan which fans cannot help but
express.
- Behrend fans are more about
the passion," said Behrend student
Ben Heald.
Behrend Steelers fans were
overhelmed with joy as the final
seconds on the clock ticked off
and the Steelers were victorious.
"I was jumping up and down
on a chair after they won," said
Behrend student and Pittsburgh
resident, Nate Stockman.
Other Behrend Steelers fans
showed their excitment via
Facebook.
texted a lot of people and
even updated my Facebook every
time the Steelers scored. I am a
By Christine Newby
sports. editor
censos6(aysu.edu
By Christine Newby
sports afitor
censos6(a psu.edu
passionate Steelers fan, I can't be
cocky," said Behrend student Liz
Horn.
The Pittsburgh Steelers now
have more Super Bowls than any
other team in NFL history. If that
doesn't qualify them as an NFL
juggernaut, then maybe these
stats will.
They have a quarterback who
has won two Super Bowls in his
first five seasons in the league.
They have a coach who has won
his first Super Bowl in his second
year in the league. They have a
defense that ranked number one in
the league. They overcame the
hardest schedule in the NFL.
They have one of the largest fan
bases in the country, Steeler
Nation, you may have heard of it.
They are a legitimate contender
year in and year out. Do we need
to continue?
What we really want to say is
that we Steeler fans aren't cocky.
We have an untamable passion
and love for our team. Had the
Steelers lost Super Bowl XLIII,
chances are that Steelers fans
would have been physically ill for
at least a week. That practically
happens when they lose regular
season games. That's just how
we are.
The Steelers are our team. Of
course we're going to talk them
up and make them seem like best
thing that has ever happened. It's
just what fans are supposed to do.
It's the same way for Yankee fans
with baseball, and Redwing fans
with hockey and the Celtics with
basketball.
women's basketball team is like another
family to the assistant coaches.
"The people are great, like a family,"
explained Reed. "It is my home away
from home and an extension of family. I
enjoy how it keeps me active and (kvel
oping players."
Not only feeling like another family,
but the atmosphere and feeling like a kid
again is another reason why the coaches
enjoy volunteering.
"I enjoy staying with the team atmos
phere," said Stranahan. "It keeps me a kid
at heart. I like seeing how players adapt
and grow throughout the years. It is fun."
Stranahan and Reed bring along a fun,
joking atmosphere to the team.
"We are pretty laid back and like to
joke around a lot, so it's kind of fun to
bring a new assistant coach in," said
Reed.
Along with adding a fun atmosphere to
the team, the players are thankful to have
the volunteer assistant coaches around
because they provide knowledge and
understanding about the game.
"They make things fun, - said Kolos.
"They make the atmosphere around them
somewhere you want to he. They are
both very easy to talk to and very help
ful with the knowledge of the game they
both have."
but passionate
In the Super Bowl. Steeler
Nation dominated the crowd with
fans decked out in black and gold
as they twirled their Terrible
Towels around in the air and sup
ported their football team. Fans
came with their faces and bodies
painted to display how much the
Steelers mean to them.
According to the Pittsburgh-
Post Gazette, Pittsburgh police
estimated the Super Bowl parade
in downtown Pittsburgh on
Tuesday. Feb. 3 had a total of
350,000 Steelers fans jammed
packed on the streets. The city
alone has a population of
312,819 according to the U.S.
Census Bureau from the most
recent statistics in 2006. So the
number of people that attended
the parade surpassed the city pop
ulation. That statistic defines
Pittsburgh Steelers fans.
There was a 100,000 increase
in fans compared to the team's
last victory parade in 2006.
According to the NFL website,
Diehod Steelersim decked out in his black (old gold
The Behrend Beacon I 9
Reed share the same
favorite memory. the NCAA bid in the
1993-1994 season. At that time, Reed
was still playing while Stranahan was
coaching. It was the first time in histo
ry that the Behrend Women's basketball
team participated in the NCAA
Tournament. According to Stranahan and
Reed, the team played in Erie Hall and
the gym was packed to the point where it
was standing room only.
Stranahan is employed at Rail Power
where she has worked for three and a half
years and is the Control Sytems
Stranahan and
Engineer.
Reed has been working tbr General
Electric for nine years with the Lean
Materials Management.
Stranahan travels with the team to
away games, while Reed cues not travel.
"They go to whatever they can," said
Fomari
Formu - i's understmding and flexibility
is cnicial to Stranahan and Reed manag
ing their work schedule along with vol
unteering as the assistant coaches.
"Coach Fomari totally understand~ if
we can't make it," said Reed. "We can
make it when we can make it, and she is
very flexible about that. -
Without Stranahan and Reed being a
part of the program, two vital keys for
the Lady Lions success would be miss-
"Both are great at helping us out at
practice and on game days, - said Engel.
"They are important on the bench as they
help keep track of statistics that are
important for our team to know in order
for us to win games. Their presence
means things run smoothly and how
they should. If they weren't there it
would he very evident something is
missing
By Nick Blake
spons ethtol
npbso4 I psu.edu
at the victory parade fans tilled
parking garages, skyscraper build
ing, balconies, and even climbed
trees. Yes, even trees. Climbing
trees to get a glimpse of their
team is not anything unusual for
Steelers fans because of the pas
sion and love that burns deep
inside for the Steelers.
Steelers tans live and die each
Sunday as they watch their team
play in hopes of a win.
So passion outweighs cocki
ness. With Terrible Towels wav
ing and black and gold draping
over our bodies week in and week
out, we live for our Pittsburgh
Steelers.
We will flaunt it every chance
we get. They are our team and we
show great pride. Win or lose we
defend them with every thing
we've got. We are fans. Diehard,
passionate fans.