Penn State and the Recruitment of Craig James

[HorseSense]

What amazes me is how far reaching the myth Joe Paterno wove about himself. I have a good friend whose father was a football coach at another school in PA. They knew the Paterno family personally (played together as kids, etc). This friend to this day defends Joe Pa. She and I cannot even mention the game of football without coming to blows because of her blinders. Joe Pa must have been something in the flesh----and we thought A&M had a cult going!

[westexSMU]

Really disappointing hearing Jay Paterno say, on an ESPN Video the day that the Freed Report came out, that this report about Joe " was a small part of Joe's life." Then the ESPN reporter cut him off and said "a small part" ? Jay finished saying "maybe his choice of words was not right." Unbelievable... I understand the guy wants to defend his dad, but he needs to shut up. Penn State people better understand that nobody is defending Joe Pa except Penn. State people now.

[SMU 86]

Weren't they the ones who complained loudly back in the early 80's that SMU was entering their market to illegally recruit players. We got some big lineman( Stopperich ) out of the Pittsburgh area as I recall that sent them screaming to the press.

Stopperich is big drug addict doofus, biggest mistake SMU ever made, and I believe Dickerson said do not recruit this guy. Like what the hell did we need him for. Anyways I want Penn State to burn in Hell where they belong.

Believe your referring to Staley (a Linebacker) from the south Texas area, not Stopperich. Stopperich brought his family with him down to Dallas because his father was unemployed, and was getting (given) a job in big D.

Yep, it was David Stanley that Dickerson said not to recruit.

[couch 'em]

It will be shown that the second mile was a front for a recruiting slush fund, and this is why paterno could not risk turning in sandusky

[Junior]

[quote="smustatesmen"]Weren't they the ones who complained loudly back in the early 80's that SMU was entering their market to illegally recruit players. We got some big lineman( Stopperich ) out of the Pittsburgh area as I recall that sent them screaming to the press.

Stopperich is big drug addict doofus, biggest mistake SMU ever made, and I believe Dickerson said do not recruit this guy. Like what the hell did we need him for. Anyways I want Penn State to burn in Hell where they belong.

Believe your referring to Staley (a Linebacker) from the south Texas area, not Stopperich. Stopperich brought his family with him down to Dallas because his father was unemployed, and was getting (given) a job in big D.

Yep, it was David Stanley that Dickerson said not to recruit.[/quote]
both of the sucked

[Stallion]

I don't remember Penn St recruiting Craig James. I don't remember Penn St recruiting Texas in those days. It came down to SMU and Alabama with James. Actually James was thought of as a good not great prospect until his meteoric rise during Senior Season. Committed to SMU postgame after MVP performance in 4A Texas State Championship. Did SMU a huge favor as little old SMU shared spotlight across the state which started a stampede of great high school commitments. It was Cool to go to SMU because of Craig James

[No Quarter]

I don't remember Penn St recruiting Craig James. I don't remember Penn St recruiting Texas in those days. It came down to SMU and Alabama with James. Actually James was thought of as a good not great prospect until his meteoric rise during Senior Season. Committed to SMU postgame after MVP performance in 4A Texas State Championship. Did SMU a huge favor as little old SMU shared spotlight across the state which started a stampede of great high school commitments. It was Cool to go to SMU because of Craig James

My memory is there was a story in Texas Football about CJ calling ED and saying, "Come to SMU and be a winner."

Also, there were later stories about CJ considering a transfer to Alabama after ED got more playing time.

[AusTxPony]

I for one will never forget seeing in person the Holiday Bowl against BYU. Craig James had his best day stats wise, I believe, over 250 yards. What a game, but what an ending. Sadly, we lost by 1 in a game that should have been ours. However, I will never forget the 'running machine' this night that was called Craig James. Thanks for the memories.