Penn State Football: A Player's Perspective

Article by: Jeff Vertosick
Photos taken by Ed Wilson and Akash Kapoor
Link to Photos

On May 2, 2009, the scarlet and grey in North East Ohio was muted as blue and white Penn State alumni converged upon Canton to gain a player’s perspective on Nittany Lion football. The Pro Football Hall of Fame hosted an alumni banquet organized jointly by the Alumni Association’s Akron/Canton Chapter and Cleveland Chapter. Thanks to the diligent event planning of Colleen Hyland and Akash Kapoor with aid of the events committee from both chapters, guests were treated to full access to the Hall of Fame exhibits and an exquisite dinner that allowed them to dine with the former players that were in attendance.

Nearly one hundred alumni gathered in the NFL Films Theater to hear the keynote speakers of the evening: assistant coach Jay Paterno and Jim Coates, a member of the 1986 National Championship team. After introduction by the Cleveland Chapter President Dave Repko, Paterno provided his perspective of Penn State’s legendary program. Through his playful words, Paterno delighted the crowd with mockery of the Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines before discussing the criticisms and pressures faced by each year’s star players on and off the field. Coates provided an alternative perspective of Nittany Lion football as seen through the eyes of an invited walk-on. He described what the team meant to himself and his family with special emphasis on the lasting bonds formed between players and coaches that extend beyond the sport into their personal lives.

Following the keynote speakers, all former players were asked to be a part of a question and answer panel. This presented an opportunity for guests to dive deep into the life of a college football player to learn what it really means to be a student-athlete. Akron/Canton Chapter President Chris Scott moderated the players panel, which included the keynote speakers as well as Curtis Enis, Eric Hamilton, Kurt Allerman, and TJ Render

The theme of the evening may have been Penn State football, but the hosting chapters had an alternative agenda: raising funds for local scholarships given each year to PSU undergraduates. Sue and Ed Wilson, who donated many wonderful blue and white items, organized the fund raising silent auction for the evening. The silent auction featured two highly coveted footballs autographed by Joe and Jay Paterno and a basketball signed by the 2009 N.I.T. champion basketball team. Overall, the two chapters rose over $2,600 to be split between their scholarship funds.

Kurt Allerman won the 50/50 raffle drawing and kindly passed his earnings to the youngest member of the attendees: 10 year old Eric Phythyon, who got yet another reason to attend Penn State one day! The funds will go towards Eric's scholarship at Penn State.

The Cleveland Chapter selects two local area freshmen to receive merit based awards each year. Additionally, the Cleveland Chapter offers the Robert Strasmyer Upper Classman scholarship to two upperclassmen from the Greater Cleveland area. The Akron-Canton Chapter awards a scholarship to a student selected from across Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties.