Penn State fires Joe Paterno

SoSportz.com- A hall of fame career ends in devastation. Joe Paterno was fired by Penn State after the scandal with Jerry Sandusky came back to light. What will the sidelines of the Nittany Lions look like now? How will the program bounce back from this huge distraction? Football is Paterno's life and without the game, there will be a huge void in his life going forward. It's sad that his career had to end like this.


-@SoSportz
Game Changer Baller Bandz

AMIN TAHERI- CHESHIRE HIGH SCHOOL

Tell everyone about yourself?
Hi my name is Amin Taheri. I am a sophomore at Cheshire High School and I have been playing soccer since I was 4 years old. I feel in love with the game when my dad handed me a ball and I never stopped playing since. I first started out as a goalie and then moved to the field. The reason I changed positions wasn't because I wasn't good, it was because we had too many goalies at our school. I played goalie for a top team in our state and I gave that up because I thought I didn't have a shot at making our school team. I tore my ACL and Meniscus on December 13th 2009.

What was your best game?
My best game was more like a best tournament. It was an indoor tournament at this arena and it was my first time playing with the older players. I had such an amazing tourny that the coach offered me a spot on the team.

Why are sports/education important to you?
Sports and education are important to me because I believe that if you do well in both you will be a very successful person in life. For example, if I just cared about sports, there's a chance I could get hurt and lose everything I worked for and then there won't be a backup plan since I let go of school.

What can you do yo make yourself better in your sport?
I think I can become better in my sport by working hard and achieving things that others can't even dream of. I work day and night to turn myself into the best player possible.

What is your dream college?
My dream college is UCONN. I don't think I'm good enough to get there now but if I work as hard as I am now my dream might come true.

If a College Coach ask you, how can you make our team better, what would you say?
I would tell the college coach that I would bring more intensity then anyone else that he has seen before. I will bring passion and love for the game to the field and off of it also.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
The best advice I can give student athletes is to remember that they are just that, STUDENT-athletes, there's a reason that student comes first and they need to know that. People care too much about their sport and don't care enough about there education these days.

Send a shout out to SoSportz:
I thought my shot at getting recognized as a player was done, until I found SoSportz. With the exposure they give players, I now think that I have a shot at playing soccer in college.

KEITH DEARDEN- THE PENNINGTON SCHOOL

Tell everyone about yourself?
Hello my name is Keith Dearden. I'm currently a Jr. at The Pennington School. I play quarterback, punter, and kicker for the football team. I was all state second team and prep player of the year. I broke the school record throwing for 1439 yards this past season. Im 6 foot 1 and weigh 180 pounds. I have a 3.5 GPA and recieved a 1500 between all three sections on my SAT.

What was your best game?
My Best game was against Calvery Christian Academy. In this game I threw for 295 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Why are sports/education important to you?
My whole family played sports and one went pro, so sports are my life. I love sports and my goal is to continue the legacy of my family's name and do something with my talent. I'm also very big on education because sports don't last forever and I need a back up plan so I can have a great life.

What can you do to make yourself better in your sport?
I can continue to work hard and practice everyday so that the things I need to do in a game situation become second nature. When I need to do something at a certain time in a game it will just come to me. I need to prepare myself for the next level so that I'm ready for the next step.

What is your dream college?
I would love to play high D-1 AA and contend for a D-1AA championship atleast once in my four years. If I can go to a Texas or Alabama I would love too but I want to just play competitive football in college. That's the goal. So a Villanova, Deleware, or a Richmond would be ideal.

If a College Coach ask you, how can you make our team better, what would you say?
I will be a leader and I will lead the team to where it needs to be. I will step up and take the leadership role for everything the team does and make it the best it can be. I have the drive to win and there is nothing that's going to stop me from winning every game I play. I'm a winner and I want to win to help the team and school be the best it can be.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
To work hard because there are alot of spots out there for the taking and if you work hard you will accomplish your goals. work hard cause theres always someone working harder to take your spot so if you want it work hard. also get your work done because I have seen too many stories on the news about people who can't play because of grades. Get it done in the classroom first, that's most important.

