Van Pelt

COLLEGE PARK -- During two of the first three weeks of the football season, the University of Maryland had problems stopping option quarterbacks. So when the Terps first found out that No. 17 Pittsburgh ran the one-back set, there was a sense of relief.Until the Terps (1-2) watched game film of the Panthers (4-0)."We had a tough time trying to cope with those elusive people like Marvin Graves [Syracuse quarterback] and Darren Studstill [West Virginia quarterback]," said Maryland inside linebacker Mike Jarmolowich.

In the old days, Tiger Woods might have won the AT&T National with ease. In the old days, Woods might not have needed his closest competitor to bogey the last three holes at Congressional Country Club. In the old days, Woods might not have stopped to acknowledge the two military officers waiting his arrival at the 18th tee before he made his final putt. In the old days, Woods might not have acknowledged the crowd - twice - and high-fived some volunteers en route to the scoring tent.

COLLEGE PARK -- His Terps use the run-and-shoot offense so it figures that Maryland football coach Mark Duffner has some ideas on how to stop a passing attack.Duffner's teams have faced just about every defense: nickel and dime packages, all-out blitzes, twist and stunts from defensive linemen.But when the Terps (0-4) meet Pittsburgh (2-2) on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Byrd Stadium, Duffner knows there is no simple way to stop quarterback Alex Van Pelt, who directs the Panthers' one-back set.Van Pelt, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior from San Antonio, has completed 85 of 136 passes for 1,222 yards and nine touchdowns this season.

Fans who looked closely at Maryland's sideline during the season-opening football game may have been puzzled by what they saw on cards held up by team managers. Was that really a photo of TV talk-show host Regis Philbin, and — if so — what could Philbin, a Notre Dame graduate, possibly have to do with Maryland football? Yes, it was a color photo of the co-host of "Live! With Regis and Kelly. " But why the school chose to display Philbin's image remains as much of a local mystery as which color uniforms the Terps will wear on a given week.

On January 7, 2004, WILLIAM P. REIMER, beloved husband of Beverly Reimer (nee Powell), devoted father of Darlene Cirillo and her husband David, David M. Van Pelt, William S. Reimer, Douglas P. Van Pelt and his wife Donna, Dwayne E. Van Pelt and his wife Angie, Lynn Bailowich, Antoinette M. Coco and her dear friend Bruce Worley, Carmetta L. Manowski and her husband Jeremy. Cherished grandfather of 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Loving brother of Delores Wertz and her husband Basil and family from Ohio, Jimmy Reimer and his wife Pat and family from PA. Also survived by very special dear friends Mrs. Juanita Muse and Mrs. Nancy Schapiro.

Torrey Smith has been gearing up for the NFL's pre-draft festivities since the Terps' season ended in December. The Maryland wide receiver talked about what he needs to do to impress scouts at this week's scouting combine during a Wednesday appearance on ESPN Radio's "The Scott Van Pelt Show. " In recent years, Maryland has sent a bunch of workout warriors to the combine, including Vernon Davis, Shawne Merriman and Darrius Heyward-Bey, players whom Van Pelt said had “blown things up” at the combine.

PITTSBURGH -- With a victory yesterday over Pitt, the Nittany Lions of Penn State finished their regular season at 10-2. But the contest probably won't figure into many players' fond memories of this successful season.The 32-20 victory over the Panthers took 3 hours and 54 minutes to achieve. But to the players and to the 52,519 spectators at Pitt Stadium, who endured a light rain and icy temperatures, it seemed even longer."It was a long game," said Lou Benfatti, a defensive lineman for Penn State.

GENERAL MANAGER Schulz won't be present this opening day, but the Charlie Brown All-Stars are just as ready as they ever are. Linus Van Pelt at second, Snoopy at short, Lucy Van Pelt lolling in center, her other brother Rerun sucking on his milk bottle in left, Schroeder crouched behind the plate. See them tense up as, on the mound, Charlie rears back to fling the first pitch of the new season. And now the enemy's leadoff man hits it high and far enough to reach the warehouse, on the fly. Wait.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Penn State's transitional season offers another farewell tour today at Beaver Stadium when the Nittany Lions meet Pitt for the 92nd time in a hotly contested intrastate rivalry.With Penn State moving to the Big Ten next season, today's 4 p.m. matchup on ESPN will be the last in the Pitt series until 1997.Penn State coach Joe Paterno said he had mixed feelings about a rivalry in which the Lions have gone 6-3-1 in the past 10 games."I wish we had not had to do it, in some ways," Paterno said of the decision to close the series.

COLLEGE PARK -- Maybe fans should bring calculators and sleeping bags.Maryland's game against Pittsburgh tonight (7) could last long into the night because both teams bring prolific passing attacks into Byrd Stadium.Pittsburgh (2-2) basically operates out of the one-back set. Maryland (0-4) uses the run-and-shoot. Pitt ranks fifth in the nation in total offense; Maryland is No. 21. The Panthers average 487.3 yards; Maryland averages 439."It could turn into a track meet," said Mike Jarmolowich, Maryland's starting inside linebacker.

After a workout with the Washington Wizards on Tuesday morning, former Terps big man Jordan Williams said that ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt, a Maryland grad, was among those who advised him while he mulled over entering the NBA draft. Van Pelt “was a big factor in helping me make my decision,” Williams said. “Just giving me feedback, what he thought about it. Just trying to make me make the right decision,” Williams told The Washington Post’s Steve Yanda. “He did a great job, and I give him a lot of credit for going out of his way. … He's a really busy guy, so for him to go out of his way to do that is unbelievable .”  If Van Pelt really did steer Williams to the pros -- even if he was doing it in the player’s best interest -- it won’t go over well with Maryland supporters.

Torrey Smith has been gearing up for the NFL's pre-draft festivities since the Terps' season ended in December. The Maryland wide receiver talked about what he needs to do to impress scouts at this week's scouting combine during a Wednesday appearance on ESPN Radio's "The Scott Van Pelt Show. " In recent years, Maryland has sent a bunch of workout warriors to the combine, including Vernon Davis, Shawne Merriman and Darrius Heyward-Bey, players whom Van Pelt said had “blown things up” at the combine.

Reports: Haynesworth to test free-agent market NFL Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth has decided to test the free-agent market, according to various media reports. The NFL Network first reported that the two-time All Pro will become a free agent after weeks of discussions between his agent, Chad Speck, and the Titans. Free agency begins at 12:01 a.m. Feb. 27. Haynesworth led the Titans with a career-high 8 1/2 sacks last season. More Titans: : Tennesee agreed to terms with kicker Rob Bironas on a multiyear contract.

Back with more sports media notes because, unfortunately for you, the tide of change sweeping the country doesn't include me yet: * Anita Marks is staying on the air in Baltimore for another year. On Wednesday, she signed a new one-year contract to remain at 105.7 The Fan, even though she had an offer to return to her native Miami area for a radio job, Marks said yesterday. "I had some other offers, but after it was all said and done, CBS Radio made it clear they wanted me to be part of the future," Marks said.

For the past two months, Chip Long pondered what it would be like to have a $70,000 check in his pocket. That is what his employer, General Motors Corp., is willing to pay him to leave the company. The trade-off: give up health insurance and other benefits - and any chance for ever again working for the automaker. It might seem an easy choice for a skilled millwright who likely would soon find another job. But for Long, 43, the chance of snagging a coveted spot at GM's Allison Transmission plant in White Marsh is a powerful magnet.

A FOOLISH consistency, the saying goes, is the hobgoblin of little minds. How much you care about seeing the same anchors doing SportsCenter at set times will probably determine whether you believe that hobgoblin has taken up residence in ESPN's offices. The network announced this week it is setting up consistent anchor teams, starting Monday. During the week, Dan Patrick and Fred Hickman will be at 6 p.m., John Anderson and Steve Levy at 11 p.m. and Scott Van Pelt and Neil Everett at 1 a.m. The latter two teams will switch spots each month.

Back with more sports media notes because, unfortunately for you, the tide of change sweeping the country doesn't include me yet: * Anita Marks is staying on the air in Baltimore for another year. On Wednesday, she signed a new one-year contract to remain at 105.7 The Fan, even though she had an offer to return to her native Miami area for a radio job, Marks said yesterday. "I had some other offers, but after it was all said and done, CBS Radio made it clear they wanted me to be part of the future," Marks said.

PITTSBURGH -- College football traditionalists want the Penn State-Pitt rivalry to last forever, not end as an annual affair after next season.What they got yesterday was a Penn State-Pitt game that threatened to last forever.There are countries where governments change in less time than it took the sixth-rankedNittany Lions (10-2) to put away the Panthers (6-5), 32-20, before 52,519 damp fans at Pitt Stadium.Through several weather changes, a school-record 64 passes by Pitt quarterback Alex Van Pelt, three Panthers fumbles and five interceptions, these two long-standing intrastate rivals stuttered through a game that took a remarkable 3 hours, 45 minutes to complete.

The bloodlines will be unmistakable when roll call is taken next weekend in the NFL draft. Eli Manning, Kellen Winslow Jr., Quincy Wilson and Jarrett Payton will share a common ground. They are all sons of famous football fathers - some more famous than others. Wilson and Payton, running backs from West Virginia and Miami, are sons of two former Chicago Bears' stars. Otis Wilson, a linebacker, and the late Walter Payton, a running back, were marquee players on the Bears' Super Bowl-era teams.

On January 7, 2004, WILLIAM P. REIMER, beloved husband of Beverly Reimer (nee Powell), devoted father of Darlene Cirillo and her husband David, David M. Van Pelt, William S. Reimer, Douglas P. Van Pelt and his wife Donna, Dwayne E. Van Pelt and his wife Angie, Lynn Bailowich, Antoinette M. Coco and her dear friend Bruce Worley, Carmetta L. Manowski and her husband Jeremy. Cherished grandfather of 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Loving brother of Delores Wertz and her husband Basil and family from Ohio, Jimmy Reimer and his wife Pat and family from PA. Also survived by very special dear friends Mrs. Juanita Muse and Mrs. Nancy Schapiro.