14—The Daily Collegian Wednesday, Oct. 7, 1981 Stemmer stirs memories of Lion cross country past By TONY SMITH Daily Collegian Sports Writer The crowd at the Blue Golf Course Saturday morning was not a large one. (Let's face it, most people would rather attend a tailgate party then watch a men's cross country meet.) But many of the eyes in the crowd were focused on Alan Scharsu, the top Ameri can runner at nationals last season (sev enth overall). Would coming off a recent hamstring injury affect his performance in the Penn State Open? Would he finish in first place? Would anyone give him a serious test? As the race unfolded, the questions were answered. Scharsu finished in first place, as expected the top collegiate finisher. However, he was not alone when Have a Damned Good Time! Kern Theatre October 15-18, 1981 For tickets visit Kern Information Desk or call 865-1878 URTC and Kern Theatre ANt., he crossed the line. Someone else was there with him, a name from the past, wearing a T-shirt with "Athletics West" on the front. As both men were running side by side down the last stretch of the course, some of the onlookers may have looked at the guy wearing that T-shirt and asked, "Who is he?" Of course, those who have followed the Penn State cross country team over the years knew who it was a Penn State alumnus who answers to the name of Paul Stemmer. Paul Stemmer? Chances are the name does not ring a bell among first-term freshmen, or even for some 12th-term seniors. But for those who have followed track and cross coun try for a while, and for those who have WANT TO GET THE MOST FOR UR $? AIDA 1 7 0 SDAY been in Happy Valley a little longer than a tie for first place at the Alumni Invita most, Paul Stemmer's name is about as tional in September with another fellow familiar as Curt Warner's is for the alumnus, Greg Fredericks finished average football fan. 17th at nationals that year. Both Stem mer and Malley are presently members Stemmer was one of the stars' of the of the 'Athletics West track club in Eu -1975 men's cross country team which gene, Ore. finished first among all "American" teams at nationals (Penn State placed Stemmer did not compete in the Alum fourth overall). Individually, Stemmer ni Invitational, and neither did Scharsu, was the third American to cross the who was still nursing his sore hamstring. finish line (fifth overall). But, judging from. the outcome of the Penn State Open, Malley had apparently "The experience was unforgettable," told him about the results of the Septem ber meet. time in a while that an American (Craig Virgin) took the individual title. And "I looked at Alan (Scharsu) at the end, three out of the first five finishers were and said, 'What are we going to do? Are Americans, which was excellent." we going to battle it out or tie?' I figured George Malley was another member of if Malley and Fredericks could pull it off that 1975 squad. Malley who finished in two weeks ago, we could," Stemmer A DINNER/THEATRE PRODUCTION presents The "Dream" is Coming! Y 1 Centre Stage Playeri 130 Heister St. "PRIME TIME", Every Thursday night $l.OO off prime rib dinners Never a better time, never a better place, never a better price for roast prime rib beef at its tender, juicy best. All prime rib dinners include the fabulous ARENA Salad Buffet Join Us For Lunch! . The Fabulous Salad Buffet Served daily 11:30 - 3 p.m. FEATURING HAND CARVED TOP SIRLOIN OF BEEF Tickets available at Hotel State College Tickets: (Senior Citizens & Students) $14.50 dinner/show $13.50 dinner/show $ 4.50 show only 3.50 show only Reservations must be picked up 24 hrs. in advance. A RAIKE STAGE COMPANY INC. qfre.ARE4l4 , . li k/S; OF FINE B* . igov andta Book by DALE WASSERMAN by Music by ON MITCH LEIGH Appearing at Wig w b% Oct. 15th-18th Dinner at 6 PM Showtime 8:30 PM For Reservations Call 237-4350 - the main desk of Stemmer is now 27 years old. He says he has been running for about 11' years. However, while attending Penfield High School in Rochester, N.Y., he wasn't content with just running. Other sports, such as wrestling and soccer, interested him just as much, if not more. "Wrestling was my favorite sport at one time," Stemmer said. "It was fun, but I had to watch my weight all the time; you have to watch what you eat. That's the good thing about running, you can eat what you want and not have to worry about it." • • And that, according to Stemmer, was the main reason why he chose running over wrestling when he went to college. He attended Allegheny Community Col- 237-0361 rT7‘ ,7777 . 