Matmen host "best By MIKE RODMAN Collegian Sports Writer In the last five years, the Penn State wrestling team has suffered a grand total of one dual greet loss, The 1974- 75 season is only two meets old, but the Lions have bet tered that total already. With the second annual Penn State Invitational slated for this weekend at Rec Hall, those opening losses to Michigan State and Michigan paint a bleak picture for the Nittany grapplers. First round starts at 8 p.m. tonight. when you vi)ll,iiier the opposition. Defending NCAA champion oklahoma will be here. Small college power Wilkes Will be here Purdue. of the rugged Big Ten. will be here. So will perennial spoilers Clarion State. Blootnsburg State, Slippery " Rock and Lock Haven State. Penn State coach Bill Koll has built the tournament up to be the best of its kind in the country. "The best team in the nation, Oklahoma, will be in town SO will the best small college team—Wilkes. Plus there's always Clarion and Slippery rßock and Blooms- TIM PANACCIO Issistant Sports Editor Deep in the slumbering mountains of western Penn slvania there is place where mEgl. no man truclwth less he first tasteth a mysterious birew known as an "Iron." This hriilw is sold cheaply at many bars and even the local sports house known as the Civic Arena. That's where the Penn State basketball team will be tonight for the Steel Bowl Tournament, which is Pitts burgh's version of Phila delphia's old Quaker City Tourney. The Lions will tap-off against favored Oregon, in the opening round at 7:15 this evening: - It's a four team set up with tocal rivals Pitt and Duquesne meeting each other at 9 p.m Hard as it may seem to believe, the Steel Bowl isn't something new in the Burgh. It's been around since 1951 although the Civic Arena is the more recent location. Penn Sate is making its first appearance in the Steel basketball classic, however. There is an interesting conglonteration here of mascots. You have the Nit tany Lion, the Pitt Panther, Duquesne Duke, and finally, the Oregon Duck. The Duck appears to be the least formidable animal in a brawl, right? Yet this tour nameMshould be ultimately decided by a Duck, not a Duke. Lion or Panther. Oregon is the favorite and if you're still reading this, read a bit further to find out why: The Ducks are coached by a Philly favorite, Dick Harter, who left Penn two years ago after back-to-back 900 plus season. Oregon. as you might remember, defeated UCLA last year although its 15-11 record left something to be desired overall. However, this club can boast that it has the best guard west of North Carolina State's David Thompson. That man is 6-3 junior Ron Lee who carried an 18.8 scoring load last year. Some "say Lee' is the best guard m the country. For this weekend, hands down, he'll he the best in the Burgh. His coach thinks highly of him "He has the complete repertoire of offensive and defensive skills," says Harter. "He always gets the maximum out of his skills with the very intense way that he plays." Mark Barwig (6-4)2) plays opposite Lee in the backcourt. Up front Oregon has 6-6 forward Stu Jackson and 6-7 Greg Ballard. Both are returning sophs who together came up with 15 points a game last year. "I think Ballard's development as a strong rebounder over his freshman year and on the Australian burg," said Koll. Koll has sloughed the opening losses off qn the fact they were night-after-night road games. A true test for the Lions is eminent after -studying the following op ponents. OKLAHOMA—Definitely the class squad of the field. It would be feasible to say that they could have a medalwinner in every weight class. NCAA champ Rod Kilgore is back at 158 lbs. He joins NCAA runner-up Jeff Callard (1671 and sixth-place finisher Brian Beatson (142) in leading the Sooners,and coach Stan Abel to a possible second consecutive national title. PURDUE—The Boiler makers come into the tour nament with a line-up that isn't quite set. But with some outstanding wrestlers nevertheless. Joe Corso will wrestle at either 118 or 126, whichever his little body desires. Corso was Purdue's MVP last year and could pose a definite threat. Allen Housner (150) and Bernie Barrile (167) are proven veterans. Paul Miller, a transfer from Illinois State, Ric. Now. tour would indicate that he should continue on toward becoming one of the truly fine rebounders in the PAC-8," lauds Harter. Ballard's 9.8 rebs a game was tops for the Ducks a year ago, and that's something they'll need more of this year to survive on the coast. . Senior Gerald Willett at 6-8 won't be the tallest center in the tournament but he was second best scorer for the Ducks in '73 with a 10.8 average and a little more than five rebs a game. "We need more consistency in Gerald's play," admitted Harter. "He has had some very outstanding games in both his sophomore and junior years, but we need him to be consistently out standing." Willett gets good position underneath and is somewhat agressive, like most of the other Webfoots. So agressive is this team it has been tagged by west coast writers as being "The Kamikaze Kids."