Send a shout out to SoSportz:
SoSportz is a great website and the best sports site out there!

MICHAEL ABRAMS- BELLAIRE HIGH SCHOOL

Tell everyone about yourself?
My name is Michael Abrams, and I play offensive center for Bellaire High School. I am currently a junior, and I have a 3.8 GPA but haven't taken my SAT/ACT yet. I am 6"2 and weigh 265 pounds. My bench max is 300, squat max is 515, deadlift max is 500. My 40 time is 5.5, shuttle time is 4.8, and 100 meter time is 14 seconds. I am still trying to be recruited, and have not committed to anywhere yet.

What was your best game?
It's hard to choose my best game because all of my games are important to me. I think the best games I will have will be this year, when I try and lead my team to the play-offs for the first time in about 5 years.

Why are sports/education important to you?
Education is important to me because you are going to need it to get any job that you apply for. Also, sports allow you to get a free college education, so that only helps you for later on in life.

What can you do to make yourself better in your sport?
To make myself better I will lift weights to be stronger, to block for the backfield, so that we can score a touchdown. Also, I can run more to get faster and have better endurance and stamina, so I can last longer on the field if there is a long drive on the field.

What is your dream college?
My dream college is the University of Houston. It was where my mom and dad went, and I want to go there too. I want to play football there and not only win a C-USA championship, hopefully get a BCS bid and win the national championship.

If a College Coach ask you, how can you make our team better, what would you say?
I would tell them that I could bring a solid offensive linemen to the team. I would bring heart and intensity to the team. Also, I would give my all at every drill that we did.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
Work hard on the field/court, but also work just as hard in the classroom.

Send a shout out to SoSportz:
Shout out to SoSportz for spending the time to help get my name out there. Keep it up.

TYLER SHARP- WELLINGTON SCHOOL

Tell everyone about yourself?
My Name Is Tyler Sharp. I'm a 6'1", 185 pound freshman guard, I attend The Wellington School in Columbus Ohio and I play varsity basketball.

What was your best game?
My best game was against Berne Union in Sugar Grove Ohio. I single handed brought our team back from a 11 point deficit to win the game in the final 6 seconds. i finished with 21 points i had went 3-3 from three point range.

Why are sports/education important to you?
Sports and education are important to me because I come from a family where education comes first. If I want to play college ball, coaches will recruit an above average student with good athletics rather than a below average student with great athletics.

What can you do to make yourself better in your sport?
Just keep working on my game I need to improve my skills because natural athleticism will only get me so far because when I'm not in the gym someone else is.

What is your dream college?
My dream college is Syracuse because the way they run the 2-3 zone is my favorite defensive set and the one I think I work best in.

If a College Coach ask you, how can you make our team better, what would you say?
I never get "rattled" when the games in clutch moments. I love getting my teammates involved which I think makes them better and builds team chemistry.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
My advice to other student athletes is make sure you keep your grades up because the student comes before the athlete.

Send a shout out to SoSportz:
Shout Out to SoSportz and thanks for the opportunity. Look Out For Me!

BASIL DICERBO- ST. AUGUSTINE PREP HIGH SCHOOL

Tell everyone about yourself?
I'm a 5'10, 150 pound sophomore, I attend St. Augustine Prep high school in Richland, New Jersey and I play baseball.

What was your best game?
My biggest game was last year against our rival and I went 3-4 with a double and two singles.

Why are sports/education important to you?
They are important to me beacuse you need an education to go through life and I love baseball with a passion.

What can you do to make yourself better in your sport?
I train all year and dont stop playing baseball and I get better from training.

What is your dream college?
My dream college is the University of Miami.

If a College Coach ask you, how can you make our team better, what would you say?
I work hard and I will do anything to help the team win.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
Work hard and be fully committed to your sport no matter what people say.

Send a shout out to SoSportz:
SoSportz!!!!!

