Going Deep...
with Mike Bauer

It's only been a week and a half now without high school, legion or little league baseball but it feels like a year. After spending almost every day, except weekends, either at practice with my son or covering the high school or coaching the legion since the end of March I have found time to start thinking about the upcoming football season. And I love that too!

With the season just around the corner, just like always, I will be as close to heaven as I can be. Growing up in Austin and not having a "HOME" team to root for was always frustrating to me. We always loaded up the car on Friday nights and headed to Coudersport to watch the Falcons play at CARP. Some of my friends rooted for them but I just watched the game not actually rooting for anyone because I always considered Coudy a rival and couldn't. Back in the late seventies and early eighties the Falcons actually had some very good teams as I remember.

Now that I live every day here in Emporium, I have a "HOME" team to root for. Friday night football is the one thing I have looked forward to since I moved here and I haven't been disappointed. I am very excited to have the opportunity to cover the Red Raiders here in the Endeavor. In the next couple editions, I will do a pre-season analysis of not only the Varsity squad but the Junior High and also the Cameron County Storm JV and Varsity teams.

I have already had the opportunity to sit down with 2nd year Red Raider head coach, Tony Defilippi. He definitely has this team headed in the right direction and I sense a little more swagger in the Raider team this year than in the last couple of seasons. They were close last year. With another year under his belt and getting to know the kids and what they can contribute at what positions I think big things are going to happen in the next couple years.

I usually try to make three or four trips to Happy Valley every year and this fall will be no different. The Nittany Lions should not have that much of a drop off from last year if the offensive line can come together. They are loaded at the skilled positions and team speed shouldn't be a problem. Anthony Morelli should step in and do the job at Quarterback and the Nit's will have a solid group at running back with Tony Hunt leading the way and Austin Scott backing him up.

The wide receivers are going to give opponents fits with the speed they have. Derrick Williams is back from a broken arm and Deon Butler was a touchdown machine last year. State College's own Jordan Norwood is a very capable wideout also.

On defense the Lions will bring back the most talented group of linebackers in the country from last year. Led by alleverything, Paul Posluszny, the defense should be just as good if not better than last year. Dan Conner and Tim Shaw would be the best backers on most teams in the country if not for the Poz.

The loss of Tamba Hali, a first round draft pick, is going to hurt a bit but I suspect somebody will step up. Just throwing out a player here, the Lions have an incoming freshman named Maurice Evans. He was listed as the third best strong side defensive end in the country. We will see. Either way I never miss a game. For eleven or twelve Saturdays during the season I'm either at the game or propped up in front of the tube biting my nails and yelling at Joe! If you have never experienced a football Saturday at Penn State you are missing the greatest tailgate party on this earth!

I never try to figure out the NFLthis early. Injuries always play a huge part of how the season turns out. Every team has a decent starting quarterback, and whichever team's fortunate enough to stay healthy play in January.

I am trying to fill the Endeavor with a much needed sports page. It's hard when you work eight hours at your normal job and do this on the side. I will try to cover all the sports this fall with as much time as I can. I love sports. Period. But to attend every single event would be impossible. If there are parents out there who have a sports story that they would like to see in the paper all you need to do is stop in to the Endeavor or give them a call (486-1400). Bob or whoever is there would be happy to take a message and get it to me.