•- A scrappy ballclub that likes to mix things up and add a little football to the game of basketball. There is a picture on Oregon's press guide last year of five players going for a loose ball. "We're not an over powering team size-wise on the boards," says Harter, "but our aggressive play overcomes some of this lack of height." The Ducks are 1-0 with an 83-68 win over St. - Mary's earlier this season. What kind of team is Pitt after the graduation of Billy Knight and Micky Martin? That's a question which has been floating in the air around Oakland the past couple weeks. Answer: The kind that loses 82-78 to Wonderful Warren Baker and Co. (West Virginia) the other night and laughs it off on the bus ride home. will wrestle at 177. -He carries a 45-9 lifetime record into his new - career at Purdue., WILKES—A small college that could show up some of the biggies. However, they will be hurt by the loss. of last season's 118 lb. NCAA Division 111 runner-up Rick Mahonsky due to injury. But they still have a champ, two runners-up, and a bronzer from that same Division II grouping. John Chakmakas was the champ at 134. Gene Ashley ( 158) and Al Scharer (hwt. ) were the runners-up and Lon Balum took the third at 126 lbs. Balum is only a sophomore and could turn out to be one of the best in the country. CLARION STATE— Traditionally one of the toughest in the area. They return three medal-winners from last year's tournament. Don Rohn likok all the marbles last y ar at 142 lbs. and also finished third in the NCAA finals at 134. This year he's at 150. Tom Turnbull took a second here at 126, while heavyweight Chuck Coryea also went home with a slab of silver. The rest of the Friday, December 6, 1974-11 Coach Buzz Ridl. knows the Panthers won't match their 25-4 record of last year. "It's unrealistic to think like that," says Ridl, "the schedule is much more demanding." Besides Oregon, the Panthers' menu includes Notre Dame, l N.C. State and South Carolina. This year Pitt won't be eating; rather, it will be watching others feast. Still, the Panthers figure to be second best this tourney although there's an outside chance Penn State will fool everyone and take runner ups. Big names on campus this season are senior forward Lew Hill and junior guard Keith Starr. i Starr averaged 19 pts. an outing last year and Hill had 11 with eight redounds to go. The test of the lineup looks like this: 6-6 Willie Kelly playing opposite Hill and 6-0 Tom Richards opposite Starr. 6-8 senior Jim Bolla fills in at center. Pitt has another good guard in the wings, and that's Bruce Kirk who tallied 19 points against the Mountaineers. That was second to Starr's - 15 while Hill and Richards both had 12 apiece. Youi have to admit, Pitt had good all around production. Freshman Melvin Bemett at 6-7 figures to give Pitt the needed rebounds and his 17 against WVU was tops for the Panthers. Duquesne is that "other team" in town besides Pitt when you're talking basketball. Duqthesne lost its big train, 6-9 center Lionel Billingy who has since departed Oakland. Red Manning is no longer coach, either. Re's now Athletic Director as John Cinicola replaced him. Cinicola's first ganie the other night was a 76-74 close call over Wheeling College, not exactly one of the major threats in the nation. 1 The Dukes' Roland Jones' delegation is rounded out by the usual solid Clarion front liners. SLIPPERY ROCK—The Rock will not be poorly represented dither. NCAA runner-up at 118 Jack Spates will now knaw at 126 pounders. Bill Shuffsteall finisied sixth in the nationals at 190 last year and should be even better this year. Jeff Condon,(l34) and Gene Costello (IO) could also present some problems. BLOOMSBURG STATE— Bloomsburg brings an inexperienced squad into Happy Valley. There are five freshmen and three sophomores included in the ten weight classes. Their top men are Tom Fink at 118, Randy Watts at 142, and Dan Burkholter at 167. - LOCK HAVEN—AIso a young team, but with more immediate promise than Bloomsburg. Freshman Carl Lotz will be interesting to watch, as the highly-touted youngster squares off with other 1113 pounders. Michael Morre (134) is another frosh with great promise. 