Week two of the Penn State Coaches Caravan left the Bryce Jordan Center in State College around 9:30 a.m. on its way to the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport for a sold out luncheon program and later rolled into the Lehigh Valley for a dinner buffet tailgate program with over 350 fans in attendance at the Holiday Inn Conference Center, Fogelsville, recently.

Head football coach Bill O'brien, women's field hockey coach, Charlene Morett and Men's Volleyball coach, Mark Pavlik delivered passionate speeches thanking the Penn State fans for what each coach described as the special fan support for all the Penn State University sports.

Morett will enter her 27th season this fall as head coach of the Nittany Lion field hockey team. Morett, the 2012 Big Ten Coach of the Year said, "I walked onto the Penn State campus in 1975 as a freshman and instantly knew what type of special place it was." Morett has led the Nittany Lions to six Big Ten titles, six Big Ten postseason titles and five of her teams have reached the NCAA semifinals. "What makes an event like this special is to come out and see some great old friends and to make some great new friends," Morett said.

Coach Pavlik had just returned from Penn State's 28th trip to the NCAA men's volleyball semifinals. It was the 15th straight NCAA trip for PSU's men's volleyball team and Pavlik's 19th season as a head coach at Penn State. "I have to pinch myself each morning when I go to work," he said of his opportunity of coaching at Penn State. "And don't underestimate the power that you have to help mold are students and student-athletes," Pavlik explained.

Pavlik, a western Pennsylvania native discussed how there is something special about Penn State's support system. The fans play a direct one-team role when the department's teams are competing on the road. "To have a good crowd on the road, there's no better feeling," he stressed.

Coach O'Brien echoed what Coach Morett had said, "Char, is right, you can feel the energy when you walk into a room like this!" Then he shared an event that happened just after the NCAA announced its sanctions against the football team. It was about the support from the Penn State Letterman's Club. Just days after the NCAA sanctions 500 Penn State football lettermen from all over the country attended a meeting in Holuba Hall. The meeting, called on very short notice, brought the lettermen together to talk about what it meant to play football at Penn State. These lettermen shared their stories with the current team members. Former Nittany Lions Tom Dochez and Mike Guman, both great former football players from Bethlehem, were in attendance at the Lehigh Valley program.

O'Brien went on to stress that now more than ever the Penn State support system needs to be strong as the athletic programs continue to move forward in a positive direction. O'Brien confessed that he cannot replace Joe Paterno as a coach or as a fund raiser and motivator, but that he wants to see Beaver Stadium filled each Saturday for the football games. The football team's revenue helps to support all the Penn State athletic programs and teams.

The three coaches finished their talks to a standing ovation from the 350 plus crowd. All three coaches were available before and after the program for photos and discussions.

I talked with Coach O'Brien and admitted that I was unhappy when the Penn State coaching search went to the NFL and eventually picked Coach O'Brien, but I quickly changed my mind when I saw what an immediate impact he had on the players and how much the players respected him and his coaching staff. I also wished him success this season and hopefully many more!