Coach Wiser Selected To 2016 Big 33 Coaching Staff (08/23/15)

The 2015 Clarion Area Bobcat Football season is just getting underway, with two-a-days and scrimmages, but there has already been an honor bestowed on a “member” of the team.

Coach Wiser during 2015 Pre-Season drills

Head Coach Larry Wiser has recently received confirmation, from the Big 33 Scholarship Foundation, that he has been selected as a member of the Pennsylvania Coaching Staff  for the 59th Annual Big 33 Football Classic. The game, which will pit the top graduated seniors from Pennsylvania against their counterparts from Maryland, will take place at Hershey Park Stadium, on Saturday, June 18th, 2016.

The Big 33 Football Classic, which is considered one of the top scholastic Football All-Star Games in the country, has taken on different forms over the years, with the Pennsylvania All-Stars taking USA All-Stars, Texas All-Stars, Ohio All-Stars and Maryland All-Stars. Some years the game was a match-up between Western PA and Eastern PA. There has never been a Super Bowl in which at least one Big 33 alumni hasn’t participated, with over 125 Super Bowl participants so far. There have been 155 Big 33 alumni to play in the NFL.

Mike Matta, from Downingtown East has been named the Head Coach of the Pennsylvania Squad. Matta’s assistants, in addition to Coach Wiser, include: Bill Brest from Hickory, Joe Rossi from South Fayette, Doug Dahms from Wilson (West Lawn) and Jack Young from Athens.

Coach Wiser has some very impressive credentials to attest to his selection: Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association (PSFCA) – Hall of Fame (Class of 2011); Central Pennsylvania Football Coaches Association (CPFCA) – Hall of Fame (2011); Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association -East/West Game Assistant Coach (2010); Central Pennsylvania Football Coaches Association – Lezzer Lumber Classic – Head Coach, North Squad (2014) (many of his Bobcat staff were assistants in the game), Assistant Coach, North Squad (2009, 2010).

Coach Wiser giving post practice talk to this year’s team

He was the PSFCA – District Nine Coach of the Year (2009); CPFCA – Coach of the Year (2013); and D9Sports.com – Coach of the Year (2009, 2013).

Coach Wiser, who is entering his 27th season as the Bobcats’ mentor, is the winningest coach in Little 7-12 / KSAC history. He is only ten wins away from the “Holy Grail” of Pennsylvania Coaching, with 190 victories to his Bobcat teams’ credit. He is third all-time, in District Nine coaching victories, trailing only current Clearfield Coach, Tim Janocko (238) and former Coudersport Coach, Paul Simcoe (204).

Coach Wiser’s Bobcat teams have won or shared nine Conference Championships and won three District Nine Championships.

As both an assistant coach and head coach, Wiser has had four players selected to the PSFCA’s Statewide All-Star Games: Chuck Ruslavage, Big 33 (1981) Offensive Lineman – PA West Squad; John Marshall, Big 33 (1983) Linebacker – PA West Squad; Kyle Cathcart, East/West Game (2002) Linebacker – West Squad (couldn’t play due to injury); and Nate McClaine, East/West Game (2004) Offensive Lineman – West Squad.

Coach Wiser, a 1967 Big 33 nominee from Bald Eagle Area High School, has had a number of players nominated. In addition to the four who were selected Big 33 or East/West, his nominees include: Brad Larson and Micah Mcelhattan (2000), and Cody Hearst and Damien Slike (2014). He has also had many players named All-State and Academic All-State and has had a number of Lezzer Lumber Game participants.

Coach Wiser sees his selection as an honor for the whole community. He said, “I am honored to represent the team, staff, school, and the Clarion community at this event.”

He continued, “I truly feel blessed and humbled to coach in this game.”

One thing could make Saturday, June 18, 2016 better for Coach Wiser. He said, “The only thing that could make this even more exciting would be to have a member of the Bobcats play in the game.”

CONGRATULATIONS TO COACH WISER AND THE BOBCATS ON THIS GREAT HONOR !!!!

(Join Clarion Sports Zone in sending Coach Wiser and the Cats your best, by posting congratulatory comments on our facebook page.) www.facebook.com/pages/ClarionSportsZonecom

(Note: Coach Wiser is the third coach with  Little 7-12/KSAC ties to be selected to the Big 33. The other two were Bernie McQuown – West Head Coach (1979) and Harry Clark – West Assistant Coach (1968). McQuown, who coached at Indiana at the time of his selection, formerly coached at East Brady; Clark, who coached at Central High School in Martinsburg, when he was selected, formerly coached at Reynoldsville and Reynoldsville/Sykesville [Ren/Sykes].)