142 lb. Gary Walk and heavyweight Jim Schuster were both runners-up here last year. Koll is afraid of the upper wieght classes as he waits for football players Brad Benson, Doug Hazel and Larry Suhey to finish their work on the gridiron. However, 126 lb. John Fritz I ( third in the nation the last two years), 167 lb. - Jerry Vilecco (fourth in the nation ' last year at 158) and 190 lb. Jerry White ,( tournament winner last year at 177) could__ help make this a seasonal turning point for the Lions. w n - i-k RN AL. ST (IR CAST.. (6-5) and Don "Kip" McLane (6L6, forward) are the bright areas here. Both of them had 16 points against Wheeling. Jones plays forward and guard. 6-2 Oscar Jackson is the other guard. If Jones goes to forward, then Norm Nixon, a 6-2 guard comes in. He had 14 points against Wheeling. Ray Milligan at 6-9 is the center. He's a junior and he must take up some of the slack now that Billingy is gone. Duquesne and Penn State are the smallest teams but the Lions have the edge production-wise, The Dukes will probably place last in the tournament, leaving only second place up for grabs. Probable starters position itt. Keith Starr guard 8-7 Torn Richards guard 6-0 Jim Rolla center 6-8 Lew Hill forward 6-6 Willie Kelly forward 6-6 DUQUESNE Roland Jones guard 6-5 Oscar Jackson guard 6-2 Ray Milligan center 6-9 Don "Kip" McLane forward 6-6 Dave Pavlick forward 6-5 guard 6-3 guard 6-42 center 6-8 forward 6-6 forward 6-7 Mark Barwig Gerald Willett Stu Jackson Greg Ballard PENN STATE Tora Doaty Jim Ouderlurk Randy Meister Kevin Burke guard 6-I'2 guard 6-2', center 6-9'2 forward 6-4 forward 6-B'.t. Dave Angstadi STEEL BOWL Friday Penn State vs pregon (7:15p m ) Pitt vs Duquesne (9 p m Saturday Consolation game (7:15p.m.) • Winners finals (9:15 p.m..) PENN STATE TOURNAMENT RECORD 26 appearances Won 26, Lost 31 5 Championships 1 second place 9 third place finishes of its kin." tourney Denny Sciabica will likely look to his favorite move, the above-pictured figure-4, tonight Packer shuns problems When ttfe 1973-74 wrestling season was in its early stages, Penn State's chances for overwhelming success were lessened by the loss of 118-pounder Tom Teagarden with a knee injury: But soph Wayne Packer stepped from the shadows of obscurity to take over in the Penn State Invitational "and 'the first few dual meets. Things were starting to look up. • Then Wayne Packer quit the team. The question of balance at 118 again needed an answer Several grapplers took a shot at the spot, but a winning -.replacement never was found. Mat coach Bill Koll was upset with the incident, but didn't say much to the press. "He walked off with some personal problems," he lamented. "That's it." Packer departed from the limelight quickly. Team mates and friends lost contact with him, and the question of why he left remained unanswered. Almost as suddenly as he disappeared, Packer reap peared on the mats. It was early fall term and there he Paterno eyes the future NEW YORK (AP)—College football is entering a challenge decade and one way to meet the challenge is to return to one platoon fOotball, Coach Joe Paterno of Penn State said yesterday. "The next 10 years are going to be the most dramatic challenge to intercollegiate athletics we have ever seen because of this equal opportunity thing," said \Paterno. Paterno noted spiraling costs in almost esrery area of college athletics and also said, "I know we have a very ex pensive government order we have to live up to—that is equal opportunities and facilities for women." The coach hastened to add that he was not against equal athletic programs and facilities for women but said he believed men's and women's programs should be kept separate. "A lot of bad filings are going to happen if we don't do something about soaring costs and one would be that a group of elite would be the only ones playing football," Paterno warned. As for solving the financial problems, Paterno said, "I think one-platoon football would cut expenses dramatically. I think you could go back to 25 men on a team, and one-platoon football would be good." Pride vs life: Browns—Cowboys • By the AP nesota Vikings and Atlanta first last-place finish ever. Two teams with the Falcons, a game that has all They are 4-8, trail the sur potential to be a lot better the importance of a stifled ~ prising Houston Oilers by two than their records indicate, yawn. games in the American meet tomorrow. For one, the Conference's Central game counts only for pride, Division, and have two to but for the other, it's a life-or- play, including the finale death struggle. against Houston, whom they beat 20-7 early in the season. It's the Cleveland Browns and the Dallas Cowboys, second of two nationally televised National Football League games. It follows the meeting between the Min= Photo by Ira Joffe Fears rising athletic costs The Falcons, at 2-10, are tied with Baltimore and the New York Giants for the worst record in the league. Minnesota is tuning up for the playoffs. The Browns, already consigned to their first losing record since 1956, are also facing the prospect ff their .