Lions manage a victory, despite a ragged start By RON WENIG Daily Collegian Sports Writer It was a game Penn State could not lose. The opponent was Ursinus a club of dubious abilities that offered a lineup with nary a player more than 6-5. Early stragglers into Rec Hall who may have gotten an early glance at the Ursinus players could have easily mistaken them for a high school team. But Penn State does not believe in easy games. Instead, they tend to play down to lesser teams and allow them to stay close, giving both the fans and Dick Harter a severe case of exasperation. That was clearly the case in the first half last night as Penn State committed nine turnovers mostly against an aggressive full court press and went into the locker room clinging to a ,narrow three-point lead. Only a strong second half defensive effort and a worn down group of Ursinus players prevented Penn State from Frank a 'Brick' tower of power By JON SARACENO Daily Collegian Sports Writer "Brick" is back. The almost forgotten man on Penn State's basketball team resurfaced at Rec Hall last night in the form of Frank Brickowski, a 6-9 sophomore whose near-domination had fans leafing through their programs in an effort to identify the big man. Brickowski, while playing only 21 minutes in the pivot, scored 10 points, and more importantly grabbed 15 rebounds. In addition, he succeeded in mildly intimidating Ursinus' smaller team with five blocked shots and three steals. It's been a long road back for Brickowski, who had been in coach Dick Harter's December dog house for disciplinary reasons. But "Brick," as he is known to his teammates, is glad he's back. Lions slowly developing routines Gymmen face weak Springfield By CHUCK RUSS Daily Collegian Sports Write' The Christmas break is over and it's time for everyone to get back to work. That includes the men's gymnastics team, but its work may not be too strenuous. The Lions take on Springfield College for perhaps the last time this Saturday night at Rec Hall. Springfield was the NCAA Division II champion in 1977, but since then it has taken a nose dive. To show how bleak the situation actually is, the coach, Frank Wolcott, has taken a sab batical, hopefully to find new recruits. "They're really not. that good," Penn State coach Karl Schwenzfeier said. "I haven't heard of any of them so I don't know what they have." In the mean time, however, the Lions have been taking no chances. "We've been back and practicing since the 26th," Schwenzleier said. "So far we've been looking excellent. We should score in the 210's depen ding on how the judges are scoring." Last year the Lions mauled SC by a score of 209.8-186.85 and it could be even worse this year. SC went on to finish the season at 3-6 and in the Lions losing key men, but NEW ORLEANS, La. Dejection . . . that's the way to describe the general attitude that prevailed here at the Superdome after Penn State failed to claim undisputed possession of the first national championship in its 92-year football history. But even more than dejection, an attitude of pessimism seemed to be part of the post-game devastation, at least among fans and observers. They seemed to feel that Penn State may never again be in a position to win the national crown that has been so elusive. They point out that this was the chance for the Lions to finally prove they are worthy of respect. They say it was put up or shut up time, and now Penn State will have to shut up. They may be right. I haven't taken a national poll, but I'm sure there must be scores of college football fans, pollsters and "experts," especially in the South, who will now regard Penn State football as a shaky imitation of the kind played at USC, Alabama and Oklahoma, where No. 1 trophies line the display cases. That in itself, will make it even more difficult for the Lions than it has been in the past. But some of the Penn State players feel the Lions will be back, fighting for the top spot, maybe even as soon as next year. Senior center Chuck Correal does. "I think the guys have a good chance to come back next year and win the national championship," Correal said. Correal may not just be spouting off. Sure, the Nittany Lions will be losing Collegian sports the daily suffering what could have been its most embarrassing loss of the year. The Lions finally did previal, 85-59, although the score is not indicative of how close the game really was. "I think we realized as a team there was no way we could lose to them if we: played up to our potential," freshman guard Craig Buffie said. puffie, who finished the game with 15 points, explained why the press gave Penn State so much trouble. "They were denying the ball to our two inbounds men," he said. "All you have to do to beat that press is hit the big men coming down the middle, but in the first half we weren't doing that." "We've been having a lot of success against the press lately," forward Steve