Football

Like an offense stuffed at the line of scrimmage, proponents of state championships for public-school football re-huddled, drew up a new play, and are set to try again. A group of coaches and athletic directors from the Big North Conference has drafted a proposal that would change the bylaws of the NJSIAA and allow for state championships in public football. The proposal was presented for discussion at the annual athletic directors meeting last week at the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City.

Like an offense stuffed at the line of scrimmage, proponents of state championships for public-school football re-huddled, drew up a new play, and are set to try again. A group of coaches and athletic directors from the Big North Conference has drafted a proposal that would change the bylaws of the NJSIAA and allow for state championships in public football. The proposal was presented for discussion at the annual athletic directors meeting last week at the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City.

Matt Rhule didn't have time to spare. After being formally announced as the Owls' 26th head football coach on Dec. 17, Rhule hit the ground running, embarking on the recruiting trail for the first time as a collegiate head coach. "We feel really good about it," said Rhule, who has 15 seasons of professional and collegiate coaching experience under his belt. "People really responded well to us. We're going to take that Temple 'T' further across the country and let people see us. " Along with recruiting, Rhule composed a staff of his own, bringing in offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield, defensive coordinator Phil Snow, offensive line coach Allen Mogridge, defensive line coach Brandon Noble and wide receivers coach Terry Smith.

Mike Kapusta has been tabbed as the new head football coach at Hatboro-Horsham. Kapusta, 31, who played fullback and linebacker for North Penn and the University of Penn, was approved by the Hatboro-Horsham school board Monday night. "Michael truly understands what it takes to create and maintain an exceptional football program, and he has the experience and knowledge of the offensive and defensive side of the ball," Hatboro-Horsham principal Dennis Williams Jr. said. Kapusta was previously an assistant coach at North Penn and Wissahickon.

STATE COLLEGE - Coach of the year Bill O'Brien had plenty of awards to accept and galas to attend this offseason. He's sure happy that's over. "I'm just excited to be off the banquet circuit and get back on the field coaching," O'Brien said to laughs at his spring news conference Monday. Indeed, spring practice is now under way for Penn State in snowy State College, and O'Brien outlined numerous position battles, injuries and players who have impressed him: *  Quarterback battle: O'Brien reiterated that the best player is going to play, saying he does not want to redshirt highly touted recruit Christian Hackenberg if he is healthy.

In the United States, arena football has never captured the fan loyalty - or dollars - that the National Football League commands. So why would it be different in China? Two reasons, says a group of Philadelphia investors embarked on a $20 million project to take Philadelphia Soul-style arena football to China. First, they say, Chinese will appreciate "American football," but they won't know the difference between arena football and NFL-style play. Second, the alternatives are dull, dull, dull.

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio - A judge on Sunday convicted two members of Steubenville's celebrated high school football team of raping a drunken 16-year-old girl. The ruling concluded a months-long ordeal for the victim and the accused, even though the case is far from over for the community. Ohio's attorney general immediately announced that he was investigating whether coaches, parents, or other students broke the law by refusing to speak up. Among those his office has interviewed: revered head coach Reno Saccoccia and the owners of one of the houses where a party was held the night of the rape.

Out in force, Pennsylvania State University football players from years gone by made impassioned pleas to the school's board of trustees Friday to reconsider the investigative report that they said unfairly tainted the reputation of their late beloved coach, Joe Paterno. "Joe Paterno held us to a higher standard. We're here today to hold you, the board, to a higher standard," Mark Battaglia, a letterman from Pittsburgh who was on the 1982 championship team, told the 32-member board during the public comment period.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput has decided to allow girls to play football in Philadelphia's Catholic Youth Organization league next season, rejecting the recommendation of a panel he directed to review the league's policy banning them. That rule was subject to scrutiny this winter after Caroline Pla, 11, of Doylestown, was told by the archdiocese that she would not be allowed to play next fall. She played the 2011 and 2012 seasons due to an oversight. Caroline, who started an online petition in December urging the archdiocese to reconsider the rule, said she was surrounded by an elated cluster of classmates, friends, and neighbors when she learned the news from her mother after school.