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CWIR
It should be watched closely:
Central Wireless is contemplating a proposed financing transaction pursuant to which the Company would enter into a Securities Purchase Agreement and a Private Equity Line of Credit Agreement with one or more of the following parties: AJW Partners, LLC/AJW Qualified Partners, LLC, AJW Offshore, Ltd/New Millennium Capital Partners II, LLC and Equilibrium Equity, LLC. Pursuant to the terms of the proposed Securities Purchase Agreement, some of these entities would purchase a total of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000) of 12% convertible debentures from the Company and warrants to purchase Six Hundred Thousand (600,000) shares of the Company's common stock. The convertible debentures would have a one-year term and the warrants would have to be exercised within five (5) years from the date of issuance.
Under the proposed Private Equity Line of Credit Agreement, the investors would purchase, subject to certain terms and conditions contained within the agreement, up to Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) of the Company's common stock during thirty-six (36) month commitment period. There is not guaranty that this transaction will in fact occur, or that Central Wireless will be able to obtain financing from any other sources.
This was the financing agreement they announced the other day.
AGIS
That is absolutely phenomenal! I missed it & now find myself humming Cher's "If I Could Take Back Time". lol
Great work, EZ. Sure do appreciate your efforts.
greg,
Nice win Sat. night! We watched it from a bar after our game - the whole place was rooting for the upset. I never dreamed it'd be so lopsided but it sure did bring a smile to my face. <g>
Congrats.
ksquared,
First off, congrats on your win. Didn't see any of it but it certainly was a crucial one for the Wolverines. Keep it up!
As far as our game - well, it was a heartbreaker. It was definitely the best game they played this year & if they hadn't had to burn all their TO's in the 2nd half, they very well could have kicked that FG @ the end for the win. BTW, that kind of poor time mgmt. is usually a "coaching" thing.
Oh well, I think it's safe to say that we are the best 2-7 team in the country! LOL!
Thanks ksquared,
You have a great weekend also. BTW, another problem @ Penn State:
This just in from the Daily Collegian....
State College (PA) -- Penn State football practice was delayed
nearly two hours yesterday after a player reported finding an
unknown white powdery substance on the practice field.
Head coach Joe Paterno immediately suspended practice while police and federal investigators were called to investigate. After a complete analysis, FBI forensic experts determined that the white substance unknown to players was the goal line.
Practice was resumed after special agents decided the team was
unlikely to encounter the substance again.
;)
Mornin' ksquared,
Good weekend coming up for all of us. Current odds:
Ohio State 7 over PSU
Michigan 4 over Michigan State
Texas 5.5 over Nebraska
Miami 3.5 over Va. Tech
The good news for me - warming trend, temps. mid 60's and 3:30 start. Excellent for tailgating. The bad news - they have not as yet cancelled the game. lol
MSMC now GMZC
ONEBGG,
I'm confused. I get the same thing when I try to respond to you. I have no one blocked to my knowledge.
Sun spots? lol
Thanks guys. I have no doubt I'm wrong - just don't think that ever happened to me before. A virgin thing, if you will. lol
Sail,
Wouldn't they have to finish filling mine @ a higher price before filling someone else @ a lower price?
I had a limit buy @ .10 and got a partial. They then dropped it to .08/.09 before taking it back to .08/.11. I did not get the balance of my order which was only 8000 shares. Can they do that?
XYNY
Xynergy Corp. to Merge with Intervest Group, Ltd.
Tuesday October 28, 7:04 am ET
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 28, 2003--Xynergy Corp. (OTCBB:XYNY - News) announced today the signing of a Letter of Intent to merge with Intervest Group, Ltd. ("Intervest"). Intervest is a Nevada corporation with several communications equity joint ventures in China. (www.intervestchina.com)
Holding assets in excess of $61 million, reflected in Intervest's June 2003 audited financials, its joint ventures are truly a success. The Intervest success formula is simple -- it joint ventures with Chinese companies in the telecommunications sector that have a proven market performance. Intervest infuses capital assets in exchange for percentage ownership and profit sharing. Currently, Intervest has joint ventured with four Chinese companies: Integrated Information (China) International, Ltd.; Nanyang (Shantou) Electric Cable Co.; HuaLian Communication Co., Ltd.; and Wanshitong Communications Co. Dynamic growth for these companies is no mystery. According to a recent article in People's Daily, this industry sector is growing rapidly, "By the end of June, communication services income totaled 218.94 billion yuan ($25.8 billion U.S.D.), up 15.6 percent from the same period last year." (english.peopledaily.com.cn)
"Needless to say, we are very excited about this merger. We have signed a Letter of Intent and will be signing a definitive agreement shortly," commented Xynergy CEO Raquel Zepeda. Intervest CEO John A. Jones stated, "Intervest has been fortunate to be in a position to prosper from the recent boom in the Chinese economy. Our combining of Intervest and Xynergy resources with this merger will empower us to move forward to the NASDAQ and Hong Kong Exchanges. All shareholders will benefit from this merger. From here, we can grow together and continue to draw from China's diverse and lucrative markets."
