Curley reflects on impact of scouting
Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley was the featured speaker at the 24th annual Friends of Scouting Dinner, held last night at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa in Farmington. Curley is standing beside dinner committee member Hank Oppermann (right). Seated, from left, are committe head Barry Grimm, senior district executive Kristen Eagle and scout executive Martin Barbie. FARMINGTON – Dunking a basketball and being a member of Boy Scouts of America are two things Penn State University athletic director Timothy M. Curley regrets never completing.
Curley, who has been the athletic director at Penn State since 1993, was the guest speaker Tuesday night at the 24th annual Friends of Scouting Dinner.
The event was held at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa and Curley was presented with a replica eagle award for his contributions to education and athletics in his 30-plus years at Penn State.
Curley has grown up with Penn State, as he spent time in his youth parking cars at Old Beaver Field, selling game programs and being a baseball batboy for the Nittany Lions.
He was named the Lions’ first full-time football recruiting coordinator in 1978 and in 1981, was name assistant to the athletic director. He is a former walk on with the football team and served as a graduate assistant after receiving his Bachelor’s degree in health and education in 1976.
With Penn State comes football and coach Joe Paterno. With Paterno nearing his 80th birthday, many are wondering if the school has a plan for a successor.
“We are just focusing on this year’s team,” Curley said. “We have a great team this year and we hope coach will be around for a long time.”
Curley also elaborated on the WPIAL and how the area is essential to the success of Penn State football.
“The whole state of Pennsylvania, along with Southwestern Pa. has been a hotbed for talent basically forever,” Curley said. “The whole fabric of Pittsburgh has produced great players and will continue to.”
Many fans would like to see the Penn State/Pittsburgh football rivalry renewed, but it does not look like it will be in the works anytime soon.
“I don’t see it happening anytime soon,” Curley said. “With our commitment to the Big Ten, it is very difficult to schedule games.”
However, the other athletic programs at Penn State are succeeding as the number of sports programs has grown to 29.
“Football gets the most attention but we have 29 programs that compete on the highest level,” Curley said. “We are a broad based program and the women’s sports are also taking off.”
Scout Executive Martin J. Barbie, III spoke to the audience about the importance of the Boy Scouts of America and how they in general teach good character issues and a special award was presented.
That award was given to Rusty Kemp, who just over a year ago on May 8, 2007 saved the life of a fellow Uniontown Area High School classmate who had hit his head on the diving board attempting a dive in gym class.
Kemp graciously received his award and received a standing ovation for his heroic effort.
It was no secret that Kemp had learned those skills from training he learned in the Boy Scouts.
Hank Opperman, who is a Penn State alumnus, former captain of the football team and a member of the 2008 South Dinner Committee, introduced Curley.
Curley thanked Nemacolin for hosting the event and it helped to get his wife to make the trip from State College.
“When I told my wife about the event, she was trying to find something in her schedule to tie her up,” Curley said. “When I told her that it was at Nemacolin Resort and Spa, she jumped on it. Right now, she is at the spa.”
Curley wanted everyone to know the importance of the Boys Scouts and what they do for our country in tough times.
“I believe we want to do the right thing,” Curley said. “And the Boy Scouts teach us to do the right thing. We need leaders for people to follow and the Boys Scouts are essential leaders. You need to take advantage of every opportunity in life and do not want to say what if. I really believe that the Boy Scouts do that.”