Kuhn said. "I don't know what happened tonight. I guess we just got a little flustered." The second half was a different story. The Lions finally began to assert their process lost many of its top all arounders. The only real AA of quality they have left is Mike Bat taglia who was an All-American in 1977, but not last year. Bob Cargill is the temporary coach until Wolcott returns, and his lack of experience is topped only by his team's. The only other man to watch for is Mike Viola who is an All- American ring performer. Penn State opens with an all around squad of seniors Paul Simon and Bob Desiderio, junior Dan Desiderio and sophomore Pat Besong. Also, as this is the first dual meet for the Lions, the team's specialists will be performing for the first time. They are: Floor, Tom Gray and Vic Trivino; Horse, freshman Mark Osbourn and Mike Burns; Rings, Captain Tony Muf foletto and Chris Fagan; Vaulting, Kurt Weissend and Gray; Parallel Bars, Weissend and Rich Rhinehelder; and Horizontal Bars, Weissend and Burns. "We'll prepare differently for different situations," Schwenzfeier said. "We really don't have complete routines yet, at least not as much as some key players to graduation, par ticularly on offense. But the fact remains that Penn State is still a relatively experienced team and will be returning 12 of its 22 starters. The real strength of the Lions the defense could be even stronger in 1979. That's surely cause for concern for this fall's opponents, considering that it will be nearly the same defense that led the nation in rushing and total defense, and ranked third in scoring defense. -.wow Rick '), Weber 1 All three All-Americans Matt Millen, Bruce Clark, and Pete Harris will be returning for their final seasons. Both Millen and Clark started their Penn State careers as linebackers, but were switched to the line before their sophomore seasons. There they have developed into the finest collegiate tackle tandem in America. Some scouts say that Millen and Clark would both be among the first five picks in this year's draft if they were eligible. It's scary to imagine just how powerful they could be this fall. "I tried to keep hustling and not let that other stuff bother me," he said after his finest performance of the season. "You can't let it affect your name." "We came down and ran three inside plays for me to take advantage of our height. I've been playing smarter knowing when to put the ball on the floor or when to make the good pass," Brickowski said. Harter said Brickowski's improvement should continue, something that would imensely help a team that is forced to rely on the play of not one, but three centers Brickowski, Gary Korkowski and Mike Ice. "I thought Brick played aggressively," Harter said. "He went up on the boards well, stole the ball and showed signs of doing a lot of good things." . "He has the skill and he's done a good job for us, but he needs experience and to continue to work hard in practice." we will have in February. We start easier and work our way up', developing and changing routines up until, probably, Indiana State. They'll look rough ( the routines) and we'll have some breaks, but we should develop through the schedule." RINGERS: 'Home Box Office has informed Penn State that they may he interested in televising the meet against Indiana State and Penn State. This meet would feature ISU's Kurt Thomas who many consider the best gymnast in the United States . . . Joe Stallone started practicing again after his second knee operation in a little over a year. Schwenzfeier said he hopes that Stallone will be able to return to competition by . the end of February. Stallone has already redshirted the NCAA-alloted one year . . . Tom Forster is being held out this meet because he just got back to Penn State the first day of classes after spending the holidays at home in Colorado . . . There will be a limited number of reserve seat tickets for the meet against Springfield. These tickets will give the purchaser the best seats for the meet, pushing the student to the sides and top. That is a real ringer! They will be joined on the defensive line by 6-1, 225-pound end Larry Kubin, only a sophomore now. Kubin alternated with senior Fred Ragucci early in the season, but blossomed into a strong pass rusher and won the starting job. The Lions will have to find replacements on the line for end Joe Lally and middle guard Tony Petruccio. Lally, a steady performer, ranked sixth in tackles and fourth in quar terback sacks and also intercepted two passes. Sophomore Gene Gladys (6-1, 208) appears to be the logical successor. Gladys played in all 12 games, and had a sack and an interception. Petruccio, a 6-5, 244-pounder from Levittown, started until injuries sidelined him midway through the season. From then on, he shared playing time with Greg Jones, a 6-2, 226-pound sophomore. Jones was spectacular in the big win over Maryland, when he