Xynergy Corporation is a holding company for the following companies: Raquel of Beverly Hills cosmetics and Think Blots greeting cards. For more information, call or write Xynergy Corporation, 269 S. Beverly Drive, Suite 938, Beverly Hills, CA 90212; 310-274-0086. (xynergycorp@aol.com)
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The statements contained herein which are not historical fact are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact:
Xynergy Corp.
Raquel Zepeda, 310-274-0086
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Xynergy Corp.
XYNY
Intervest Group:
Symbol (pinks) IGRP
Total assets - $39,014,784
Cash - $7,000,000
Debt - $0
Total A/S - 200 million
Total O/S - 35,915,852
EPS (9 mo.) - $.027
Looks good. Reverse merger to get listed on the BB?
The only difference I found was "common stock for services" on the cash flow statement. They originally listed it as $132,000 and the corrected amount is $109,270.
Explanatory note:
Registrant is filing this Amendment No.1 to its Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended August 31, 2003 for the exclusive purpose of amending the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended August 31, 2003 on page 7 of this Report. No other information in the Form 10-QSB filed on October 16, 2003 has been amended
Fingaz,
185 million for options, 15 million in stock - total 200 million. I didn't read any further than that.
I was in this some time ago & lost a little bit but I still had it set for alert thru SEC INFO.
I'm sure it had more to do with the type of loss than the loss itself, greg. Either way, we both know that that can change dramatically after this weekend.
I'm thinking the glass is half-full for you, btw. <g>
ARSW:
Ars Networks Inc [ formerly Ameri-Can Railway Systems Inc ]
released on Monday, 10/27/3, a 7-document, 23-page 'S-8'
Registration of Securities to be Offered to Employees Pursuant to an Employee Benefit Plan -- Form S-8
effective as of Monday, 10/27/3
Rankings: Week 11 (Oct. 28 - Nov. 3)
1. Oklahoma
2. Miami
3. USC
4. Georgia
5. Florida State
6. Washington State
7. Ohio State
8. LSU
9. Nebraska
10. Michigan State
11. Virginia Tech
12. Michigan
13. TCU
14. Iowa
15. Oklahoma State
16. Texas
17. Purdue
18. Tennessee
19. Minnesota
20. Bowling Green
21. Florida
22. Northern Illinois
23. Pittsburgh
24. Missouri
25. Louisville
Thanks for that info., excel. Sounds like something the Company should publicize.
If we could only do that with some of our investment decisions. <g>
Mornin' ksquared,
I had to listen to our game on the radio - only have 1 ABC station here & if Pitt is playing, they always televise that game instead. Just as well, considering the expected outcome. :(
I did watch your game - very surprised @ the total domination by your Wolverines. Looks like they may be on a roll going into the big game next weekend. Will be a good one.
We play Ohio State @ home. May have to take extra "liquid refreshment" for that one. Nothing worse than sitting thru a massacre completely sober! lol! I could just scream. <g>
Dave,
Something else to consider. They did a private placement in May that has all the characteristics of a toxic convertible. The holder is out of Liechtenstein which has always been a red flag for that kind of financing.
Here is a line from the registration statement:
Any significant downward pressure on the price of our common stock as the selling stockholders sell the shares of our common stock could encourage short sales by the selling stockholders or others. Any such short sales could place further downward pressure on the price of our common stock.
There could be games being played on this one, IMO.
ksquared,
Cheap grub on this one...
and it is probably only significant to me.