JAMAL GAINES- BOOKER HIGH SCHOOL

Tell everyone about yourself?
My name is Jamal Gaines. I attend Booker High School in Sarasota, FL and I am a 6ft 2 sophomore. I've been playing basketball since i was 6 and ive been in love with it ever since.

What was your best game?
My best game was last year when i played with Team Stat (15u). It was like I couldnt miss I think I finshed the game with 26 points, 6 or 7 rebounds and a 4 or 5 assist.

Why are sports/education important to you?
Education is important to me because I know...No matter how basketball works out my grades can take me just about anywhere I want to go. Sports are important to me because its what I love doing. It motivates me to be the best I do with everything I do. I am very competive.

What can you do to make yourself better in your sport?
To better myself in basketball I could improve on the finer points of the game. I want to learn more than just how to do the move but why choose "this move" over "that one".

What is your dream college?
My dream College is Kentucky. I love the way coach John Calipari coaches the Wildcats and their level of intensity. That never ceases to amaze me.

If a College Coach ask you, how can you make our team better, what would you say?
I could make a college team better with my ability to score along with my defense, work ethic and competitve drive.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
I would advise student-athletes to never give up. No matter how many obstacles you have to overcome. Dont let anyone or anything get in your way. I cant should never be apart of your vocabulary.

Send a shout out to SoSportz:
SoSportz! WE IN HERE!

AAREAN JOHNSON

Tell everyone about yourself?
My name is Aarean Johnson and I'm 18 years old. I'm a 5'9 point guard and I love basketball, it's my life. I love the game and everything that comes with it. I'm not the quickest point guard, but I'm very strong and I use my strength to my advantage. I've learned to use angles and make good passes.

What was your best game?
My best game was in an AAU tournament about a year ago. I had 26 points and 15 assists. I just let the game come to me and did my job as a point guard.

Why are sports/education important to you?
Education is the main thing because your going to need something to fall back on after your athletic career is over and that may be after high school, after college, and maybe even at the professional level. Either way, education is very important to me and my family. That's why I strive for excellence in both sports and my education. Sports are important because they teach you to work with people in a team aspect in which you would in the real world.

What can you do to make yourself better in your sport?
I can continue to work hard and better myself and my skills in every way. Whether it's working on my jump shot, my ball handling, my footwork, defensive footwork, and many other things that are needed on the basketball court.

What is your dream college?
My dream college is KU, Kansas University, I've always wanted to play in Allen Field House. I'm from a small town close to Lawrence, KS where Allen Field House is located. That's a big dream I have, and I'm striving to make it come true.

If a College Coach ask you, how can you make our team better, what would you say?
I would say I would use my abilities to make the team better, get every player involved, also being a very good leader, and keeping my team together in crunch time.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
My advice to student-athletes is you're a student first so make sure you take care of your duties in the class room and also your duties in whatever sport you play, but most of all, have fun.

Send a shout out to SoSportz:
Thanks SoSportz for the opportunity to be interviewed and placed on your blog. It's an honor and a privilege.

ANTHONY GALLEGOS- SEVEN LAKES HIGH SCHOOL

Tell everyone about yourself?
My name is Anthony Gallegos. I am a senior at Seven Lakes High School. I am 5’9 and weigh 160. I started at Cornerback, and I want to continue playing football in College.

What was your best game?
My best game was against Mayde Creek High School. It was the game I finally got to returned to the field after being out for three weeks with a broken elbow. I broke up a pass that put us into a four-overtime slugfest and I finished the game with 12 tackles and 3 pass breakups. I won the weekly Defensive MVP award for that game.

Why are sports/education important to you?
Sports, because I live for competition and making myself better. Education because I value the importance of it and I want to be fully prepared for my future career.

What can you do to make yourself better in your sport?
Continue to get stronger and faster in the offseason.

What is your dream college?
Any Division 1 school or wherever I can get a scholarship.

If a College Coach asked you, how can you make our team better, what would you say?
I am a leader that will do whatever it takes to be successful and bring greatness to your program.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
Never look back. Have confidence on game day, keep God first, and work hard in the off-season!

Send a shout out to SoSportz:
S O S P O R T Z ! ! ! ! !