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Gazette Sports EditorWill Steve Girting's name someday be a household word around here?Does Tony Trave excel in football as much as he does in baseball?What enticed a 6-3,210-pound linebacker from Front Royal, Va.s named Alan Fox to enroll at IUP?Can these three, along with 43 other members of IUP’s 1984 football recruiting class, carry the Braves to future greatness?George Chaump certainly hopes so.IUP, looking to improve on 1983’s 5-5 reeord and bolster its roster for future games against Bucknell (this coming season) and Lehigh (1985) has staked much of its football future on these 46.Moore signed by BuffalolUP’s Kenny Moore has been signed as free-agent by the Buffalo Bills.Moore agreed to terms by telephone and will receive his contract in the mail.The Steelers invited Moore to a Thursday workout after he wasn’t selected in Tuesday’s NFL Draft, but the player and Philadelphia-based agent Art Wilkinson accepted Buffalo’s offer Thursday night.second IUP recruiting class ranks with any such Division-II group in America.“We recruited well,” said Chaump. “Not only do I feel that we picked up many people who can help us quickly, but we got them from top schools and top areas.”Several were honored as all-state or ali-area selections. Girting, from Western Beaver High, was the WPI-AL Class A Back of the Year.Chaump’s list includes 14 linemen, 10 linebackers, six quarterbacks, five running backs, four widereceivers, four defensive backs, two kickers and a tight end.There are sons of former coaches on the list, namely Clarion’s Dean Jacks (father A1 directed Clarion State’s program successfully for many years) and Indiana High's Frank Cignetti (dad, of course, is IUP’s athletic director and former head football coach at West Virginia University).Included also is the brother of a future pro. Tight end Bruce Dennison of Beaver Falls is following in the footsteps of Glenn, a Miami (Fia.) grad, also a tight end, who was selected by the New York Jets in the second round of Tuesday’s NFL Draft.There are some all-around athletes. Trave, from suburban Philadelphia’s Piymouth-Whitemarsh High and Valley Forge Military Academy, was 'a member of the Pennsylvania American Legion Baseball All-East Team with RubenAmaro Jr. last summer.4,235-pound center with a soft shooting touch, helped lead the Elkers to an outstanding basketball season.No wonder Chaump can’t watt to get these people into pads this fall.Chaump and his staff did particularly well in the Beaver Valley. Inaddition to Girting and Dennison, IUP also attracted three of Aliquip-pa’s top players.Coming to the Braves from Don Yanessa’s talented squad are fleet wide receiver Darrel Patrick, an honor student with 4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash, 6-1,210-pound all-state linebacker Paul Royba and massive (6-1,260) tackle Dan Santia.1C CAL11CU aUUUL UiVJjC IIULCkids from (Don) Yanessa’s program, said Chaump. We got three outstanding players from one school,” said Chaump. “I’m surethey’ll all help us.”The local area was not forgotten. Gazettetand Lineman of the Year Eric Johnson will attend IUP, as will Ted Marines, his Blacklick Valley mate.Cignetti is IUP’s lone Indiana High recruit, but Punxsutawney kicker Joe Mahan and Saitsburg allpurpose back Bob Fulton have also cast their lot with the Braves.Art Bernartil’s Butler program contributes Gene Sommariva, anmi-aniLc uuiuiiMvt YHiucaught 71 passes in his high school career as a wingback.“Just about all of our recruits come from winning programs,” said Chaump. “They know what winning is all about.”Speed has also been added to the offensive baekfield. In addition to Girting, Reading’s Vince Carlisle and Upper St. Clair’s Roger Niekol have breakaway abilities.Chaump, whose harvest of linemen features several players in the 230-pound range, looked for quickness in this area. The Braves need to improve their overall team speed. His decision to bring in nearly agreat in 7 988?Area players listed among IUP'S 1984 football recruits include Saltsburg's Bob Fulton, left, and Punxsutawney's Joe Mahan,NAME-HT.• WT.P0SHOMETOWNHIGHSCH00LCOACH;Jtm Ambrose6-4 1265/. ;DT. DunconsvilleHcllidaysburgHoroid Price *'■ Kevin Both*6-0• 180 :•• D8MonroevilleGctewayPete AntimarinojeH Barked i;6 4: 2050LRitfgwayRtdgviayMike Dominick•: thartes Bucksaw5-11185QBCarryCarryJoe 5an!ord. Chris flrimn V ••• .6-0 •1800BNew CastleNew CostleLindy Louro. 