Sirianni gets 200th victory

WASHINGTON, Pa. – Washington & Jefferson College football head coach Mike Sirianni collected his 200th career victory in a 28-17 win over Case Western Reserve at Cameron Stadium on Saturday night.

Sirianni is the sixth active NCAA football head coach to reach 200 wins and 94th all-time in NCAA history.

“200 means nothing without 201, that’s what I’m focused on,” he said. “Reaching 200 wins means I’ve had a lot of great players and coaches throughout my career.”

Following the victory, Washington & Jefferson president Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls and assistant dean of students and director of athletics Scott McGuinness gifted Sirianni a 200 career victories football. Sirianni then gave the ball to his father, Fran, who was in attendance for the milestone.

Sirianni is 200-48 (a winning percentage of 80.6) in 23 seasons as head coach.

He was a starting wide receiver on Mount Union’s first NCAA Division III national championship team in 1993 and is the older brother of Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni.

The Presidents will play at Geneva at 1 p.m. Saturday at Reeves Field. Washington & Jefferson can clinch a share of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference title with a win. The Presidents are 5-0 in the PAC with two games to play, while Geneva and Grove City are both 5-1.

Gambling makes Rodriguez nervous

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WV News) — Gambling has been something in the world since the BCE times when the Mesopotamians started playing dice. Sports gambling came soon after, but it’s becoming more common around the United States over the past couple of years. 39 states allow sports gambling, plus Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico, and it’s more prevalent with all the commercials for FanDuel and Draft Kings, and if you look at matchups on an app or television, the odds are right next to the time of the game.

The only place sports betting wasn’t allowed was for college athletes. However, that may change. In October, the DI Administrative Committee adopted a proposal that would allow college athletes to bet on professional sports. The new rule would be effective on Nov. 1. Nov. 1 has since passed, and before, the NCAA voted to postpone the rule change to Nov. 22.

“It makes me nervous,” West Virginia’s Rich Rodriguez said. “I kind of like the fact that guys can’t gamble. There’s a reason why those gamblers or the gambling sites or the fancy hotels are so nice. They’re not losing very often.”

Others throughout college football have concerns. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, who’s been very progressive when it comes to modernizing college football, voiced his concerns by sending a letter to the NCAA a couple weeks after the proposal.

“The message of our Presidents and Chancellors was clear and united: this policy change represents a major step in the wrong direction.”

Rodriguez wasn’t surprised by the SEC’s reaction.

“You wonder why, right?” Rodriguez said. “Well, they’re just trying to help and protect the student athletes. And sometimes you’ve got to protect somebody from themselves, right?”

Sebring names new hall of famers

SEBRING — The Sebring McKinley Athletic Hall of Fame will hold a Class of 2025 induction ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 13, when the Sebring basketball team hosts Southington. Members of the new class include the 2010 and 2011 OASSA Division IV mount cheerleading state champions and Dakota Wagner, Class of 2012.

The induction ceremony will take place immediately follow the junior varsity game, which will start at 11a.m. Previous inductees are welcome and will be recognized.

The game will be dedicated to long time community member and Trojan. supporter, Lloyd “Bud” Cobbs, who recently passed away. Cake and punch will be served in Brook Gym immediately following the varsity game. The public is welcome.