Yep, that one's a bit of a reach, IMO. <g> Anyway, good luck today - your game will be a great one.
arthritis,
iowa by 12 (sorry nlion its only money)
lol! Hey, I don't blame you a bit. Besides, it's only football. ;)
I don't own this anymore but I still follow it. Regarding your comment about new stock being issued, I would read this from the PR dated 10/6:
The terms of the investment banking agreement have been submitted to the Board of Directors for approval. On a best efforts basis, Ravinia Capital LLC has agreed to assist MicroSignal in raising $1,000,000 in bridge financing. The terms of the financing will be finalized after the company implements measures recommended by Messrs. Stapleton and McBee. These measures include the reduction of balance sheet debt owed to existing shareholders by the issuance of stock to them that had previously been held in treasury. It is anticipated that this reduction in debt will make new financings more attractive to investors. MicroSignal believes that the reduction of debt will result in less than $300,000 being owed to creditors subject to its auditors review and consent.
I'd think it's quite possible that this might be the source of the shares you are referring to in your post.
HYTT
New website seems to be up:
http://www.e-hytech.com/
We recently had a discussion over here regarding the issuance of S-8 shares for stock promotion. I think it's kind of interesting to note that this business today with Willy Wizzard pertains to that very issue:
THE UNREGISTERED DISTRIBUTION OF ENERGY & ENGINE SECURITIES
13. In January 2002, Energy & Engine filed a Form S-8 Registration Statement for the proposed offering of up to 1,000,000 common shares of stock ("Energy & Engine S-8 shares"). The Form S-8 permitted Energy & Engine to issue unrestricted stock to certain employees and consultants. However, under the Securities Act (and as stated in the instructions to Form S-8), Energy & Engine could not use this Form S-8 to issue unrestricted stock to stock promoters.
14. Energy & Engine then hired Siembida and his company, Russell Management, to promote the company on the Internet. To pay for these services, Energy & Engine issued to Siembida 200,000 Energy & Engine S-8 shares on January 10, 2002.
15. Siembida subcontracted with Engel, who operates a stock picking website, WillyWizard.com, to promote Energy & Engine. To compensate Engel, Siembida transferred 185,000 of his Energy & Engine S-8 shares to Engel on January 18, 2002.
16. Engel, in turn, subcontracted with Lorsin's Hjalmarson to profile Energy & Engine on the website Hjalmarson operated, GreedOrFear.com. Engel also hired Nelson to profile Energy & Engine on the websites Nelson operated under the MicroCap Marketing name.
17. On January 25, 2002, Engel transferred a portion of his Energy & Engine S-8 shares to Hjalmarson and Nelson to pay for their promotional efforts. Hjalmarson's shares were deposited into a brokerage account in the name of Lorsin, and in which Hjalmarson was authorized to trade. Nelson's shares were deposited into his personal brokerage account.
18. By January 18, 2002, Engel had posted a profile touting Energy & Engine on his website, WillyWizard.com.
19. Nelson posted on his PennyGems.com website a profile touting Energy & Engine on or about January 21, 2002. Hjalmarson, who operated Lorsin, distributed to subscribers of Lorsin's GreedOrFear.com stock-promotion website an Energy & Engine press release on or about January 23, 2002.
20. From January 16, 2002 through January 24, 2002, and while Energy & Engine's stock was being promoted on the Internet, the price of Energy & Engine's stock rose 68 percent, from $0.29 to $0.49 per share, on average daily trading volume that was 659 percent higher than that of the preceding six months.
21. Following the promotional efforts described above, Engel, Hjalmarson, Nelson, and Siembida sold their Energy & Engine S-8 shares on the open market for $8,167.50, $998, $2,042, and $3,390.40, respectively.
22. Although certain issuers may register a securities offering under particular circumstances using the simplified procedure offered by Form S-8, such registration is not available for securities offered as compensation for stock promotion services. The transaction in which Energy & Engine issued shares to Siembida was not eligible for Form S-8 registration.
23. No applicable registration statement was filed with the Commission or was in effect as to the Energy & Engine shares sold by Siembida, Engel, Hjalmarson, and Nelson. Because Siembida obtained the stock from the issuer in an unregistered offering with a view to distributing the stock to the public, Siembida was an underwriter, as defined by the Securities Act, in this public distribution of Energy & Engine stock. Engel, Hjalmarson, and Nelson, who participated in this distribution, also could not sell their stock to the public unless the sales were registered. Therefore, the sales of Energy & Engine stock by Siembida, Engel, Hjalmarson, and Nelson violated Sections 5(a) and 5(c) of the Securities Act.
THE UNREGISTERED DISTRIBUTION OF PROACTIVE SECURITIES
24. In March 2001, ProActive, through its president, hired Nelson to promote the company. ProActive agreed to compensate Nelson for its services with a combination of restricted and purportedly unrestricted ProActive shares. Nelson signed the agreement with ProActive on behalf of his company, MicroCap Marketing.
25. ProActive arranged for a third-party shareholder to transfer 300,000 shares of ProActive stock to Nelson's personal brokerage account. Nelson realized that an issuer cannot provide unrestricted stock directly without registering the transaction.
26. In early March 2002, Nelson began the ProActive campaign by posting profiles of ProActive on MicroCap Marketing's websites and touting the stock in his electronic newsletter.
27. Nelson sold the ProActive shares shortly after he received them from the third-party shareholder on the open market for $1,340.50.
28. No registration statement was filed with the Commission or was in effect as to the ProActive shares sold by Nelson. Because he obtained the stock from a person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by ProActive, or under direct or indirect common control with ProActive, with a view to distributing the stock to the public, the stock was not exempt from registration. As a result, the securities were restricted and could not be sold to the public within a year after they were acquired by Nelson. Therefore, the securities transactions described above violated Sections 5(a) and 5(c) of the Securities Act.
VIOLATIONS
29. As a result of the conduct described above, Respondents violated Sections 5(a) and 5(c) of the Securities Act, which prohibit the offer or sale of securities through the mails or in interstate commerce, unless a registration statement has been filed or is in effect as to such securities.
IV.
In view of the foregoing, the Commission deems it appropriate to impose the sanctions specified in Respondents' Offers.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that Respondents cease and desist from committing or causing any violations and any future violations of Sections 5(a) and 5(c) of the Securities Act.
By the Commission.
Jonathan G. Katz
Secretary
Endnote
1 The findings herein are made pursuant to Respondents' Offers and are not binding on any other person or entity in this or any other proceeding.
http://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/33-8311.htm
greg,
Sorry about the loss tonight - even after the Miami game, it was still a shocker to me. Speaking of Miami, there's your season. Go get 'em!
BTW, I was absolutely livid with that azzhole announcer who @ least twice mentioned that the students setting fires after a big win was a tradition in Morgantown. He said it as tho he condoned it - totally inexcusable. I hope they fire his azz!
yayaa,
I am unclear on why you need the Transfer Agent information for our company.
He must be new @ this. ;)
Mornin' Churak,
Not sure if this helps much - seems to be a "catch-all" category:
Transaction Codes
Use the codes listed below to indicate in Table I, Column 3 and Table II, Column 4 the character of the transaction reported.Use the code that most appropriately describes the transaction. If the transaction is not specifically listed, use transactionCode “J” and describe the nature of the transaction in the space for explanation of responses. If a transaction is voluntarilyreported earlier than required, place “V” in the appropriate column to so indicate; otherwise, the column should be left blank.If a transaction involves an equity swap or instrument with similar characteristics, use transaction code “K” in addition tothe code(s) that most appropriately describes the transaction, e.g., “S/K” or “P/K.”
http://www.sec.gov/about/forms/form4data.pdf
Thank you arthritis. JoPa always thought well of the Bear also. I'll never forget the '79 Sugarbowl when Ala. stopped us 4 times from the 1 yard line to take a national championship from us. I was miserable for weeks! lol!
Anyway, a belated welcome to the thread & Happy Birthday too!
Thanks for your kind thoughts, ksquared.
Yep, we play @ Iowa this weekend - hopefully, they will make a game of it. I see you guys have the Boilermakers @ home. That should be a good one too. Best of luck!
I bet he's asking for "Big Money! Big Money! Big Money!"
ksquared,
I have mixed feelings about all this. I've had the pleasure of being a part of Paterno football from the very beginning - my freshman year was his 2nd year as head coach. I've known nothing but winning for over 30 years. However, this season will in all likelihood be the 3rd losing season in the last 4 years - the 2000 season was the 1st in over 50 years.