collected a team-leading eight tackles and helped hold the Terps to minus 32 yards rushing. He should be a solid starter on the line between Clark and Millen. Harris was the leader of a secondary that silenced critics who claimed it was the weak link on the defense. The junior safety from Mount Holly, N.J., needs seven interceptions to tie Neal Smith as Penn State's all-time career leader. Karl McCoy, only a sophomore, should hang on to one halfback spot. McCoy physical donimance on the boards and on defense. URSINUS FG-IM FT-M R A 6-3 0-0 3 1 2-0 0.0 1 0 12-2 0-0 6 0 22-10 4-1 3 2 10-5 3-1 4 0 3-0 0-0 6 0 3-1 9-6 1 6 4-1 0.0 1 1 2-0 0-0 2 0 0-0 2-2 1 1 2-2 0.0 0 0 0.0 0-0 0 0 0-2 2-1 0 0 0.0 0-0 0 0 24-60 11-20 30 II PENN STATE Owens 2-0 0-0 3 0 Kuhn 12-9 1-0 9 1 Bridkowski 12-5 1-0 15 3 Edelman 12-4 0.0 2 0 Wilkinson 0.0 2-1 1 11 Wood 0-0 6.8 0 0 Buffie 3-2 13-11 6 0 Sok 5.1 4.3 2 I Korkowski 2-1 4-3 2 0 Wolz 5-5 6-5 2 0 totals 27-51 :11-39 16 111 Halftime Score: Penn Slat -3:t Ursinus-30 Attendance 2,009 McCormick Cola Petitta Mobley Curley Wormak Brophy Czaykowski Leddy Bamberger Davis Todd Detruscio Broderick totals EEO ~ ~ 4. . INA'e 41,g, 711 4 ,30 • tAlytrer • " I ' 4 ' 446 r' r l.7tiesf r r •:44 1 ,: e 4 •••• . • • • Photo by Ji*Torl Penn State freshman Scott Wolz drives over Ursinus Jim Mobley to score two of his 15 points during the Lions' 85-59 win last night at Rec Hall. Wolz came off the bench to hit five straight field goals to spark Penn State. Gymwomen set for dual opener By DARLENE lIROBAK Daily Collegian Sports,Writer, ' It's soropthinOllCP',:th't. pew •,hamp facing the old challenger who had once held the title and lbst it. Tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. in Rec Hall the Lady Lions gymnastics team the defending national champ will face a Springfield team that once upon a time was known as the best of the rest. Springfield won the national title in 1969, 1971 and 1972 when Judi Avener, who now coaches the Lady Lions, was a member of that team. Now time has turned the tables and State sits atop the gymnastics world. "One of the things about Springfield," Avener cautioned, "is that they have a tradition of being good in gymnastics and they will come here with some pride and a lot of times that makes you better than you should be. "If we are good, it shouldn't be a real close meet but if we miss at all, they should be raring to take off." Avener will take some additional worries into tomorrow's meet, which is the first home dual meet of the young season. In order to give the Lady Lions' numerous injuries extra time to heel, they took a longer break than usual ten days instead of six or seven. "I think it hurt the girls in simple physical shape," Avener said. "They came back out of shape, and we've been working very hard to get back into 1979 looks promising picked off five passes and played so recklessly that Paterno sometimes took him out of the game for fear that he would become over-aggressive. The only spot on the secondary that will need to be filled is the other halfback slot vacated by Mike Gilsenan. It could be Tom Wise, who backed up Gilsenan, or Paterno could pull one of his patented switches and move Grover Edwards over from safety or move Scott Het tinger back from his split end spot. If you're starting to get confident about the defense, take a look at the returnees at linebacker. There you'll find Lance Mehl, who led the team in tackles, and Rick Donaldson, a preseason All-American who was unable to regain his starting job from senior Rich Milot after being injured before the sixth game this season. The other LB spot, vacated by Paul Suhey, should be filled by Steve Griffiths, Mickey Urquhart, or Leo Wisniewski. The biggest question marks are on offense: How can the Lions replace Chuck Fusina? Who will step in and provide the big-play catches of Scott Fitzkee? How will the Lions go about filling the entire left side of the offensive line that will be shredded by graduation? The quarterback situation appears to be the most puzzling question of them all. Filling Fusina's void will be tough enough, but no one really stands out as a sure replacement. There's Tony Capozzoli, who saw action in six games as Fusina's backup and completed five s, \ o• d '>.