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10th Annual Penn State Uplifting Athletes Lift for Life event July 14, BASEBALL breaking the chapter's 2011 record of $100,930 raised. Eighty-one players brought in at FOOTBALL least one donation. Junior offensive lineman Eric Shrive of Scranton, Pa., A two-month search ended Aug. 9 when Penn State hired Rob Cooper as led the way, raising $31,868. its new baseball coach. Cooper comes to University Park from Wright State, where he transformed the Raiders into perennial contendershastheir conMore than $700,000 in been ference, the Horizon League. raised by Penn State Uplifting AthNine former Penn State players par- no less ambitious. His goals for the Nittany Lions are letes since the inaugural event took ticipated in NFL rookie mini-camps in said at his2003. "I want to see us go to Omaha," he place in introductory news conferMay, and former quarterback Matt ence, referring to the College World Series. "I want us to win a Super RegionMcGloin continues to defy the odds, al here [at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park] and go to Omaha. I as he recently inked a free agent conreally believe it can happen, I really do. Otherwise I wouldn't tract with the Oakland Raiders. have taken the job. It's not going Defensive tackle Jordan Hill and to happen overnight. It's going to Gerald Hodges and linebackers take some work and time. I'm not going to push a fast-forward Penn to get there. Michael Mauti –buttonState's three Our focus right now is do the best today, take care of today draft picks – began their NFL careers and win today." at mini-camp. Hill was with the Seattle a program that had sufAt Wright State, Cooper took over Seahawks, who picked him 87th seven-year span and built it fered six losing seasons in a overall into one of the while Hodges and top teams. He coached the in April's draft, Horizon League's Mauti are with the Minnesota Vikings. Raiders to seven 30-win seasons and two regular-season Tackle Mike Farrellgoing 286-230 overall. The team made six conference titles, received a tryout with the Pittsburgh Steelers, corappearances in the Horizon League title game under Cooper ROB COOPER nerback Stephon Morris and center and won three of those games. During his tenure, 47 playMatt Stankiewtich camped with the ers earned All-Conference accolades and 18 garnered All-Newcomer honors. New England Patriots, and fullback He has also produced five Horizon Michael Zordich spent time with the League Players of the Year, one Pitcher of the Year, three Relief Pitchers Carolina Panthers. Defensive endof the Year and two Newcomers of the Year. Pete Cooper said he and his campworked to change the culture at Wright State, Massaro also earned a staff spot with the Philadelphia Eagles. Ohio, school that the perceived competiconvincing others at the Dayton, McGloin first camped with the tive disparity between Northern and Southern programs could be overcome. Washington Redskins andguys to believe that they could win and to expect to "We had to get those Carolina Panthershe said.gettingof the thing you do is take away the excuses. We're a win," before "Part a shot with Oakland. The Raiders signed him to a what? Those things only become probNorthern school. It's cold. Well, so three-year contract. lems if you say they are." At Penn State, he inherits a team that went 14-36 overall and 4-20 in the Big Ten FOOTBALL in Robbie Wine's final season as head coach. The Nittany Lions have had some success at the conference level – they were third in the 2012 regular-season standings in 2012 – but have struggled to get back to the NCAA tournament. While the program has made 19 all-time tournament appearances, it has made only one since 1976. Athletic director Dave Joyner said he's hopeful that Cooper will be able to recreate his success at Wright State. Steven Bench, the sophomore quar"Rob has an outstanding background with great collegiate and USA Baseterback who left Penn State following theball experience and success," Joyner said. "He has done a fantastic job spring semester, has found a new school: the University ofState program into a perennial conference champibuilding the Wright South Florida. Bench will be eligible to compete that he will have similar successes at onship contender, and we expect right away, as the NCAA's transfer Penn State. Rob embodies the qualities and character of the coaches that waiverare looking for at Penn State. He is looking forward to mentoring our we remains in effect. Before choosing USF, he also visited North student-athletes to give them a well-rounded experience to prepare them Carolina State and Mississippi State. for life beyond college." Field, the football team staged the Cooper named Lions' head coach Nine former Lions in NFL mini-camps Bench to enroll at South Florida IN BRIEF • Former Penn State administrators Graham Spanier, Tim Curley and Gary Schultz pleaded not guilty to perjury, obstruction of justice and related charges on Aug. 5 in Harrisburg, Pa. They also waived their right to a formal arraignment. Spanier, Schultz and Curley appeared in front of District Judge William Wenner on July 29 and 30 for a preliminary hearing. After the review of evidence, which prosecutors said reveals a "conspiracy of silence," Wenner ordered the three men to stand trial on charges of covering up child abuse allegations against Jerry Sandusky. In announcing his decision, Wenner said, "It's a tragic day for Penn State, to say the least." No trial date had been set as of Aug. 13, but lawyers have said it likely won't be sooner than early 2014. • Former Penn State and Green Bay Packers defensive end Dave Robinson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 3. The standout defensive end earned first-team All-America laurels in 1962 for Penn State. He was a three-year letterman under head coach Rip Engle and was a three-time Pro Bowler, becoming the sixth former Nittany Lion to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "This is the last team you will ever be elected to," Robinson said. "The Hall of Fame is the top; there's nothing beyond it." • The football team will play host to San Diego State on Sept. 26, 2015, marking the first-ever meeting between the two schools. Penn State has one nonconference game left to be scheduled to complete the 2015 slate. PSU has also announced a two-game series against Virginia Tech. The Hokies, who have never faced Penn State, will play host to the Lions on Sept. 17, 2022, and will visit Beaver I Stadium on Sept. 16, 2023.

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