No one will ever be able to take away from him what he's done for Penn State football, the University & college football in general, IMO. It's been a great ride. I was there when he won # 300 vs. Ohio University & I was there when he won #324 vs. Ohio State to pass Bear Bryant - I'm not ashamed to admit that I had to wipe a few tears away on both occasions (along with over 100,000 other fans). I will also be there for his last home game & for any ceremony when they rightfully rename the stadium in his honor and the results will probably be the same.
A large part of coaching is decision making and Joe has always done a great job of making the right one. However, it appears he is having trouble with the biggest decision of his life.
I truly believe that next year will be his last tho.
'Trustees are troubled' by Lions' losses
Sunday, October 19, 2003
BY JAN MURPHY
Of The Patriot-News
The football coach spent decades shaping young men's lives, accumulating a
winning record of legendary proportions.
He was revered by alumni and fans. He pushed the university into national
prominence.
Then the aging coach's team started losing. Fans became restless. But some
felt he should be able to retire on his own terms. He didn't want to leave.
The university president, under pressure from alumni, stepped up and urged
him to retire. The coach was given one more season.
That's the story of how the winningest college football coach of all time,
Grambling State University's famed Eddie Robinson, approached his exit.
It is a cautionary tale as Joe Paterno nears the end of his storied career.
Some Penn Staters are contemplating how and when he might leave -- and who
might tell him to go.
University officials and deep-pocketed supporters publicly divert attention
from the situation by bragging about the football program's overall success,
its strong record of graduating athletes and its part in the Penn State
tradition.
But privately, conversations among trustees and donors touch on the visible
signs that the program is eroding.
Next year could be 'critical':
Since 2000, the team has a 21-22 won-loss record. This year, Paterno is on
pace to have the worst season of his 37-year head coaching career.
This from the coach with 338 career victories, tied for the most in
major-college football. Florida State coach Bobby Bowden won his 338th last
night, a 19-14 victory over Virginia.
At 76, Paterno shows little interest in calling it quits. He told a recruit
last year he hopes to coach at least through 2006.
"Right now, I have plans to coach forever," Paterno said Friday at a Penn
State luncheon in Pittsburgh. "I'm sure other people have some doubts. I'm
excited about the team."
But Paterno's five-year contract expires next year. "Next year will be a
critical year," a trustee said.
Trustees see the thousands of empty seats on game days, many of them in the
student section.
Licensing revenue from the sale of Penn State merchandise has dropped. Phone
calls come to the administration daily from disgruntled fans, said vice
president of university relations Steve MacCarthy.
There is confusion on the sidelines. Trustees said some players seem
uncertain whether they should be on the field or off. Time-outs are called
because of delays in calling in plays. That's the coaches' fault, trustees
said. And then there's Paterno's growing tendency to get in officials' faces
over calls.
"The trustees are concerned, maybe a lot more concerned than they are
showing," said a board member who requested anonymity.
A stellar fund-raiser:
Trustees' board chairman Edward Hintz said coaching changes are university
President Graham Spanier's call in consultation with the athletic director.
Hintz said the trustees should assume no role in coaching decisions.
"I would advise strongly they should not get involved," he said. "That is
one of the reasons we do well in athletics at Penn State. We hire good
people to make those decisions and keep the trustees out of them."
But the 32 trustees move in circles outside the campus. They hear from
alumni and fans about what is happening on Saturdays. They hire the
university president.
Several trustees said they consider it inconceivable to think the board
would get involved in Paterno's fate. That's a decision that falls squarely
on Spanier, they say.
Last week, Spanier avoided answering the question. "Penn State is proud of
its football tradition," he said in an e-mail. "We have not seen
diminishment in our success" in attendance at games, applications for
admission and fund raising.
"All of us who are sports fans prefer to win, but it is important to
maintain perspective," Spanier said.
For years, Penn Staters have said Paterno should be the one to decide when
it's time to go, considering all he has done for Penn State. Of course, that
was when the football team won most of its games.
Yet his record remains stellar when it comes to fund-raising.
"He's the No. 1 fund-raiser for the university, without a doubt," a trustee
said.
Hintz said if he had to put a figure on what Paterno has raised for Penn
State, it could be $100 million or more.
Another trustee recalled sending Paterno on a plane in quest for a certain
amount of donations, and he came back with twice the amount because he took
the time to sign a football or have his picture taken with a donor's
daughter or son.