},'r,'. e Pt:;, shape. But it's hard to get back into shape in just one week." is . The: injuries;; hoWq"ver, are hea . lin‘g. Ann Carr is finally able to walk without limping on her badly sprained ankle, and Pat Spisak is due to get the cast off her wrist next week. Spisak will compete this weekend on the balance beam, taking advantage of one- and no-handed moves. In the all-around it will be freshmen •Margie Foster and Marcie Levine, Lisa Ingebretsen and Debbie Alston. Specialists include: Lynn Samuels and Jan Anthony on the vault; Joanne Beck and Anthony on the uneven bars; Beck and Spisak on the balance beam, and Samuels and Beck on the floor exercise. Freshmen Foster and Levine are the new faces on this year's team. Already they both have an all-around title under their belts. Foster took first in the Penn State Invitational and Levine prevailed in the Lady Lion's dual meet versus East Stroudsburg. But, they have yet to perform for a capacity Hee Hall crowd. "I have heard about the big crowds we get here and both Marci and I have been really looking forward to competing," Foster said. "I guess Springfield doesn't have that high a level of gymnastics but what they A, they do quite nicely. We'll go in and try as hard no matter what competition we face." Freshmen make up the majority of the Springfield team, but two gymnasts who of 12 passes for two touchdowns. There's Frank Rocco, the heralded freshman who never attempted a pass. There's Dayle Tate, the talented sophomore who has been riddled by injuries. And there's Terry Rakowsky, who directed the junior varsity team, and Jon Lebo, a freshman from Lebanon. And who will the quarterback, whoever he is, be throwing to? Tom Donovan will return for his final year, and will start at either flanker or split end. Donovan was virtually ignored this season, but he'll be the Lions' most valuable receiving weapon on 1979. The other receiving spot should go to Kip Vernaglia, who'll be a senior, or Tracy Hall, who caught one pass for 16 yards as a sophomore. The offensive line will face the toughest replacement task by far. Tackle Jim Brown and guard Jim Romano return, but Correal, Keith Dorney and Eric Cunningham all three of whom could be drafted,— leave an empty void on the left side of the line. Bob Jagers should inherit Correal's position. Marty Sierocinski and Mark Latsko are the top names at guard and John Wojtowicz and Bob Hladun could fight it out for the tackle spot. Or Paterno could switch Iry Pankey back to tackle from his tight end spot. Then Brad Scovill, Vito Kab, and Mike Farkas would be the top candidates to start at tight end. The most experienced area of the offense will be the backfield, which riday, Jan. 5, 1979-10 won All-America honors last year sfiliiild provide some competition. They . Ire senior Captain Linda Thompson, , hl,l , last year won l honors on the floor ex:,. nd sophomore Lorie Tranghese (arr,- , All- American on the parallel bars and floor ex.) '' 1 Springfield, whose 7-3 record •.-last season included a 141.9 to 129.55 104 to the Lady Lions, was eighth in easl'e:*; and second in small college natiquals last year. This past fall the men'sqind women's teams traveled the East 64ast for five weekends putting on gymnktptic exhibitions. Avener thinks athat exhibition season could be a factor in •, tomorrow's meet. . # \ "We are not in shape, and ;the '. possibly are," she said. "It could clime down to a tighter meet than it may:ap pear on paper when you look at allethe talent we have." ~`,l BACK FLIPS Springfield is still on break and won't resume classes•*til Monday . .. Judi Avener said that tlirth fourths of the difficulty the Lady Ltons want to achieve by the end of the season is contained in tomorrow's meet' , as compared to one half at this time last year . . . She also said that every met is important in terms of qualifying, c/a nationals because teams will be see:pea going into the competition. Assistant coach Marshall Avener added: "Without our team at full strength it's going .t.'6 be harder than ever." returns everyone but fullback ....Bob Torrey. Suhey will have sole posseSjon of the power spot and may be the , firs Lion back to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season since John Cappelletti. Booker Moore and Mike Guman will retunt at tailback. Or will they? Paterno -tas never been afraid to move Guinan around; and although Guman getting weary of being shuffled, :Ns year may the perfect time for ant*. switch. It's hardly fair to either Gu9san or Moore to keep alternating then:t at tailback. Moore could be spectacular, in a full-time role and Joel Coles is a Stery solid backup. So why not move Gumgi to a receiver spot, where inexperipTace prevails? Guman is the most vers!ij,il 4 -,g athlete on the team and is a eery talented receiver. If no one stands ottt at receiver, it's a possibility. One final question mark: the kicking game, which will lose both Matt Bahr and punter Fitzkee. Jones and Giuseppe Harris have each punted adequatel:q when called upon and either could-S',et the nod. Herb Menhardt, who has tide all five of his extra point attempts ibis season, should take over as kicker. All in all, the outlook appears`P timistic for Penn State in 1979. Deftise will carry the Lions, as it has in the test, If the offensive line can mesh,:;:thel running game will be better than it:lr) . as this year. And if the Lions develop:the kind of team feeling and cohesiveyiess that they had this past season, a high finish is a distinct possibility. , Rorres
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