SATURDAY; MARCH 17, ,1951
'ON THE BALL'
One early winter evening over two years ago after a typical
grueling John Lawther practice session, a discouraged basketball
player had an important decision to make as he flung open the door
of his Wittany dorm room and threw himself wearily into a chair. ,
For several weeks he had tried to impress his coaches, with his
abilities—but no sale. While other candidates—taller than he—
were getting in a second look—no one had yet noticed the quiet,
stocky, but undersized New York transfer student.
that
just about decided to turn in my suit," he told bis roommate
that night, "but I'll stick it out a while longer."
The decision made that night today stands out as a gilt-edged
venture for Joe Tocci, Penn State's freshman cage tutor, who is
now regarded as one of the most promising young coaches working
his way up the Nittany scale.
By dint of hard work and determination Tocci in those two short
years became an inspiration to any who might seek the easy way
out and fall off by the side of the road. He has had many honors
heaped on him and is even mentioned in the same breath as Penn
State's all-time basketball greats such as John Barr, Herk Baltimore,
Elmer Gross, and John Egli.
Joe had the natural talent all along; all he needed was confi
dence and a chance to show what he could do under fire. Last year
varsity Coach Gross rated him as one of the finest dribblers in the
-nation. At the conclusion of the 1949-50 season, Toad was asked to
try out with the professionaljißA Minneapolis Lakers. He turned
down the offer when he found a job coaching basketball at State
waiting for him.
Presently Tocci, the Mutt of the Tocci-Marty Costa Mutt and
Jeff act of last year, is a full-time instructor in physical education.
A major part of his work lies in the field of corrective physical ed
ucation. A guy. who likes to keep busy, Joe is also working on his
Masters degree in education.
Then . . . .
"One thing that's hard for a new coach to figure out is how his
team can look so good one night and then not be able to do a thing
the next. You just have to learn to relax-and remember that they're
playing the game—not you. The way the kids responded this year
made it easy for me."
Ale you free to use your own system?
"Well," answered the Bronxite with the black crew-cut, "the
purpose of the freshman team was to prepare our boys for varsity
competition. On defense we use the old Lawther three-back system—
if we've got the height to do it. On offense we vary a single and
double post in addition to our set patterns which are often effective."
Tocci looked down the list of freshmen and singled out a few
of the more outstanding performers based on their play during the
past season. "These are the fellows we expect to help us most on
the varsity next year."
John Sherry—Attending Penn State on a football scholarship.
Only here since February but already seen as ,a potential star. Has
everything. Is fast both on offense and defense. A team player. Can
either pass off or score in double figures. Exceptionally good one
hand jump shot from the foul line.
Ted Jackson—Six-feet-five, 190-pound red-head. Aggressive
and mean under the boards. Owns a good one-hand shot but could
develop more of a variety of shots. Gets up in the air on rebounds.
John Miller—Laude'd as a good 'shot with either hand: AGreens
burg boy. .
•
Bob Seigel—A good all-around ball player. Has' a clever jump
shot and is better than fair on his sets. A fine pair of basketball
hands. Six-feet-three inches, 195-pounds from the Bronx. A double
post man.
Howard Lenz—Scores mostly while driving in. Good spark-plug
Has speed, energy, but must improve shooting eye. Six-feet-even
From Latrobe.
Frank Ross—List him as a probable. He can be a dangerous
scorer but is still awkward. Has necessary height, 6-feet-6.
Theta Chi In 3rd
Theta Chi won the .champion
ship of, the Clearfield YMCA
basketball - tournament Wednes
day night by defeating Sigma Nu,
65-39, in the finals.
It marks the third year in a
row that Theta Chi has won the
tournament. '
By RAY KOEHLER
Sports Editor
Tocci Inspiration
To Striving Athlete
.Now
YMCA Victory
The winners' Herm Sledzik was
named to the all-tourney first
team while Ted Panoplos received
the best sportsman award.
Panoplos, Bill Gibson, Lou
Lamie, and Dick Phillips were
named to the all-tourney second
team.
