Why did I pick William “Rip” Scherer for my feature story? Why his story in particular? Rip Scherer is my uncle. I chose his story because he taught me one of the most valuable and important lessons I have learned in my life…"family first." Okay, so my parents taught me this lesson also. But there was one moment, one instant in my life, where those words truly had an impact on me and I finally understood what those words meant, and that was thanks to my uncle.
The feature story was his story, this is my story…
It was a rainy day in in September of 1987. I was a junior at Penn State and truly believed that I bled blue and white. Of course, this was much to my father’s dismay since he played football for Pitt. On this particular day, Penn State was playing Alabama. A large portion of my family was in attendance because my uncle’s son Rip (Ripper) was a coach for Alabama and had previously been a graduate assistant at Penn State under Joe Paterno in 1974-1975.
It was a rainy day in in September of 1987. I was a junior at Penn State and truly believed that I bled blue and white. Of course, this was much to my father’s dismay since he played football for Pitt. On this particular day, Penn State was playing Alabama. A large portion of my family was in attendance because my uncle’s son Rip (Ripper) was a coach for Alabama and had previously been a graduate assistant at Penn State under Joe Paterno in 1974-1975.
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| Hanging with my uncle at the PSU vs OSU game. |
We were all tailgating and
partying at the newly opened Hampton Inn when I asked my uncle, half in jest,
who he was going to root for at the game. I knew he was loyal to the blue and
white and that it was a silly question. I was stunned when he said “Alabama,” I
really was. I had never dreamed in a million years that he would be rooting for
anyone other than the Nittany Lions. I just assumed it would be a friendly
little rivalry between him and his son.
Then my uncle told me that I would root for Alabama too. “Family first,” he told me. “Your cousin keeping his job is more important than the game,” he added.
Soon after, we all walked the long trek to Beaver Stadium in the pouring rain. I contemplated what my uncle had said as I found my seat in the student section. I didn’t fully understand, but I knew what I had to do. So, there I sat, with all of my friends and fraternity brothers, yelling “Roll Tide, Let’s Go Bama!” It was hard to do, but after a while, I knew in my heart he was right. Alabama won that game and Ripper kept his job (at least for a little while until it was time for him to move on and move up).
It would be many years later, 24 to be exact, when I found myself in a very unique and special place in my life. It was September 10, 2011 and Penn State was playing Alabama, again. And I was student at Penn State, again. And a Scherer would be on the field, again. This time though, it would be my cousin Ryan Scherer, my uncle’s grandson, playing for the Nittany Lions.
I remember thinking that day in Beaver stadium how lucky I was to be there, in that stadium, on that field, where three generations of my family had played or coached football. I also recall being very happy because this time I would got to root for the blue and white. Unfortunately, Alabama won that game too.
Several months later, I had the honor of watching history happen for my family, in January 2012. Penn State has played in four Cotton Bowl games…and a Scherer has played or coached in three of them. January 1948, Rip Scherer (my uncle) was a player on the historic team mentioned in my feature story; January 1975, Ripper Scherer (his son) was a graduate assistant and coach; and January 2012, Ryan Scherer (his grandson) was a player. It’s no wonder why I love Penn State so much and why I love my family even more!
So, for this week only, I leave you with “two” words to the wise that are sufficient…Family First!
Then my uncle told me that I would root for Alabama too. “Family first,” he told me. “Your cousin keeping his job is more important than the game,” he added.
Soon after, we all walked the long trek to Beaver Stadium in the pouring rain. I contemplated what my uncle had said as I found my seat in the student section. I didn’t fully understand, but I knew what I had to do. So, there I sat, with all of my friends and fraternity brothers, yelling “Roll Tide, Let’s Go Bama!” It was hard to do, but after a while, I knew in my heart he was right. Alabama won that game and Ripper kept his job (at least for a little while until it was time for him to move on and move up).
It would be many years later, 24 to be exact, when I found myself in a very unique and special place in my life. It was September 10, 2011 and Penn State was playing Alabama, again. And I was student at Penn State, again. And a Scherer would be on the field, again. This time though, it would be my cousin Ryan Scherer, my uncle’s grandson, playing for the Nittany Lions.
I remember thinking that day in Beaver stadium how lucky I was to be there, in that stadium, on that field, where three generations of my family had played or coached football. I also recall being very happy because this time I would got to root for the blue and white. Unfortunately, Alabama won that game too.
Several months later, I had the honor of watching history happen for my family, in January 2012. Penn State has played in four Cotton Bowl games…and a Scherer has played or coached in three of them. January 1948, Rip Scherer (my uncle) was a player on the historic team mentioned in my feature story; January 1975, Ripper Scherer (his son) was a graduate assistant and coach; and January 2012, Ryan Scherer (his grandson) was a player. It’s no wonder why I love Penn State so much and why I love my family even more!
So, for this week only, I leave you with “two” words to the wise that are sufficient…Family First!
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