SELINSGROVE, (Pa.) - Susquehanna will bid a fond farewell to the only football field it has played on since 1923 - a site which has seen Crusader football for the last 100 years. Special activities are planned when the team hosts arch-rival Lycoming in the home finale on Saturday, November 6. While that celebration tops the fall sports story ideas at Susquehanna, it certainly isn't the only one.
A STAGG FIELD FINALE. Susquehanna will say good-bye to the current Amos Alonzo Stagg Field November 6 with a ceremony honoring the football program's top 100 players of all-time, and a groundbreaking for the new stadium. A corner of the current field was part of the original campus field in 1899, while the present layout was created when University Field was unveiled in 1923. University Field became Stagg Field on September 26, 1981, in honor of Susquehanna's famous father and son football coaching tandem. A new 3,500-seat stadium will open in the fall of 2000 and be named for Nicholas A. Lopardo '68, a former Crusader football and baseball player who is a member of the university's board of directors and Sports Hall of Fame. The stadium will be located near the current site and also retain the Stagg Field name. On November 6, the school's "Top 100 Players of the First 100 Seasons" will be honored in a pre-game ceremony. Ground will be broken for the new stadium at halftime behind the home bench by Lopardo, Susquehanna Director of Athletics Don Harnum, President Joel Cunningham, and possibly others. Susquehanna and Lycoming will renew America's best small college rivalry for the 39th time that day, with Stagg's Old Hat Trophy going to the winner. CONTACT: Mike Ferlazzo, sports information director, (570) 372-4119, ferlazzo@susqu.edu
THE CHEMISTRY OF KICKING. It's no coincidence that the Susquehanna football kicking game has improved since Professor of Chemistry Neil Potter wandered in to offer his assistance three seasons ago. A fixture in the school's academic ranks for 34 years, Potter coached the Crusader men's soccer team for 12 years, amassing a school-record 64 wins in his career. In his Chemistry Road Shows, he has visited over 200 high schools in 23 years to spread his love of science and Susquehanna. He sometimes performs some of the "tricks" from this travelling "magic" show to the football team as a kind of motivator. It apparently has worked as Ryan Hollis was 19th in Division III punting average a year ago (39.1 avg.) and among the Middle Atlantic Conference leaders this season. Freshman Andy Nadler has made steady improvement during his debut season as placekicker under Potter's tutelage. CONTACT: Dr. Neil Potter, professor of chemistry, (570) 372-4224, potter@susqu.edu
THE FIELD HOCKEY "FAB FOUR." The Crusader field hockey team opened this season with a school record seven-game win streak, achieving its highest national ranking ever as it was eighth in the United States Field Hockey Coaches Association poll the past two weeks. All this from a team which went just 8-8 a year ago. It's no coincidence that 25th-year head coach Connie Harnum brought in her most talented recruiting class - with four of them starting as freshmen. Up front, Leah Bailor (Middleburg/Middleburg H.S.) and Katie McKeever (Worcester/Methacton H.S.) have been the squad's leading scorers - ranking second (1.89 ppg) and fifth (1.56 ppg) in the MAC Commonwealth Conference respectively. Lindsey Barr (Emmaus/Emmaus H.S.) and Megan Patrono (West Milford. N.J./West Milford Twp. H.S.) have been starting midfielders. CONTACT: Connie Harnum, head field hockey coach, (570) 372-4272, harnumc@susqu.edu
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