Alford-Sullivan to coach both Men's & Women's Program at PSU

For all the alums that will be in State College this weekend, let's remember that this is Harry's weekend. This is a weekend for us to get together as the Penn State track family, reminisce about the old days, and think about what Harry has meant to us and we have meant to each other. If Beth is there, no purpose is served by being hostile to her, that's just letting her affect our good time. In spite of what some have suggested, this should be a celebration of what was, not a protest of what may be.

If you don't have anything nice to say to Beth, and I personally don't, ignoring her would be better. We all want the team to do well and return to its former level. No matter who is at the helm, we still need to support the team and its current members.

In responce to:

"They can hire 7 volunteer coaches. "

how can you hire a volunteer?

If you would have looked a bit harder I corrected myself already, sorry.

To alum: thanks but I am not a moron and I do understand that the alumni are extremely important to Penn State athletics. I am just worried that all of the negative attention and opinions that this hire has caused is going to ruin these track programs, not the actualy hire itslef. It has obviously not been shown if BAS as head coach will work or not considering she does not take over until after Jr. and Sr. Nationals. For the sake of both programs and as you have said the alums and everyone else I hope that the hire ends up working out for the Track program, but with all of the lake of support and negativity that surronds it I am not sure how likely that is.

surely no alum wishes harm on the program. Nothing would please me more than for the men's team to be great, I just don't see that happening under BAS. I mostly refer to the distance side of things.

see everyone this weekend.

Another Alum wrote:

If you don't have anything nice to say to Beth, and I personally don't, ignoring her would be better.

I'm certainly on board with this approach.

Me thinks it may be a lonley evening for the new Men's Track and Field/ Men's Cross-Country Head Coach.

old alum wrote:

Another Alum wrote:

If you don't have anything nice to say to Beth, and I personally don't, ignoring her would be better.

I'm certainly on board with this approach.

Me thinks it may be a lonley evening for the new Men's Track and Field/ Men's Cross-Country Head Coach.

how sad that you would blame and treat someone like this. aren't you too old to act like this?

legally blond wrote:

how sad that you would blame and treat someone like this. aren't you too old to act like this?

Not yet.

old alum wrote:

legally blond wrote:

how sad that you would blame and treat someone like this. aren't you too old to act like this?

Not yet.

appreciate your honesty and I can certaintly can relate.

I started looking at this thread because people were comlaining about some posts, so clearly there is a lot of mudslinging.

I find it interesting the groundskeeper comment. A lot of groundskeepers and have more benefits make more than a lot of assistant coaches. I think they should point that out to ADs. Most ADs however aren't paying for the maintenance crew.

Steeple qualifiers for regionals aren't a fair comparison. It is super easy to make regionals in the steeple.

What state law was broken in the hiring?

The absolute shame of this whole thing is the timing. I think Curley showed a lack of class for announcing BAS's appointment this week. Anyone in the AD's position, which essentially is holding all the cards, who felt he had to show his power by figuratively flipping Harry the middle finger, must be terribly insecure. Someone with true power never has to display it in such an insulting and cruel way.

What's ironic is that Curley is entirely beholding to another 70+ year old coach at PSU - and that particular senior citizen is likely to end his coaching career in a fashion similar to Woody Hayes' famous flameout!!

As far as BAS is concerned, only time will tell. She is not the first person to lobby for a job with a higher profile and better pay. My complaint is that PSU took the low road with regard to Harry who, while never a saint, deserved a more respectful send-off.

strictly nike wrote:

IFor the sake of both programs and as you have said the alums and everyone else I hope that the hire ends up working out for the Track program, but with all of the lake of support and negativity that surronds it I am not sure how likely that is.

I will never support incompetence, not for the "sake of" anything. Beth Alford Sullivan is unqualified for the job, period. Her only allies are outsiders and the Athletic Department. Within the Penn State Track and Field community she will remain persona non grata.

We would support a competent hire. BAS's support will be notably absent on Saturday.

As someone who has been involved with the process first hand on many accounts reading some of the posts have been quite humerous. Wether or not Coach Sullivan is qualified because of her past accomplishments or because she is a woman is a mute piont. Anyone in her position would have done the same thing she did, apply for the job hoping to move the programs forward. Is this a positive or negative move. Once again we will all never agree. Only time will tell if the two programs will truly be able to meld together and become a force to be wreckoned with. Bitching an moaning about things won't change the situation. Bashing Coach Sullivan won't get us anywhere as a team either. Those of you that found it needed to bash Coach Groves are just completely foolish. He has personaly taken me from a walk on to a top guy. So please, stop this piontless arguing. It isn't helping any of us in our sigle goal of reaching a Big Ten championship. We, the men's team, need our alum to be by our sides with encouragment. Nothing means more to a current guy on the team to meet someone that was in my shoes 20 or 30 years ago. So lets keep this is mind. That everyday saying "WE ARE" "PENN STATE" has no greater meaning then now. Lets prove to everyone that we can and will be at the top and restore our program to the greatness that was started by Groves many years ago.

On a side note: this weekend is for Groves. I can't wait to meet a lot of you and to hear stories of a Track God

Penn State is a "quasi-public" university. This is the defense they use when keeping JoePa's and the president's salaries confidential. My guess is they would successfully play this card if questioned about the hiring process.

Wouldn't you do the same thing? Ha...Padding your resumee with fluff while riding off the accomplishments of others and kissing up to the AD is not accountable. Se is a master at self promoting. This does not make it right that she take the job even if she has the best intensions. She is an opportunist! Take a good look at the XC team for her actual coaching talent.

nice grammar

What a f***ing joke!!! how could Penn State do such a stupid thing.What the hell were they thinking.That bitch is out to lunch.This a terrible day for Penn State athletics.Im going to go have a drink with Harry.And then I

think that ill get laid.

I bet her and Joe Pa did the wild thing to consumate the

deal.Boy that had to be a nasty sight!!!

Sleepy Hollow wrote:

What a f***ing joke!!! how could Penn State do such a stupid thing.What the hell were they thinking.That bitch is out to lunch.This a terrible day for Penn State athletics.Im going to go have a drink with Harry.And then I

think that ill get laid.

you guys compete like a bunch of 13 year old girls who just saw your asshole in the mirror for the first time!

no more of this: wrote:

you guys compete like a bunch of 13 year old girls who just saw your asshole in the mirror for the first time!

A classic!

you are not getting my piont. She has the job. No one can do anything about it, so deal with it and be positive. Your being negative and telling everyone she doesn't deserve the job doesn't help the team move on at all. I am sick of adults acting like children. The team needs support not everyone telling us our new coach doesn't deserve the job. Deal with the fact that she is the new coach and move on. Stop acting like dispionted children on christmas morning.