When Brad “Spider” Caldwell retired in July, it marked the formal end of his more than four decades as part of the Penn State football program. That run started when Caldwell ’86 H&HD joined the team as a student manager for the 1983 season, and it continued through a 31-year career, most of it spent as head equipment manager. Beginning in 2015, he worked as the events and facilities coordinator at Beaver Stadium, where his office served as an unofficial shrine to his favorite teams, moments, and people. Before he stepped away, he invited us in to share some of those memories.
As baseball media goes, Tom Verducci might just be the best in the game. We asked the longtime Sports Illustrated writer and TV broadcaster about the state of the game and his path from coach’s son and Penn State walk-on to arguably the most respected voice in baseball.
From our Sept/Oct '13 issue: With the opening of Pegula Ice Arena this fall, big-time college hockey has finally arrived at Penn State. All it took was a few decades of lobbying, planning, and hoping—not to mention a spare $100 million or so—to make the dream a reality.
Led by a courageous, history-making head coach and clutch play in the biggest moments, the Nittany Lions reclaimed their place atop the women’s volleyball world in 2024, clinching the program’s eighth national championship.