TIM DAILY COLLEGIAN, STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA
Wrestlers Prep—
(Continued from page six)
senior on the varsity, will not
compete.
No real lineup of teams enter
ing the tournament can yet be
made due to the fact that many
of. the squads will sign up after
the results of their various dis
trict tournaments have been de
termined.
A few teams can be counted on
to enter the event without wait
ing for the results. lowa State
Teacher's college, last year's NC
AA champ, will enter, as well as
Oklahoma, Oklahoma A&M, and
Cornell college of lowa.
DE JUE professional enlarger with f 4.5
lens. Penn State Photo Shop.
Cam us Interviews on Cigarette
"What's it like
to step from the
role of an active
player into the
responsibility of
a n instructor?"
we wondered.
"For a while
I felt 'out of
place," Tocci
said, "but you
soon get used to
it. There's a lot
of headaches in
this game but
it's a great feel.
"'"
;E:4
sttl,
143
kit
For once in his life, our fervent friend admits that
More People Smoke Camels
CLASSIFIEDS
_ FOR SALE
Number 14... THE BE VER
eagerness can be over-done! He's alluding, of course, to all
these quick-trick cigarette tests—the ones that ask you to decide on cigarette
mildness after just one puff, one sniff, one inhale or one exhale! When the
chips are down, he realizes cigarette mildness can't
be judged in a hurry. That's why he made . . .
The sensible test . . . th 9 30 -Day Camel Mildness Test
which asks you to try Camels as your steady smoke—
on a pack after pack, day after day basis. No snap
judgments needed. After you've enjoyed Camels—and only
Camels—for 30 days in your "T
-Zone" (T for Throat,
T for Taste), webelieve you'll know why .
than any other cigarette!
LOST
RAINCOAT TAKEN by mistake in Will.
prd. Wednesday. I have yours. Call 1097
Ask for Edward Thomas.
PARKER 51 Pen has initials REG. Call
7850.
LOSE GREY overcoat—Dundee label,
Electrical Engineering, March 13. Please
call 4969.- Ask for Raymond Barr. .
LOST IN Sparks one coat with sorority
hat in pocket. I have yours. Phone 4444.
LOST ONE Harvel wrist watch between
second and third floor Sparks. Reward.
Call S. S. Brosius 6767.
WANTED
SWIMMING COUNSELLOR, Camp Tel-
Hai. Write to Dr. Joseph Levitski, 1004
Stratford Ave., Philadelphia 26, Pa.
REPLACEMENT FOR one-half double
room. Three blocks from campus. Hot
and cold water facilities. Calls Ed Chesla
4850.
GIRLS INTERESTED in Counselor work:
all fields. ~ Call Suzanne Scurfield, State
College 6675 before noon.
2 MEN WANT ride to New York City or
Jersey suberbs Tuesday early afternoon.
Call 3265 evenings. Zelig Schrager.
PAGE SEVEN
WANTED
WANTED RIDERS for return trip from
Erie to Penn State the evening of March
27. Pleaee call Calvin Sommons 5051
Ex. 298.
FOR RENT
M I DOUBLE ROOM available with board
after Easter. Phone 7247.
SINGLE ROOM available for immediate
occupancy, one block from Nittany Lion
Inn. Phone 6431.
MISCELLANEOUS
IF YOUR typewriter needs repairs just
call 2492 or bring machine to 633 W
College Ave. Mr. Beatties 28 years - es.
perience is at your service.
TYPING AND Mimeographing. Letters,
manuscripts, theses, term papers, ete.
Hotel State College, Room 205. Secretarial
Service. Phone 4906. Helen G. Yarnell.
ANODYNE FOR the anoctic bring your
andmaly to the quartet of glass. Para
dise Cafe Dance Friday 9:3042:30.
ATTENTION LUTHERAN students. Com
munion Service 7:45 a.m. Palm Sunday.
Grace Lutheran Church.
Tests El
eager
they get?"
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