6-4 . V•' 235 : •OLRldgwoyRidgwoyMike DominickyirweCariisle/: 6-0'..210 :••. RB •ReudirlgReadingJeH Sparagano■ BofcCdHtiy 6-0 ;•250 • •OLAliquippaAliquippoDon Yanessa7 Jeff. Christy.:5-11,.: .' .180 ':RB .Pittsburgh• AvonworthTim O'Moll-ey: Frcnk Cigneffi .SOI.195. •DBIndiana'IndianaBemie McQuown\ •: Brute Dennison;6-3 :185 7 •TEBeaver FallsBeaver FoilsBob Blycht?:= A?nri fVKi■:7 6-3210It ;Fronl Royal, Vo.Warren Co,Ray Pennypocker•. :: Bob Fallon /=• 6-2 ' =170DB -ClarksburgSolUburgRoily Young •; ; Bremiofi Gaerfner V• 6-0Mas :WR; North HilisNorth HillsJockMcCurry:.Greg Gerbufd C6-3 V.230 :- OL• ConlanCantTiJones Reed; :Charles Gelty-6*2 v-• 230. .0L.PittsburghBishop BoyfeJoe Balistrieri. Sieve Girting '6-2: .. 210‘FB •.• IndustryV^estern Beaver*Rich Niedbala .■ -Scott Gultfin6-020501. IrwinHempfieldJoe Naunchik=•: Joe Harvey ; r6-4205: •. OL^ *. GreensburgKempfieldJoe Nnunchik.7 Trevor Henry.': 7::,:• 5-11 ..205• LB •=•• HuntingdonHuntingdonDavid SellersDennis Heggms ;:■ -6-3•185wr :. SewickleyQuaker ValleySam Lafaso•• Bedn Jacks- 1C* Jr.6-1 r205IB: Clarion . *ClarionRay Austin.7; Eric Johnson I; /:5'6-l::• 215 ’ol :NanlyGloBlacklick ValleyPaul Shandorr f Jim Lalsfco;• 6-2250cNew CastleNewCostleLindy LnurnAkin Lane 7 .5-11 ’ ;215LBPittsburghWeslinghouseGeorge Webb; Todd Lowry - ;■ 6-2210LBOrchard Porkf N;T. /Orchard ParkBruce Frazier••• r iv Jo*. Mahan,5*11 ; 190KPunxsutawneyPunxsutawneyGary Juort.ji Ted Marinesv 6-a •• TBOR. NantyGloQiockiick VclfeyPaol 5hanitarRobert Moore 6-2 -. 245 .:= otChlcoro'Korns CityMel Somonkoi: Roger Nkkoi; % :■/•=:. 6-0 • .170RBPittsburghUpper St. ClairJim Render5-7160WR :• Aliquippa .AliquippaDon Yanessa/Mike ferine. */• ^ 6-4 ;•• 210. • .LBMurray s villeGreensburg CCRich Baldiseri7 :;:MikePiUpirn ';V;6-2•. • 200GB• Pittsburghfox ChapelJim Morelli•=:Scott. Rhodes - 1 :6-1180 '•. QB.PittsburghUpper St, ClairJim Render' Paul Roybd ./6-1: 210 ..‘LBAliquippaAliquippaDen Yanessa. :• John Scitfsfrom /•6-0•; • 175='KCanons burgConon-MocMillan‘ Tom HissroPmSantin!: •.• ..i • • ... **.•: 6-i.: 260; ol .. AllqulppaAllqvlppo -Don YanessaDon Snell.;.; •;//;' 6*0210.LB-■ Alderi, N.Y.AldenHorry Hilt; GeneSamnwriva6-2205'.• : DB• .ButlerButlerArt Bernardi1 ;Mike Stodimiller:: 76-1180QB iErieErie PrepMina GeorgeJimThimdris ;.6-3l 230:DL -Tarentum .HightondsDon Szydllck;£ ;:Bnan TMlhnidit.j6-1 .• • ' 200 '.QB• Salem, OhioSalemGary Ricker;Tdny:Trqve76-2180 .WR• • NorrfstownValley Forge M. A.Roger Ciccoli. ;TontVesay./, 6-2 ' ■■215l: Huntingdon ValleyWorcester AcademyMike Stubjar;Pele Wfeinstein;''• :V 5-11200IB •Williamsville, N.Y.• EastDove AdelessiRodger Whjnian6-7 ”220DL. AttoanaBeSlwood-AntisJohn HayesILGreensburg Central Catholic's Mike Peronc, stems from the use of the 3-4 defense.As with the linemen, the IUP coaches are looking for quickness. lUP’s linebackers must be able to cover the entire Held to make the 3-4 alignment effective,IUP will start its August summer camp with eight quarterbacks. The six incoming recruits will join veteran Rich Ingold and 1983 redshirl Bob Kiel, who has looked good in spring practice.“AH of the people we brought in at quarterback are exceptional athletes,” said Chaump. “They all can play other positions as well.’Three of the six. Upper St. Clair's Scott Rhodes, Fox Chapel's Mike Pitcairn and New Castle's Chris Brown, are from WPIAL Class AAAA programs.Another pair, Erie Prep’s Mike Stadtmiller and Corry’s Charles Buckshaw, were two of the best scholastic QBs in northwestern Pennsylvania this past fall.The sixth. Brian Tooth man from Salem, Ohio, was sought by several Division II schools.Gateway’s Kevin Ilaehe, another outstanding WPIAL Class AAAA performer, will join brother Chris, a linebacker, on lUP’s defense. Kevin is projected as a defensive back.Three of the recruited linebackers hail from western New York. Chaump signed Todtl Lowry of Orchard Park, Pete Weinstein of Willi-amsville anti Don Snell of Alden.Of these 46. how many will turn out lo be stalwarts of the program?“That you never know,” Chaump remarked. “But I do know we got some awfully good kids.“We looked for kids who not only were good football players, but goocl students and all-around individuals as well, said Chaump.Who knows? Maybe it will beftToothman to Trave for a winning TD in Or will it be Girting or Carlisle on a 55-vard game-clinching TD run? Will Sommariva pick off a pass against Lehigh and return it 37 vards for a score?No doubt Chaump has such thoughts on his mind.GRAFFITI ~ Saturday's varsity-alumni contest tsee related story on page 24) will start at 2 p.m. in Miller Stadium...Chaump is stilJ hoping to add “two or three more blue-ehippers” to his recruiting class...In addition to Lehigh. Towson iMd.i .State will also appear on iUP's 1985 schedule for the first time.
Newspaper Details
Indiana Gazette
Indiana, Pennsylvania, US
Fri, May 04, 1984
Page 34
Full Page
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Anonymous
PA, USA 12 Mar 2022
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