"The guy has celebrity status, the status of a living legend. ... When he
speaks, he has powers of persuasion that are absolutely astounding," said
Roger Williams, executive director of the 146,000-member Penn State Alumni
Association, the largest alumni group in the country.
Paterno and his wife, Sue, also have been generous with their personal
wealth. In recent years, they gave more than $4 million to the university
for a library expansion, campus interfaith spiritual center and
scholarships.
"He's given a lot himself and set a good example by doing so," Hintz said.
Paterno's power:
Paterno and the football program help to finance Penn State's 29
intercollegiate sports. Last year, football alone raised 59 percent of the
$65.4 million athletic budget, said George Patrick, financial officer for
the athletic department.
Add contributions to the Nittany Lion Club -- which qualifies fans to buy
football and basketball tickets -- and the football program pays 82 percent
of the athletic budget.
"If it wasn't for football, we'd probably be cutting sports," said Kay
Kustanbauter, executive director of the Nittany Lion Club.
Paterno's icon status, the money he pulls in, and the prestige he brings to
the university have given him power.
"The real problem with him having so much power is that no one has the
authority to question him," a trustee said.
Make that no one but Spanier. And Spanier has.
Last spring, Spanier said Paterno should not have played Anwar Phillips in
the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1, after Phillips had been accused of sexual
assault. Phillips, who has since been acquitted of all charges, was expelled
Dec. 12 from the university, but the expulsion did not take effect until
mid-January.
"That took guts," a trustee said of Spanier's criticism of Paterno.
Making a decision to remove a coaching legend also requires guts.
People said as much about Grambling University President Raymond Hicks when
he pushed Robinson to leave. But that had consequences.
Hicks resigned under fire in 1997 during Robinson's final season. Newspaper
accounts suggest Hicks' departure had to do with issues like declining
enrollment and a budget deficit. But there was Robinson's retirement, too.
Robinson's Grambling State Tigers won three of 11 games in his final season.
College's all-time winningest coach left on a losing note.
JAN MURPHY: 787-3061 or jmurphy@patriot-news.com
Former players question Paterno
Sunday, October 19, 2003
BY DAVID JONES
Of The Patriot-News
When is it time to quit?
For football players, the signs become unmistakable. Because they're
physical. They're directly related to performance. And the Monday videotape
doesn't lie.
"I know it'll be my time fairly soon," said New York Jets guard Dave Szott.
"And when it comes, I won't be able to deny it."
In one way, Szott is the playing counterpart to his college coach: Among
Penn State alums -- not counting kickers -- he has played as long as anyone
in the 84-year history of the NFL. This is the offensive guard's 14th season
as a pro.
So Szott knows something about toughness, hanging in, hanging on.
And he thinks somebody needs to tell Joe Paterno that it's time.
"He has brought Penn State to where it is and he deserves great credit for
that," Szott said last week from his Hempstead, N.Y., home. "But now, the
program is on its way down. And how many seasons, how many free rides, how
many years do you give a guy?
"I know I'll probably be criticized for this. But somebody has to stand out
and tell the truth. It's everybody's time sooner or later. And that time has
come for Joe Paterno. And it probably came after the '94 season."
That was the 12-0 season, the only time Paterno's Nittany Lions won a Big
Ten title.
Out-of-date philosophies:
Dallas Cowboys running back Richie Anderson, another Penn State alum, has
been a favorite of coach Bill Parcells throughout a career that spanned 10
seasons with the Jets -- two as Szott's teammate -- and this season with the
Cowboys.
Contacted Thursday in Dallas, Anderson said he never expected Paterno to be
coaching as Anderson approached the end of his own playing career. And he
believes his former coach's philosophies simply don't jibe with today's
game.
"I never would've imagined him being there now," he said. "Just since I was
at Penn State, players are different, talent is different. ... A lot of
things are different than when you could just play downhill football. You
have to be able to balance the run and pass. The speed you have on defense
is a major factor."
Anderson also said he believes that Paterno's penchant for forcing gifted
players such as Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Larry Johnson to wait
their turn as underclassmen has helped cause his alma mater to fall behind
the competition.
"It irritated me then and I'm not going to let it irritate me now," said
Anderson, who led the Nittany Lions in rushing in 1991-92. "He has his ways.
They're obviously not going to change."
Szott and Anderson were two of 19 current NFL players The Patriot-News
contacted through their teams, requesting interviews about Paterno's future.