~,,. ;~~ _ x ~`J`y "~ Dave Morris Ass' t Sports Editor \• J,, was, ready to wrestle. "I quit last year, but I'm here now," Packer said. "And I know I won't quit again. I'm glad I took the year off because it make makes everything worthwhile." It was a long road back for Packer, even after solving his problems and , getting married, which are not necessarily related. The lightweight had not worked out in the nine months he was away and weighed in at 133. So" he stopped eating and started working out hour after hour. "It took a lot df conditioning work," Packer said as he loosened up for !practice fecently. "I felt like I was a beginner who ha n d never wrestled. My moves weren't as up to snuff as they were when I came back other years." But the work for Packer paid off as he won the starting job-for the Michigan trip and this weekend's Penn State Invitational. And Bill Koll is one of the happiest men around. Packer haS stepped in where the team was weakest last season and has compiled a 1-0-1 record thusfar. "Wayne came back and worked very hard," Koll smiled. "His attitude is just great and I hope it continues. He ran into problems last year and was confused, but that's over now." / And it's no wondet Koll hopes the Pack, as he's known among friends ang teammates, keeps up his attitude. "I'm looking forward to the rest of the season and the tournaments (Easterns and Nationals) because I've never been in them. Mentally, I'm really up right now," Packer said. What coach wouldn't like an attitude like that? After recounting his nine-month ordeal, Packer talked about the sport he quit, and then returned to. "Wrestling is really tough. School is ten times easier without it. There's no weight to pull, no workouts, and no laps." He made it sound like no sane person would try it. So why does Wayne Packer work so hard at the sport? "It's a challange. It's a matter of whether you are man enough to stick it out." Wayne Packer thinks he can stick it out. It's been a long road but he's almost where he wants to be on top. After the Invitational he may be there. There's some bad news for the 118-pound matmen who compete against Penn State this season. The Pack is back. He also noted that one-platoon football would provide more players for more schools and that many schools could obtain talented athletes by offering partial scholarship and providing work for them. "This full scholarship thing gets me down," said Paterno. "I think we're pampering people." Althoughpe says full scholarships should be eliminated entirely for men, he says he's against athletic scholarships for women. "We've fouled up men's athletics with scholarships," he said. "I think Amen should learn from our mistakes." Other ways to cut costs, Paterno suggested, are to cut recruiting budgets, limit the number of paid-for visits a prospect can make to a campus, limit the number of days coaches can go on recruiting trips—and "athletic directors have to be better administrators." Paterno was in New York to accept Penn State's fourth straight Lambert Trophy, which is symbolic of Eastern football supremacy. Also honored at a luncheon were the University of Delaware, which won the Lambert Cup as the best middle sized Eastern college for the eighth straight year and Ithaca, which received the Lambert Bowl as the tops in Eastern small college football. But another historical note is even more important, as far as the Cowboys are concerned. They haveheen in the playoffs a record eight Colteglan Photo straight years, a string which would end abruptly if they lose to Cleveland. In order to stay within grasping distance of the NFC's wildcard playoff berth, Dallas, 7-5 in the NFC East, must win its last two games the Cowboys close the season a week from Saturday in Oakland and hope that Washington, 8-4, loses its two, in Los Angeles on Monday night and against Chicago Dec. 15.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers