Reminder that Nick Saban and Bill O'Brien are coming here this week

FROM KEITH GROLLER
We mentioned this here on Groller's Corner more than a month ago, but offer a reminder now that national championship coach Nick Saban and new Penn State coach Bill O'Brien are coming to Fogelsville on Friday as part of the Nike Eastern Pennsylvania Coach of the Year Clinic.Saban

It's obvious that Jim Tkach, the former Northern Lehigh coach, is excited about this event and that Saban and O'Brien have been very impressive in his dealings with them. And Jim has not always had the same impression of the big-name coaches who have come to this event, like the new coach at Ohio State for example.

Here's what I wrote in a column that will appear in Monday's sports section:

Nick Saban, the football coach at national champion Alabama, and new Penn State coach Bill O’Brien will be among the array of college coaches coming to the Lehigh Valley later this week for the annual Nike Eastern Pennsylvania Coach of the Year Football Clinic.

The clinic runs from Thursday to Saturday at the Holiday Inn and Conference Center in Fogelsville, but Friday is the big day with O’Brien set to take the microphone at 3:10 p.m. and Saban to speak at 7:10.

O’Brien’s talk will also include a presentation by Penn State secondary coach John Butler.

Jim Tkach, the former Northern Lehigh coach who coordinates this event for Nike, has been very impressed with both Saban and O’Brien.

“It’s incredible how organized they are at Alabama,” Tkach said. “This week I received calls from two people on the staff regarding the itinerary and time of the talk and also the video equipment. Then I got a call from Coach Saban confirming everything and apologizing because we had to move up his time to 7:10 due to some flight arrangements.

“He asked if there was anything he could do and said that he wanted to do a good job. I was just blown away,” Tkach added. “I asked him about signing some things for the Bo Tkach Foundation and he told me he was heavily involved with the Jason Foundation and Clark Flatt, who was our golf tournament speaker last year.

“The fact that one of the most successful coaches in football wanted to do everything the best he could simply amazed me. We actually have an itinerary from the time he touches down in Allentown to when he leaves. It’s just a class operation.”

Tkach was just as impressed by O’Brien (seen in the middle at photo on the left).O'Brien

“The amount of communication and his willingness to do whatever we need is amazing,” Tkach said. “You can tell that he also really wants to do a great job. We made the request that he visit and he confirmed the very next day that he would.”

Other coaches coming include Temple’s Steve Addazio, North Carolina’s Larry Fedora, South Carolina quarterbacks coach G.A. Mangus, Towson coach Rob Ambrose and Lehigh’s Andy Coen. See www.nikecoyfootball.com for the complete schedule.

“We have an unbelievable staff,” Tkach said. “It will be huge. The Lehigh Valley is a great football area, so this is only fitting.”

While designed primarily for coaches, Tkach said that the event is open to the public, but you must register.

A one-day pass is available for $60, but is only available until Tuesday. Then walk-ins are $95. Call 485-225-2706 for info.

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/