Most declined comment, wishing not to touch the sensitive subject of their
former mentor.
Unprecedented drought:
Kyle Brady, a former Cedar Cliff High School tight end who plays for the
Jacksonville Jaguars, played on the last great Penn State team, in 1994.
"There was great talent on that team," Brady said on Tuesday. "But the
recent teams had talent, too."
In fact, six PSU players were chosen among the top 57 in April's NFL Draft,
a feat unequaled by any college program except Miami (six in the top 51 in
2001).
"You'd have thought that when those six players were picked in the first two
rounds, the Penn State teams they played on would have produced better than
they did," Brady said.
Yet, since the Minnesota game on Nov. 6, 1999, Penn State has slogged
through 22 victories and 25 losses.
For spoiled Nittany Lions fans, it is an unprecedented drought.
Seattle Seahawks wideout Bobby Engram was Brady's teammate on that '94
squad. He lives in Pittsburgh during the off-season.
Contacted on Tuesday in Seattle, he said he still has "all my old Penn State
gear, and I still wear it, too. Even though I catch a lot of flak from my
[Seahawks] teammates when I do."
"Obviously, they're not getting it done," Engram said of the current team.
"When I watch them, they seem to be lacking that confidence that they know
they're going to win.
"When we stepped on the field, every game, we knew we were going to win. I
don't know if I sense that when I see them now."
Who is accountable?:
Over the last decade, Paterno has often been asked when he plans to retire.
On Friday, he told reporters he will be coaching Penn State football next
year and "plans to coach forever."
"I'm going to leave coaching when it's no fun or when someone says, 'Hey,
you've lost 150 games in a row. You've got to get out of there,'" he said.
Recent recruits have said they were told his successor will come from within
the current Lions staff.
In an unusual announcement, Penn State made public a five-year contract
extension for Paterno in 1999. The extension runs through the 2004 season.
Many expect Paterno's successor to be assistant head coach Fran Ganter, the
good soldier who rejected Michigan State's offer to be head coach in 1995.
Ganter is 54.
Szott said he thinks former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky left Penn
State after the 1999 season because Sandusky believed he'd never have a
chance at the head coach job. Szott thinks Ganter has been waiting too long
for the same opportunity.
"Franny's the guy for the job," Szott said. "He's the obvious guy.
"Jerry saw the writing on the wall, that not any time soon was it going to
be him. And it's definitely hurt that team since Jerry's left. He was a
phenomenal motivator, a great mind.
"Franny has the same qualities," Szott said. "And he has loyalty."
Many suspect Paterno has been attempting to groom his son Jay, the
quarterbacks coach and a key component of the offensive play-calling, to
follow in his footsteps.
No one surrounding the program wants to publicly touch the question of
Paterno's retirement. The question is whether, even in private, the trustees
and President Graham Spanier want to enter the debate.
"Everybody needs to be accountable to somebody," Szott said. "When it's a
player, it's easy to point out when a guy loses his ability. ... But how
does that happen with a coach like this one?
"Where are the checks and balances," Szott asked, "and who is accountable
for Joe Paterno?"
DAVID JONES: 255-8187 or djones8681@aol.com
Yep. Gettin' close to the 7.4 million traded last Wed. or Thurs. - which was the highest since July.
I wonder why they show the BCD warehouse locations on the Hy-Tech website:
http://www.e-hytech.com/ehytech/contact.asp?CartId={EC410253-0FA5-4ADD-997B-99ED6CAD5116}
http://www.e-hytech.com/ehytech/images/bcdware.jpg
ksquared,
Bowden ties Paterno...
I think I'm gonna hurl. <g>
Mornin ksquared,
Yep, there were some good games on Sat. I watched the Pur/Wis. game - very exciting. Turned over to the Mich. State/Minn. afterwards since the score was getting closer. Couldn't believe Minn. almost pulled it out. It looks like the Big Ten is wide open this year. I can't remember a time when there were so many good teams in the conference (one notable exception, of course). I wouldn't venture to predict who will eventually win it. Did you realize that neither offense in the Iowa/Ohio State game scored on Sat.? All points were a result of special teams & defense - that's just weird!
Didn't see any of your game but it looks like they didn't have any problem with Ill. Wish they were on our schedule this year. <g>
Have a good week.