771 1 20 vit O.Lt utir o s i, c o, Wednesday special- 355 at The Train Station June:l - lon of E. College Ave E' Garner r,--wist.A...twouto...fiutitionnt..-PEKYL lege first, and ran against Penn State on occasion. After meeting and getting to know some of the Lion runners such a*, Fredericks and Charlie Maguire —Stem- mer made up his mind that he wanted to transfer to Penn State. And the rest is history (American sports history, as well as Penn State history). As for the future, Stemmer said he plans on running in the New York Mar athon and other large scale races. He has run a marathon once before, but because of problems with his running shoes, he was unable to complete the race. "This time around, I plan on going alley, the way," Stemmer said. Of course, Paul. Going all the way is a Penn State tradition Reloaded Pitt defense the best in the country • • Get The Fact From The Class Ring Experts webrs ONE HUNDRED EAST COLLEGE AVENUE Your Official PENN STATE Class Rf ONS PRIDE 114 EAST COLLEGE AVENUE ACROSS FROM OLD MAIN By GARY MlHOCESyear's. It doesn't look any. different to Associated Press Writer me," said West Virginia coach Don Neh- PITTSBURGH (AP) Hugh Green, len, whose team hosts Pitt Saturday in a Ricky Jackson and others have jumped matchup of Eastern unbeatens. to the pros from the University of Pitts- "They get a great, great pass rush. burgh defense that ranked No. lin col- Their linebackers are super aggressive. lege football last year. Their secondary gets to the ball. They're Yet despite having nine new starters, just a darn good defensive football Pitt still leads the nation in total defense team," Nehlen added. so far this season, allowing an average of 161.7 yards per game. smiled at the notion that this year's And the Panthers are tops against the defense is as good as last year's. run with a startling statistic. "We're not at that point yet," Sherrill In three wins over Illinois, Cincinnati said. "I think we're a year away, I really and South Carolina, Pitt has held oppo- do." nents to minus 32 net rushing yards —an The defensive ends from last year are average of minus 10.7 per game. • both starting as rookie linebackers in the "Their defense is playing just like last pros, Green with Tampa Bay and Jack- TWO TACOS only $1.25 Pedro's Mexican Madness good only with this coupon tt.;4 ; on Wed. Oct. 7 I tO4 l 131 S. Gamer 234.4725 I 1. (near corner of College and Garner) I OPEN: MON-THURS 11 A.M.-12 P.M. " SUNDAY O7 A.M. I Loam we um mu am yawn ma um an =I Es um ow um mi me .11 11 . 1 .., "/G7 k :.,' :'./ '' • I ` ' '''' l li'l \ 'fi.{.:.r.:. •:: 1, , :. : , ',:4 l' . ;. ~ 1 ,,,. :,9, .... .., 1 •',4 Z: ;.1- . : '..;,:., ri :. ili'l ::;-: ' r.:.Y4::. ''.l t.:•,.:1 . f::1 „• - •. : _ , A_ . _ _____ • ~ , • • 7 A i V A) owers-237-581 - srd c • ON . P ritr r j „.. ft Collev 45 4/ • . up parkio Pitt coach Jackie Sherrill of Pitt 1: 3 :;. ‘ 1: ' '" ..j/A .f.' it ii l •-::• ••: ; : ' ;:: tr 752 ii.:1 : : ::: i: . •: . ,1 :•..Z:4 ",...:•::::, i ...y . . . A4 f.:' , ‘;'.... ..:.... . ~I''' . 41 ) 1.. • .. , son with New Orleans Bill Neill is starting noseguard for the to people that we can play football." New York Giants, and Carlton William- Green and Jackson have been replaced son is a starting defensive back for San by Chris Doleman, a 6-6, 220-pound fresh- Francisco. man from Philadelphia, and Michael Middle guard Jerry Boyarsky is with Woods, a 6-1, 205-pounder from Natchez, New Orleans, cornerback Lynn Thomas Miss.. is with San Francisco and tackle Greg In the middle, Pitt isn't as big as last Meisner on Los Angeles' injured reserve year. But 240-pound noseguard J.C. Pelu list. si, 237-pound Phil Puzzuoli and and 258- "Let's face it," said SherHl. "The five pound Bill Maas play with zesty deter people we had up front last year are in mination. pro football." "It's our turn this year, and I think But the successors are using enthu- we've started off real well," says Maas. siasm to offset lack of experience. "It's hard to play and get experience "I think we have to go out and prove behind the players we had last year, but ourselves each week until the season is we learned from them and now we want over," said Sal Sunseri, a returning to put it to use." The Daily Collegian Wednesday, Oct. 7, 1981-15 starter at linebacker. "We have to prove
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers