COLUMN: "Coach Gano leaves lasting legacy"

http://www.gettysburgtimes.com/sports/high_school/article_b1c118d1-8ebc-5870-8913-fa81b85aae73.html

Posted: Saturday, February 9, 2013 3:08 am

BY SCOT ANDREW PITZER - Times Sports Writer The Bob Gano era is coming to an end in Canner Country, but thanks to the 16-year head coach, Biglerville is wrestling - again.

In a town where wrestling has long served as an identity, Gano built the program into a perennial district and state powerhouse, and regularly competed for league titles.

Gano might be stepping down at the end of the season, but he leaves behind a lasting legacy. He never had a losing season at Biglerville, amassing 273 wins to go along with an overall career record of 357-151.

The journey surely wasn't easy.

In fact, when Gano arrived in Apple Town in 1997-98 after rebuilding the Delone Catholic program, he inherited a practice room that was mired in a losing mentality. The once-proud program had slipped into a coma, suffering a dry spell with two straight losing seasons, falling short of the community's expectations.

That's when Gano came to the rescue, along with assistant coach Tony Koontz, a two-time PIAA champion. Gano preached discipline and instilled a winning attitude in the practice room, leading the team to a 10-8 record, and officially launching the resurgence of the Biglerville program.

His arrival marked the beginning of a new era throughout the entire program, and his teams responded. They wore camouflage, but you couldn't miss them, as they were one of the best dual-meet teams in the district, and remain so today.

The return to glory was almost immediate, but not without growing pains.

"When Coach Gano came to Biglerville, he was definitely the right person to get our program back on track, and into the winning tradition that we had in the past," said Mike Smith, a former sectional champion and senior captain on Gano's original team at Biglerville. "My big thing is that I wish I could have been able to wrestle more than just one year under him. He was such a huge team player, and not just a single-person coach."

Gano coaxed, pleaded and sometimes begged wins out of his often-undermanned squad.

He oversaw an exciting brand of wrestling in Biglerville, featuring pins, bonus-points, fireworks, and an overall will to win. Depth was never a luxury, as Biglerville has one of the smallest student bodies in Class AA.

As a result, Gano became a master at mixing and adjusting rosters in order to field the best possible lineup.

"Coach Gano is as good a coach as they come," said Nick Asper, a 2009 graduate. "He's brought great success to the wrestling program over the years and has molded Biglerville into a (Class) AA powerhouse in Pennsylvania. He puts his heart and soul into the sport."

Gano's initial teams responded by wearing camouflage, because they were "going to war" for their team, coaching staff, family, fans and community. They fought for their new coach as if he had taught them wrestling since the day they were born.

"Coach Gano came into a pretty chaotic wrestling room in the beginning, that didn't have a whole lot of discipline, and was able to turn it into a championship-caliber squad," said James Weible, an upper-weight from the 2000-2001 team. "We never had a large turnout in wrestlers, but he was able to get the best out of everyone, from a first year wrestler to the standout."

Members of Gano's first teams at Biglerville fondly recall the "Camo Era" that helped put Biglerville back on the wrestling map. Gano taught his first team how to win, when losing had become commonplace.

"He is one of the greatest and most passionate coaches you could have. He brought pride back to Biglerville, and put his heart into the program from Day One, until the end," says Shawn Whitmoyer, an upper-weight on Gano's first team at Biglerville in 1997-98.

Biglerville alum Logan Bobo remembers a pep-talk Gano gave to his team at the start of the 2006-07 season that was not only a wrestling lesson, but a life lesson. The program hadn't had a losing season in 10 years, however, the coaching staff felt that something was missing.

"Coach Gano made it very clear that we had to restore the honor of the program," recalls Bobo. "He took away the locally-famous 'Biglerville is Wrestling' tee-shirts, and said we could get them back when we earned the opportunity to wear them."

The team earned the shirts back at the conclusion of the season.

"This is just one of the many examples Coach Gano used to challenge his teams, and get the most out of each individual," said Bobo.

Anyone that ever wrestled under Gano, including myself, will tell you that the coach hated to lose. Even if we were going against a vastly superior squad, he prepared us as if we would be the victor.

"One thing I remember the most is how much he didn't like losing," Biglerville alum Jesse Gardner said. "He used to tell us stories about how much he hated to lose in anything, including losing to his kids, Sam and Kaitlyn, in board games. "No matter who we were wrestling, he always had the mentality and confidence that we were going to win the match. Overall, his dedication and 'refuse to lose' mentality led to 16 years of quality wrestling for Biglerville."

Gano spent eight years building the Delone Catholic wrestling program into a contender before leaving for Biglerville in 1997. He was attracted to Canner Country because of the tradition, and the overall interest in getting the program back on track.

It didn't take long.

In Gano's third year at the helm, the Black and Gold won the Mid-Penn Commonwealth title, as well as a Southeast Regional championship.

"Coach upheld the standard for the team. That standard was: have respect for yourself, and for your school," said Kelsey Rebert, a 2000 graduate of Biglerville. Rebert was a member of the 1999-2000 team, practiced with her male counterparts, and participated in female competitions. "It was digging deep when the team was short, being more conditioned than the opposition, and knowing your role in the match," said Rebert.

Gano coached one state champion during his tenure at Biglerville, Shain Leggett in 1999 at 103-lbs. He also coached Laike Gardner to a runner-up finish in 2011 at 130-lbs. There were countless other state medalists under Gano, and a plethora of 100-match winners.

"Coach Gano taught me so much not only on the mat, but off as well," says Leggett. "If it wasn't for him dropping me off five miles from Hershey in Palmyra the second day of the state tournament (in 1999) to make weight, I would have never been in the finals. "He was just an all-around good coach and mentor to the entire Biglerville wrestling family."

The 49-year-old Gano is a multi-time Gettysburg Times "Coach of the Year" recipient. After taking the job in Biglerville, he relocated to the community with his wife, Donna. His 270-plus wins in Canner Country put him in elite category, along with legendary coach Mike Bucher.

"Coach put together a very impressive body of work over his coaching career. A quick look at his records and achievements can prove this, but someone who just looks at the win-loss record of Bob Gano's teams misses the big picture," explained Bobo. "Even though we lost a number of matches throughout my career, it was never because we were out-worked. Every time Coach Gano led a team onto the mat, they were clearly well-prepared and physically tougher. I think this is a testament to the type of coach he was."

Jesse Gardner noted that Gano was committed to "every wrestler, whether it was a state place winner or a first-year" athlete. "He never accepted anything but 100 percent effort," said Gardner. "He was willing to spend as much time as you wanted to make you a better wrestler. There were many times where he gave up his own personal time to help develop his wrestlers."

Don't use the word "retirement" around Gano, a retired Pennsylvania State Trooper and co-owner of G-Force Investigations. He'll stick around wrestling in some capacity, as he plans to coach at the club level in Biglerville, where I'm sure he'll instruct his 6-year-old son, Sam, at some point. Gano also just started a new career in officiating.

As Gano leaves the Biglerville program, the new regime won't be called upon to breathe new life into the program, as he did 16 years ago.

Instead, the successor will be asked to keep Biglerville near the top.

"Biglerville has some big shoes to fill," says Rebert. Indeed.

Thanks to Coach Gano, Biglerville is wrestling - again.

Scot Pitzer is a Times Sports Writer. Contact him at spitzer@gburgtimes.com.

HS Football Playoffs: Canners seeded #6

http://www.gametimepa.com/yorkadams/ci_21929435/littlestown-faces-familiar-foe-new-routine-districts Littlestown faces familiar foe, new routine in districts By CHUCK CURLEY The Hanover Sun Posted: 11/04/2012 10:55:40 PM EST After an entire season of Friday night competition, the Littlestown High football team faces some new obstacles when the District 3 Class AA playoffs begin this weekend. For one thing, the Thunderbolts (7-3) will face their first Saturday game against a team named Spartans since a matchup with York County Tech in 2011. The eighth-seeded Bolts will travel to Governor Mifflin High School in Shillington for a 1 p.m. quarterfinal against top-ranked Wyomissing (10-0). There, Littlestown will face quite another hurdle -- Alex Anzalone. This particular Spartan, seriously recruited by Notre Dame, has been the talk of Berks County for his ability on both sides of the football. However, Anzalone is just one of several standout players which Hanover area teams will face when the playoffs begin for five of the six qualifiers. One game will be played in the Hanover area. Bermudian Springs (10-0), coming off its second straight undefeated regular season to rank behind only Wyomissin in the Class AA bracket, will host Susquenita (7-3) in a 7 p.m. quarterfinal start. The Black Hawks are a new opponent in the Eagles' playoff history, which includes three district crowns. Meanwhile, South Western (6-4), fresh off its emotional victory over Spring Grove, enters the Class AAAA bracket as the 12th seed. The Mustangs will face another set of Mustangs, Governor Mifflin (8-2), at 7 p.m. Friday, mere hours before the Littlestown-Wyomissing matchup on the same field. Elsewhere, YAIAA Division I co-champion Spring Grove (8-2) will travel to Mid-Penn Colonial champion Shippensburg (9-1) in a 7 p.m. Class AAA first-round game. In Class AA, Biglerville (8-2) will be the sixth seed, which sends the high-powered Canners to Camp Hill to oppose third-seeded Trinity (9-1) in a 7 p.m. quarterfinal. Delone Catholic's qualification for its first foray into the Class A playoffs since 1995 means the top-seeded Squires (7-3) will get the week off before hosting Columbia (4-6) at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16. Those two teams have not met in the playoffs since 1994, while Littlestown's matchup with Wyomissing is much different. The Spartans ended the Bolts' season a year ago with a 49-26 triumph. Therefore, Littlestown is familiar with Anzalone, the focus of the Reading newspaper's preseason football cover story. Since that story, he has fulfilled the hype. He has rushed for just 810 yards, but has scored 19 touchdowns and had sparkled on defense. In Saturday's 14-0 shutout of Berks Catholic, he rushed for 113 yards, but the 6-foot-3, 235-pounder also had two quarterback sacks and an end-zone interception. Anzalone will not be the only Berks County standout on display against a Hanover area team next weekend. South Western will have to deal with Governor Mifflin's Thomas DePaul, who has 23 pass receptions, and Ryan Barbon, who needs seven yards for 1,000 this season. In other action, Spring Grove makes its first Class AAA playoff appearance after its Class AAAA first-round exit in 2010. Meanwhile, Biglerville, the leading offensive team in the Hanover area, has qualified for the district playoffs for only the second time. The Canners lost 42-14 in the first round to Lancaster Catholic in Class AA in 2008.

Punxsutawney Phil came out of his hole...

and saw Peter Angelos' shadow this morning. Six more years of losing.

Wieters, Markakis win Gold Gloves

First time since 1998 that multiple Orioles win a Gold Glove.

Shortstop JJ Hardy was also a finalist.

On Talking Dinosaurs

MLB PLAYOFF RACE: Will the Orioles knock the Red Sox out of contention?

The Wild Card race is now tied between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays, thanks to the Orioles, who have whipped playoff contenders this month.

There are only two games to play. The Red Sox play at Camden Yards through Wednesday, and the D-Rays are at home vs. the Yankees.

I'd be a happy fan (an extremely delighted fan) if Buck and the O's could knock the BoSox out of post-season...it'd be "Payback" for that brawl earlier this year in Fenway Park.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-guerreros-mileston-hit-sparks-os-rally-red-sox-tied-with-rays-for-wild-card-20110926,0,4517096.story

11:57 p.m. EDT, September 26, 2011
The first game of the season-ending "Fan Appreciation Celebration" at Oriole Park quickly turned into something completely different in the sixth inning on Monday night when Vladimir Guerrero kept his date with international baseball history.

Guerrero singled up the middle in his third at-bat of the Orioles' 6-3 win over the Boston Red Sox and passed Julio Franco to become the all-time major league leader in hits by a Dominican-born player. He also sparked a four-run rally that dragged the reeling Red Sox into a wild card dead heat with the surging Tampa Bay Rays.


His 2,587th hit brought the announced crowd of 21,786 to its feet for an enthusiastic ovation as Guerrero waved his helmet to the fans and his teammates – who lined the top step of the home dugout to applaud his magic moment. The night was made even more special for him because his mother, sister, nephew and cousin were in attendance.


"I've played for a lot of years – 16 years – so it felt very good, very satisfying to get that hit.'' Guerrero said through interpreter Rudy Arias, but he also pointed out that it is not something he has been consciously pursuing for a long time. "I didn't know about the record until Buck told me about it in Toronto."

No doubt caught up in all that excitement, Guerrero quickly stole his second base of the year and eventually scored the go-ahead run on a double by third baseman Chris Davis. Obviously, the Orioles got caught up in the moment, too, because they went on to score four times in the inning – the last three runs on an inside-the-park home run by Robert Andino.

Talk about an evening of interesting subplots. Andino's inside job was the first ever by an Orioles player at Camden Yards and it came with his father in the stands to see his son play for the first time ever in a major league game.

"That's almost as big a moment because his dad was here for the first time watching him play his first game,'' manager Buck Showalter said. "First time he ever saw him play. I'm not sure of all the dynamics of it, but I got to meet him today and I know what an unbelievable moment that would be for us. Can you imagine what it meant to him, regardless of the impact on the game? I was really hoping Robert would get a chance to do something to let his dad see what a good year he's had and what a good player he's become."

Andino was a little more concise.

"I've got no words,'' he said. "It's priceless."

And, of course, the Red Sox were desperately trying to hold onto their slim wild card lead over the Rays, but Boston starter Josh Beckett gave up six runs to the Orioles for the second time in six days and lost back-to-back decisions to Baltimore for the first time in his career. The Rays didn't cooperate either, defeating the Yankees, 5-2, at Tropicana Field.

If that wasn't enough intrigue for one night, Showalter had to be helped back to the clubhouse after the exchange of lineup cards with what the club reported to be an ankle injury. The injury apparently wasn't serious, because he returned to the dugout by the second inning and managed the remainder of the game.

The scoreboard watch had already started at that point. The Red Sox came into the game leading the Tampa Bay Rays by one game with three left for each to play. The Rays were at home against the Yankees and the two games were pretty much in sync, so the Sox could see that the Yankees took a two-run lead and then gave it back in the third inning.

"Boston's got somewhere they want to get to and there were a lot of Boston fans here, so it was pretty intense,'' Andino said.

The Orioles may not have anything tangible to play for during their final three games of the season, but Showalter said that the atmosphere in the ballpark and the intensity on the field gave the young players a taste of what September stretch-run baseball is all about.

"They (the Red Sox) are a good baseball team that played with a lot of effort tonight and was scratching and clawing the whole way,'' Showalter said. "Had the tying run at the plate. Beckett pitched well. They did the job out of the bullpen. It was a good baseball game with two teams playing at a high intensity level. Some nights it works out for us.

The Sox had taken the lead in the second, scoring a run on a two-out double by Jacoby Ellsbury when left fielder Matt Angle airmailed his throw back to the middle of the infield and allowed Marco Scutaro to score from first base.

Orioles catcher Matt Wieters responded quickly, launching a towering fly ball that just cleared the fence in left to tie the score in the bottom of the inning. It was his 21st home run of the season and his 65th RBI.

The Orioles knew it was going to be no easy task to crack Beckett, who was facing them for the fourth time this season and he had a score to settle after the O's scored six runs off him in that 6-4 victory at Fenway Park last Wednesday. He held them to just four hits through the first five innings before the game unraveled in the sixth.

Orioles starter Tommy Hunter was looking for his fourth victory as an Oriole in 11 starts since he was acquired from the Texas Rangers in the Koji Uehara trade, but he cut into his pitch count early working out of a bases-loaded jam in the first and battling to hold the Sox to just an unearned run in the second. The Sox regained the lead when third baseman Jed Lowrie led off the fourth inning with a home run onto the flag court.

Hunter's overall numbers (3-3, 5.00 ERA) since arriving in Baltimore may not look like much, but he has impressed manager Buck Showalter with his determination on the mound. Monday night's performance was only the second time he has failed to complete the sixth inning.

He gave way at the start of the sixth to Troy Patton, who worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings and was credited with his second major league victory. Rookie Pedro Strop worked out of a big jam in the eighth and Jim Johnson pitched a tense ninth in which the tying run came to the plate, but held on to record his 10th save.

* * * * * *

http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2011/09/red_sox_in_fight_to_keep_sun_f.html

NEW YORK — A striking sunset turned the skies above Yankee Stadium into a canvas of oranges and blues tonight, a gorgeous touch to a satisfying day for those who wore pinstripes. Yet, for all its beauty, it could not rival the impact of another sunset, at least what could to be the makings of one, that revealed itself only in the visiting clubhouse.

It was there, with the residue of defeat still lingering in the air, that the Red Sox quietly ended a brutal day that featured a 9-1 loss to the Yankees.

Two days off had given the staggering Red Sox a chance to rest their weary legs, yet in a game they wanted badly to win, they looked every bit as flat as they have all month long. Manager Terry Francona juggled his starting lineup only to watch Yankees right hander Freddy Garcia neutralize it with his velocity-deficient arsenal.

The Yankees staked Garcia to a big lead and never looked back. At the end of their latest miserable effort, the Red Sox retreated from their dugout, into the tunnel that cuts through the concrete stadium, taking this sullen walk together. Frank Sinatra's familiar voice followed them through the passageway, the faint words of “New York, New York” almost audible even from the cramped office occupied by Francona.

The embattled manager — overseer of an epic 5-17 September collapse — used his fingers to clear his eyes before putting his glasses back over his face. He wore his exasperation the way he would his ballcap.

“We all want to win,” he said. “Now, it's up to us to go win. We know what's in front of us. We just have to play better.”

In the clubhouse, the players hardly spoke a word to one another. Within this space were telltale signs of a wake, from the zombie-like way the Red Sox spoke about their latest failure, to the dark blue towels slung over the clubhouse chairs. They looked black, which would have matched the mood.

“What we've got to do right now is laugh just to see if you can fool somebody,” said David Ortiz, who at the moment, was fooling nobody. “The way things are going, you don't expect a good team like this to struggle the way we have.”

Red Sox starter Jon Lester, who isn't used to getting knocked around, received a mocking standing ovation from Yankee fans. He allowed a three-run homer to Derek Jeter and departed after giving up his second hit to rookie Jesus Montero, a two-run double in the third-inning.

In his last three starts, Lester has crumbled, going 0-3 with an ERA of. His ineffectiveness over his 2 2/3 innings triggered speculation about his health, though he sneered at the notion that he's been pitching through hidden pain. He countered by offering a much simpler explanation.

“I stink,” Lester said.

In that regard, he fits right into with the rest of his cohorts on the pitching staff. If the Red Sox go on to complete their crash landing, and they go down as one of the most disappointing teams in franchise history, it will be because of a September ERA of 6.15.

“I've been getting my ass kicked lately,” Lester said. “It's not a good time to have this stretch.”

With just five games left on the schedule, a questioner asked first baseman Adrian Gonzalez if time was running out on the Red Sox.

“Time’s running out on us?” he said, coating his words with defiance. “We’re in first place in the wild card. Time’s running out on Tampa Bay.”

The numbers say that the Rays still have just a 1-in-10 chance of sneaking in for the wild card. The eyeballs say those chances are higher. Nevertheless, the Red Sox hold their own fate in their hands, owners of a 1 1/2 game advantage heading into today's doubleheader against the Yankees. However slim, a lead is still a lead, though such things are easy to forget in the first fading light of a sunset.

“It seems like no matter what you do,” Ortiz said. “Things go bad.”

For more Yankees coverage, follow Marc Carig on Twitter at twitter.com/ledger_yankees

The late Jack Emmanuel, coaching legend, fondly recalled by Biglerville Fans

Canners coaching legend, Emanuel, dies at 86

Posted: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 12:56 am

Canners coaching legend, Emanuel, dies at 86 BY ADRIAN MARTIN Times Sports Writer Gettysburg Times | 0 comments


One of the hardest duties a child must perform following the death of a parent is clearing out their belongings.


The shock of the loss is not yet fully realized, and the four walls filled with memories make it seem like the departed is still alive.

But the rummaging also evokes all the good memories, and such was the case for John Emanuel, whose father, former Biglerville High School head football coach Jack Emanuel, passed away on Sunday at the age of 86 after a long illness.

“I’ve run across letters from players thanking him for the affect he had on their lives, and a lot of those guys were from the ‘60s,” John said.

Jack coached some of the best football teams in Canner history during his 22 seasons at the helm. The only two non-shared league titles came under his watch in 1966 and 1971, when Biglerville was in the Blue Mountain League. The ‘66 squad remains the only undefeated Canner team as well, with a record of 8-0-2.

Those who played for him and worked with him will tell you that Jack wasn’t flashy or fiery, but he cared about his kids and he motivated them to play to their full potential.

“Working with him was an education for me because he knew football,” said former assistant coach Bill Celio, who joined Emanuel’s staff in that magical 1966 season. “A lot of times we didn’t necessarily have the best athletes, but we had the best players. They knew their job and they would do it.”

In addition to football, Emanuel was also a track and wrestling coach. After a fall full of Friday night lights, he could typically be found taking several kids to district and state track meets in the spring. He also helped out with the wrestling program. If there was talent to be found, Jack could bring it out.

“We had a tackle running a relay race,” Celio said, still in disbelief. “On the undefeated team, he took a quarterback and made him a flanker. He just made that change and it worked.”

If Jack got the most out of his players, it was because he received the same training and encouragement. Born in Coatesville, Pa., on Nov. 5, 1924, Jack was raised in Harrisburg and played defensive end at the former William Penn High School. He was coached by his father, Victor, who is member of both the Gettysburg College and Pennsylvania Sports Halls of Fame.

Jack served as a Marine in the Pacific during World War II, and then played football at Shippensburg Teaching College. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Bishop McDevitt, but he soon relocated to Biglerville. Even at that early stage, his coaching style was already established.

“He was fair, but stern,” John said.

“He was old school and brought a lot of traditions from Bishop McDevitt. He went to a lot of seminars and workshops and brought back what he knew. We ran the same offense for 20 years and we always won. Even if we were outmatched, it was always a close game. His teams were always good and always tough.”

Though Jack’s playbook was small, it was effective, and he was seen as a kind of trailblazer for the area.

“He was the first to run the ‘I’ formation and the first to run the 4-4 defense,” Celio said. “Jack always seemed to have the right idea of what was needed.”

John said Jack also introduced interval training to the track teams, and isometrics to the football teams, which drastically curtailed the number of injuries.

Sometimes, all the players needed was a swift kick in the rear, and Jack provided that as well.

“Jack was very strong-willed, and if you stepped out of line you knew it,” said Mike Haas, who played on the ‘71 championship team with John. “I remember a Saturday night game at Ship. For whatever reason, we usually didn’t play well on Saturdays. We were down a touchdown to Susquenita, but we were a better team. When we came in at halftime, (Jack) just tore into us. Then, we went out and scored three touchdowns in less than two minutes. I totally give his halftime speech the credit for the victory.”

Where there was discipline, there was also trust. Haas said Jack’s teams called their own offensive plays in the huddle, a practice that is seldom used today.

Jack also shared in his players’ anxieties on game night.

“After we won the title, I was in the coach’s office, and he always had a refrigerator full of Coca-Cola products that he’d hand out to the players,” Haas recalled. “He opened up the refrigerator and he was shaking so bad he couldn’t pick up the ball. I never realized the nerves that went through him.”

Haas has a much better understanding now. Following Jack’s example, he went into coaching, a job that has lasted more than three decades.

“When I started at Cocalico, I used a lot of the same drills,” Haas said. “Jack was a basic blocking and tackling coach.”

The Canners only had six losing seasons under Jack. After he left Biglerville, he briefly became an assistant for Sam Leedy at Gettysburg and helped the Warriors achieve a perfect 10-0 season in 1987.

In his later years, Jack was an assistant at West York and a member of a Masters swimming team. Even after he put away his whistle, Jack was never far from the football field.

“I coach at Columbia and we were in the district finals against Camp Hill a few years ago. I asked Jack to come see the game and he did,” said Haas, his voice breaking slightly with emotion. “I never had the chance to tell him how much that meant to me. As a player, I had so much respect and admiration for him.”

On Sept. 30, members of the 1971 Canner championship team will reunite and be recognized during halftime of Biglerville’s home game against Delone Catholic. Though the event was initially a 40-year anniversary, it has turned into a commemoration for Jack and all the lives he touched.

“If it was possible, we wanted to try and get him there, but it didn’t work out that way,” Haas said. “It’ll be a nice celebration.”

* * * * * * * * * *

http://blog.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2011/08/legendary_biglerville_coach_ja.html

Legendary Biglerville coach Jack Emanuel fondly remembered

Published: Wednesday, August 31, 2011, 8:55 PM Updated: Thursday, September 01, 2011, 9:56 AM

By TIM LEONE, The Patriot-News The Patriot-News

Bill Celio took a lasting lesson from a decade of working as an assistant for legendary Biglerville High football coach Jack Emanuel.

“Try to stay calm,” Celio said. “When you’re blowing your stack, you’re not accomplishing anything. Just think things through. He was pretty easy going for the most part. A good guy off the field, too.”

Emanuel, also renowned as a track and field coach at Biglerville, died Sunday at 86.

Starting in 1958, he coached the football team for 22 years, winning Blue Mountain League championships in 1966 and 1971, and also did a stint as the school’s wrestling coach.

“He was very patient with the kids,” Celio said. “I can’t say never, but I don’t ever recall him chewing out a kid. He’d talk to them, maybe pull them out of a game for a play, and explain it to them. He might jump on the team as a whole, but he’d never single out an individual kid.

“He was big on fundamentals. It was blocking and tackling. He worked on blocking a lot. He said, ‘If you can block, you can tackle.’”

Son Mike Emanuel, a Harrisburg resident, and his three brothers all played for their father at Biglerville.

“It was a lot of old school,” Mike Emanuel said. “It was the fundamentals of football.”

But there was innovation, too. Emanuel installed the then-cutting-edge I-formation offense in 1966.

“They always said my dad had football players,” Mike Emanuel said, “but he rearranged their positions where they were better suited.”

Emanuel, a Marine who served in the Pacific during World War II, grew up in Harrisburg and played football for his father, Vic, at the former William Penn High School, graduating in 1943.

He played football at Shippensburg Teacher’s College and followed his father’s footsteps into a teaching and coaching career. He was a science teacher and also served as an assistant football coach at Bishop McDevitt and William Penn.

Vic Emanuel, a member of the Gettysburg College Hall of Fame and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, played on the 1925 Pottsville Maroons team that was denied an NFL championship for playing an unauthorized exhibition game in Philadelphia.

“He always talked about how his dad got mad because he got cheated out of a championship,” Celio said.

Mike Emanuel said his grandfather played against Jim Thorpe.

“My grandfather said,” Mike Emanuel recalled, “‘If he came around my end, I’m sure I did tackle him.’”

Mike Emanuel said his late mother, Helen, also was instrumental in the Biglerville football program. She compiled statistics for her husband’s football games and had an eye for talent.

Emanuel is a member of the South Central/Adams County Hall of Fame. Celio joined his football staff in 1966 and went on to become Biglerville’s athletic director.

“He knew just about everything, I thought,” Celio said. “For the most part, he was pretty calm, though he could get fired up when the occasion moved him.”

Mike Emanuel also competed on his father’s track and field team. In one close meet, he recalled, he missed his first two pole vault attempts at 10 feet after having to pass at lower heights to run in the low hurdles.

“I don’t know if he had eyes in the back of his head,” Mike Emanuel said, “but he came running over and said, ‘You better make this third attempt.’ He was counting on the points. I remember that pretty clearly. Scared to death, but I made the jump.”
* * * * *

Pocono Casino

The Pocono Casino (Mount Airy) is very nice. Played Black Jack there two weeks ago.

Gettysburg Times: "Thanks a lot, Scot."

You've read about my escapades with women, my family wiffleball games, and know that I dislike Bermudian Springs.

You trusted me for seven years as I sat through countless local government meetings. You read along as I fought with Confederates at the Battle of Gettysburg re-enactment, and commented on our website when I blogged live from the casino hearings, and during the Pa. wrestling championships in Hershey.

Week after week, I've shared stories about my life with you on this page. But for every beginning, there is an end.

As you know by now, Friday was my last day with the newspaper. I've enjoyed every minute of it, but I'm looking forward to the next phase of my professional career, working with Rich Alloway in the Pa. Senate.

My days of covering the REDDI project, the battle over the Rosensteel plaques, lie-detector machines, the Electric Map, Belmont Bridge and the Steinwehr islands are over, but the memories will always remain.

And so, to the Honor Roll we go.

B.J. Small: Thanks for hiring me out of Elizabethtown College, and for guiding me over the years in my challenging beat. I'll send you a photo of my big buck this winter for publication in "Fur, Feathers & Fins."

Jarrad Hedes: I look forward to your continuing coverage of weeds and packs of stray cats in Bendersville.

Mark Walters: You're getting a great chance to write about some important issues from which many folks stand to benefit greatly. Keep your head down, your eyes and ears open, and your mouth shut.

Councilman Ted Streeter: "Trust me, I'm from the government." You never turned down a call from the media during your presidency, and for that, I was always grateful. See you at "Drinkin' with Lincoln."

Mayor Bill Troxell: At some point in my life, I hope to earn a "Key to the City."

Fred Snyder: You've been a great mentor and friend over at Fox Sports 1320-WGET, and I appreciate you letting me co-host several editions of the Breakfast Nook. If I get elected to Gettysburg Council, will you invite me to the "Borough Show?"

Councilwoman Holliday Giles: Good luck in your final four months on council. Please keep me updated with text messages.

Rob Holt: Your recovery from your auto accident of 2008 is a reminder to everyone that nothing is impossible.

Matt Major: All four of my journalism awards also have your name on the plaques.

Jeffrey Gabel: One of my favorite experiences as a reporter was covering the grand reopening of the Majestic Theater.

Bill Schwartz: You're a great example of a colleague who has trained numerous reporters over the years, and watched them grow into their job. I always appreciated how in my early years, you asked all the questions, because you already knew the background. Plus, you were always good for a lunch tab.

Donna Wagner: Sorry about all the obituaries that I messed up in your absence. I know there were many.

David LeVan: I'm a big fan of port. It was a challenge covering your projects, because I knew most of the people involved, some professionally; others socially. Regardless, I hope I did so fairly and accurately. Good luck to your wife, in her crocheting endeavors.

Katie Lawhon: Cyclorama, battlefield rehab and the train station. Some things never end.

John O'Donnell: If you're listening up there, I miss you. And your big, bold headlines.

Josh Martin: Our pre-and-post game analysis of Biglerville Canner wrestling matches were always entertaining. Your victory your senior year at the old Wigwam in Gettysburg - to this day - might be the top highlight in Canner lore.

Gene & Debra Golden: We've had a our laughs over the years, mostly at the expense of local politics. Now, I'm joining the political field. Uh-oh.

Pat Nevada: As our workload burgeoned the past several years, I always appreciated you stopping by your neighboring cubicle to see if "everything was OK." Please, don't ever put my photo on the top of "Faces."

Pappy Pitzer: You're an inspiration to many. I will see you at the Elkorn tomorrow.

Darryl Wheeler: Your note-taking at accident scenes is Pulitzer prize worthy. You're also one of the best golfers I know, even though you claim you get out only "once or twice a year."

Alice Estrada: Your service will be missed, but I look forward to judging the Halloween Parade with you again this year. "Scot, you cannot give that band a four out of 10 just because they're from Bermudian."

Tom Ford and Cindy Ford: Thanks for your unconditional support. Tom, your golf swing is truly a thing of beauty.

Dick Watson: A grand-fatherly figure in the newsroom. Your daughter's eulogy at Myrt's funeral was a message that I'll always cherish.

Bill Monahan: We have had our share of memorable experiences, and you've certainly had your share of "donnybrooks." Thanks to you, I learned to appreciate fried calamari.

The entire Gettysburg Times team: It's been a great run. Even though I'm leaving, the Farm Show, re-enactment, Dedication Day and Election Night will continue.

Good luck, God bless, and remember, Eagle meat is better served raw.

(And for the record, the Family Wiffleball game was "rained-out" Monday. We'll get ‘em next year!)

- Scot A. Pitzer

New York Giants: Fake Injuries against Rams in Monday Night Football

Complaints about the New York Giants using injuries to slow the St. Louis Rams' no-huddle offense Monday night appeared valid -- and irrelevant.

Faking injuries has long allowed NFL players to buy time without using timeouts. The Giants' Deon Grant appeared to fake one just as the Rams' offense was moving into scoring position. Grant got up and jogged off the field. The Giants' defense regrouped and limited the Rams to a field goal, just as they had on a previous St. Louis possession inside the Giants' 10-yard line.

The fact that the Rams complained about the Giants' tactics to the league office is not a big deal. Teams regularly complain to the league about matters related to officiating, sometimes as a matter of record more than out of any expectation the NFL will do anything about it.

In this case, the Rams' offense has struggled badly in the red zone throughout this young season. For all anyone knows, Grant's allegedly fake injury simply delayed another disappointing end to a Rams possession. The team has acknowledged its difficulties executing in the red zone and elsewhere. But in raising the issue with the league and making concerns public, the Rams raise awareness, possibly discouraging future opponents from using the tactic as obviously.

"They couldn't get subbed, they couldn't line up," Rams quarterback Sam Bradford told reporters. "Someone said, 'Someone go down, someone go down,' so someone just went down and grabbed a cramp."

That might have been the case, but little can be done about it.

"The Competition Committee deprecates feigning injuries, with subsequent withdrawal, to obtain a timeout without penalty," the rulebook states. "Coaches are urged to cooperate in discouraging this practice."

Rules require players to leave the game for one snap following an injury timeout, except when a regular timeout is called, the quarter ends, the two-minute warning arrives or in cases when the injury resulted from a personal foul by the opponent.

The rulebook instructs game officials to make no judgments about whether an injury is legitimate or not.

"If an official determines a player to be injured, or if attendants from the bench come on the field to assist an injured player, an injury timeout will be called by the referee," the rules state.

The rules outline a hypothetical situation as follows: "Runner A1 is tackled and appears injured since he does not move. ... Official should call timeout for injured player. Official should not try to determine if player is injured."

Rules change in the final two minutes of a half. Teams with timeouts remaining lose one unless their player's injury is caused by an opponent's foul or occurs when there is a turnover or field-goal attempt, or when the opponent calls timeout. Teams with no timeouts remaining are allowed one injury timeout in the final two minutes, but the referee can implement a 10-second clock runoff at the defensive team's discretion if an offensive player is injured . Subsequent injuries under these circumstances will carry five-yard penalties for delay, with the same stipulations for 10-second clock runoffs.

The injury timeout for Grant occurred with 4:04 remaining in the first quarter. By that time, the Rams had already failed to score a touchdown on an earlier possession despite having first-and-goal from the 1. They might be well served adding fake field goals to combat future fake injuries.

On the Original X Games

It's Almost Over

There are only 38 more possible games that the Orioles can lose this year.

On Bad Luck

Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded — here and there, now and then — are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty.

This is known as “bad luck.”

- Robert Heinlein

We had reversed the recession, avoided a depression, gotten the economy moving again, but over the last six months we’ve had a run of bad luck.

- Barack Obama

Davey Johnson's return stirs memories for Oriole fans.

It’s great to see Davey Johnson back in baseball again, managing the Washington Nationals, but as a Baltimore Oriole fan, I’m torn.
Johnson, of course, was the last manager to lead the Orioles to a winning season, in 1997.
The Orioles lost to the Cleveland Indians in Game Six of the American League Championship Series that season.
They were in First Place every day that year, going wire to wire.
Apparently, the success did not meet the high standards of excellence set by owner Peter Angelos.
Johnson was named Manager of the Year, and abruptly quit a few hours later, via fax, citing an ongoing feud with Peter Angelos. Sadly, the Orioles haven’t had a winning season since.
In fact, they’re mired in 13 straight losing seasons, and they’re likely heading toward a 14th.
The veteran skipper has managed in New York, Cincinnati and Los Angeles, but he’ll always be revered for his short two-season stay in Baltimore.
That’s because when Oriole fans think of Johnson, they remember winning, something that hasn’t exactly been commonplace in Baltimore.
Johnson is a proven winner, just look at his record: he is 258 games over .500 (1,148-890). He has also managed in the Olympics and World Baseball Classic.
His last stint as manager was with the Dodgers in 1999-2000, where he posted a 163-161 record. Johnson’s only season below .500 was his first year in Los Angeles.
It’s ironic that Johnson is managing again, on a team whose games are broadcast by the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network - - - owned by the person (Angelos) that fired Johnson 13 years ago.
I hope the Washington Nationals play well under Johnson. They are the hottest team in baseball right now.
It’s just a downright shame that he’s no longer managing the Orioles. His resignation in 1997 was part of a series of personnel moves under Angelos, that still leave Baltimore baseball fans scratching their collective heads.
In 1996, Angelos let Hall of Fame broadcaster Jon Miller leave town, because he didn’t “bleed black and orange.“
Johnson left town in 1997.
One season later, Angelos refused to offer slugging first baseman Rafael Palmeiro a contract extension - - - until it was too late - - - and Raffy returned to the Texas Rangers. Ever since, the Orioles have had a gaping, long-term hole at first base, featuring Will Clark, Jeff Conine, Kevin Miller, Aubrey Huff, Garrett Atkins and now Derek Lee.
In 1999, Angelos decided that the Orioles would not sign ace pitcher Mike Mussina to a contract extension, and the Moose left for an American League East division rival: the New York Yankees. The Orioles have not replaced Mussina since that time. He only posted 270 career victories, and could make the Hall of Fame. If he does, it will likely be as a Yankee, and Oriole fans can thank Angelos.
The managerial position has been a revolving door under Angelos, featuring Johnny Oates, Phil Regan, Johsnon, Ray Miller, Lee Mazzilli, Sam Perlozzo, Dave Trembley, and Buck Showalter.
The 68-year-old Johnson hasn’t managed since 2000, when he was in the dugout with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He’ll take over a surging Nationals team, that was 40-39 entering Tuesday night’s game against the Anaheim Angels.
As an Oriole fan, I wish Johnson nothing but the best and for success in D.C. But he should still be in Baltimore.

On Golf Drills

There are two things you can learn by stopping your back swing at the top and checking the position of your hands: how many hands you have, and which one is wearing the glove.

On Caveat Emptor (Golf)

Never buy a putter until you've had a chance to throw it.

On Overachievement (Golf)

If you want to hit a 7-iron as far as the pros, use it to lay up short of a water hazard.

On Probabilities (Golf)

You can hit a 2-acre fairway 10% of the time, and a 2-inch branch 90% of the time.

On Geometry (Golf)

The shortest distance between any two points on a golf course is a straight line that passes directly through the center of a tree.

On Math (Golf)

Nonchalant putts count the same as chalant putts.

On Golf

Bad shots come in threes. Your fourth consecutive bad shot is actually the first shot of a new group of three.

On Hardy(ness)

J.J. Hardy may not be a great shortstop, but he's playing one on TV.

The Baltimore Orioles are 6-2 in the 8 games Hardy has started at shortstop. One of the 2 losses was the game in which Hardy left after one AB to go on the DL.

In his return from the DL, he went 4-5 with a HR. The Orioles have won 2 straight from Seattle with Hardy's return, beating rookie sensation Michael Pineda and 2010 Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez.

Defensively, he has good range, deft hands and a strong arm. He has yet to commit an error.

Offensively, he's hitting .348 with an OBP of .444 and Slugging at .609.

The downside is Hardy's brittleness. He's been plagued with trips to the DL each of the last 3 seasons, counting the current season. This is, of course, the reason the Orioles were able to acquire him. Hopefully, the Chesapeake Bay humidity will soften the brittle Hardy to a robust suppleness because, in the 8 games he's been on the field, he has been the Orioles best player.

On Grammar

The old-timer went to see a medicine man rumored to have a remedy for erectile dysfunction.

The medicine man gave him a potion and advised, "Take only a teaspoon and say '1,2,3'. The medicine will work as long as you want it to. The medicine will stop working when your partner says '1,2,3,4' and will not work again until the next full moon."

The old-timer immediately went home to try the potion. He showered, shaved, took a gargle and called his wife into the bedroom. He downed a teaspoon of the potion and declared "1,2,3". His wife was immediately impressed with the effect of the potion and started throwing her clothes off while asking "What was the 1,2,3 for?"

Henceforth, ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not put.

- Winston Churchill

the GOD particle!

Scientists think they have confirmed the existence of the God particle! Its almost as exciting as it sounds!

On the Over/Under

Through 21 games Baltimore Orioles pitching is last in Earned Run Average in the American League. 13th in Home Runs allowed.

Offensively, the O's are last in Hits in the American League. 12th in Batting Average and 12th in Runs.

They are 7th in Fielding.

Their record stands at 9-12 and they are rightfully in last place in the AL East. However, they are only 3 1/2 games behind the division leading Yankees (4 in the loss column). 1 1/2 games (1 in the loss column) out of 2nd place in the division.

Are the Orioles over-achievers? or under-achievers?
	Yes
	No
	Present
pollcode.com free polls

On Getting Jiggy

On Turds

In 2010, the O's were 9 games back of the division leaders thru 14 games.

In 2011, they are only 3 games back.

In 2010, the O's needed 10 games to fashion a 7 game losing streak.

In 2011, it took 14.

In 2010, the O's sent Kevin Millwood to the mound to break the 7 game skid. He lost and the skid continued for 9 games.

In 2011, the O's send a struggling Chris Tillman to the mound to break the current 7 game skid.

In 2010, Brian Matusz beat the Oakland A's 8-3 to break the 9 game losing streak.

In 2011, Brian Matusz is on the DL.

After a euphoric first 7 games during which the O's went 6-1 and starting pitchers retired opposing hitters with impunity, the O's have settled in with a punchless offense, unreliable starting pitching and a shaky bullpen.

Tonight the O's square off against Francisco Liriano (0-3, 9.42 ERA) and the Twins in Baltimore. Will the O's offense get healthy facing a struggling Liriano? or will Liriano start his turnaround facing the hapless Baltimore offense?

Even if the O's offense comes to life, it may not be enough as the O's send Chris Tillman (0-1, 7.30 ERA) to the mound. Tillman has surrendered 10 earned runs spanning 6 1/3 innings over his last two starts. However, the Twins are the only team in the AL to have scored fewer runs than the O's thus far, so, Tillman vs. the Twins offense also poses some intrigue.

On Throwing Strikes

Reliever Koji Uehara has compiled 46 strikeouts since his last walk.

It is the 5th longest streak since 1954.

On Government Built Cars

The steering wheel might fall off.

Aye, There's the Rub

The O's streaked out of the gate this season at 4-0 and have gone 2-3 since to stand at 6-3 and holding onto first in the AL East. They travel to New York today to start a 3 game set with the Yankees tomorrow.

The 6-3 start highlights both the strength and weakness of this team.

During the 4-0 run, the staff ERA was 1.00. Starters pitched 26 innings (72 %) and the bullpen tossed 10.

During the 2-3 run, the staff ERA was 5.2. Starters pitched 25 1/3 innings (56%) and the bullpen tossed 19 2/3.

This pitching staff has the talent to perform ala the 4-0 stretch and the inexperience to perform ala the 2-3 stretch. Too much of the latter and the O's go into the toilet, as they have for the previous 13 seasons. Just enough of the former and the O's will be quite fun to watch.