I just read where Phil G. has sold Blue-White Illustrated. I have been with him since the very beginning with your Catch Lions Fever publication. He gave us die-hard fans great information on our beloved Nittany Lions throughout all these 40 years. His commitment, passion and love for our Lions will be missed. Thank you Phil on a great career and I wish you and your wife the best of health. Enjoy your well deserved retirement.
Thank You Phil Grosz
- Thread starter THEEHMANN
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The sheer number of guys who made (and continue to make) a living off his work/brand is remarkable. Includes the guys here plus Fitz at a minimum.
I remember commuting to evening classes and listening to him with Jed on old AM 580 in Harrisburg during recruiting season.
I’d watch the local station that just aired community news during his call in show; my roommate once called to ask what Phil thought of Essex Law (RB related to Ty).
Makes me feel old. The end of an era. I remember in the early 90’s at the old Foster Ave Apartments my roommates and I would listen to him and Dean Devore I believe.
We tailgated ext to Phil at a PSU event before a Philadelphia Stars game featuring Chuck Fusina and Scott Fitzkee. That's the first time I'd heard of him. Like Joe J. Vs the Eagles....
I was a Catch Lions Fever subscriber and then moved on to BWI through late 90s. My recollection of the eternal optimist Phil is the every preseason prediction over that era was 11-1 at worst.
Very good! We should broaden this thread in honor of Phil with our favorite “Philisms”.
I like when Phil described a recruit, he was a “carbon copy” of this player. Or when Tom Lemming would write some low piece in recruiting. Man, you could tell Phil got pissed. Good stuff Phil! We’’ll miss your insight and articles, especially downtime between schoolwork.
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When talking about a recruit Phil would get deep into the woods on the player’s coach, town, etc. Was more genuine than the ‘recruiting bros’ we have now and you could tell he spent a lot of time building those relationships. He also called Al Golden to PSU and that will never be lived down. Huge swing and miss.
If memory serves, that happened 1998 or thereabouts. It was right around the Chris Simms debacle. There was an interim board before rivals became a thing.
Been with Phil from day 1 use to buy catch lions fever at newspaper stores when there were newspaper stores, congrats Phil
Actually that call was more like a line drive down the left field line that passes a hair's breadth to the left of the foul pole before exiting the stadium. PSU and Golden had a deal. Uncle Fester couldn't get it closed before the powers that be at Miami brought pressure to bear so that Golden had to back out. Sometimes you just get lucky, I guess.
It sounds like he will still be on this site and is still going to have his weekly chat. He also said he was going to write special articles from time to time. I am not sure if those will be in BWI magazine or on this site.
Phil knew what happened and didn't disclose it for his own reasons. I really hate seeing him catch shit for being honorable. I can't substantiate it, but I'm reasonably sure I'm not the only person who heard the story.
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So what, if anything, happens to this board? I was under the impression that the BWI "franchise" was sold to Yahoo, but it appears that only the cyber-portion was shed a few years ago. Apparently savvy Phil kept the print -rights to his publication?
Why do I suspect Phil G and Tom Mc are soon going to be lounging at their retirement villas in the Caribbean?
0:52LiveUpcomingOffice Space - I said no salt, NO salt!Smurkyce99K views • 9 years agoSmurkyce • 99K views
Why do I suspect Phil G and Tom Mc are soon going to be lounging at their retirement villas in the Caribbean?
0:52LiveUpcomingOffice Space - I said no salt, NO salt!Smurkyce99K views • 9 years agoSmurkyce • 99K views
I also started out with the original Catch Lions Fever. I also bought Joe Terranova's pamphlets for $5.
I wish good health and happiness for Phil and his wife. I attended lots of Phil Grosz nights in the Lehigh Valley. He was as passionate as anyone could have been about the Lions.
Freshman year at PSU (1987) living in Geary every Monday (may have been Tuesday) walked to the commons store to buy BWI each week. Great memories.
Once Phil spoke at the Crystal city sports pub (just outside D.C.) and my buddy and I dropped him off at his hotel afterwards.
phil is def a good guy and loved his passion and optimism. Glad to hear he will still have a role from time to time.
Once Phil spoke at the Crystal city sports pub (just outside D.C.) and my buddy and I dropped him off at his hotel afterwards.
phil is def a good guy and loved his passion and optimism. Glad to hear he will still have a role from time to time.
Phil is nothing if not irrepressible. But isn't that what we were paying him for way back then?🏈
Before the internet became a game-changer, Phil's reports were awesome. Like an oasis in the desert for people not living in HV. Good stuff Phil and appreciate all you've done.
I am another original subscriber to Catch Lions Fever - one of the first 500. I used to read that mag and the first few years of printed Blue White Illustrated cover to cover then count the days to the next issue. I still subscribe to the printed version all these decades later. When we were going through the "dark years" and most people were writing us off, Phil was the one guy that consistently gave us an optimistic hope, and of course his predictions that Joe would turn things around came true. I can't say I read every article anymore - just don't have the time - but i always read Phil's articles. Keep writing Phil!
A true pioneer, or trailblazer in the world of major college football recruiting coverage in every sense. Clearly he’s the reason almost everyone on the BWI Lions Den and other spin-offs (247, etc) are still active on this site. I still have many of my hard copy preseason BWI magazines and weekly paper BWI recaps from years ago in storage in my garage back to the 90’s minimum.
Congrats Phil and well done sir ! WE ARE and YOU ARE PENN STATE !
Congrats Phil and well done sir ! WE ARE and YOU ARE PENN STATE !
If memory serves after Plotit it was just called the McAndrew board or something, until the Rivals overloads moved in.
I believe I received my first (complimentary) copy of Catch Lions Fever at a Blue/White game some 40 years ago, not sure if it was Phil passing them out at a table in front of the Beav'. Been a follower of the print and digital version ever since.
edit: I used to sneak onto the plotit message board from work, when I was on a break.
edit: I used to sneak onto the plotit message board from work, when I was on a break.
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I’ve been a customer in one way or another for a long time and, for many, many years, before the internet took over, Phil’s paper was the only connection to PSU football and other sports. Last week we discussed his appearances on a Philly radio show early Saturday mornings to talk about recruiting and it was like an oasis in the desert.
So congrats to Phil, time to relax a bit, take care of the Mrs., play some golf and hope his legacy carries on.
So congrats to Phil, time to relax a bit, take care of the Mrs., play some golf and hope his legacy carries on.
Sounds about right. I distinctly remember being on BWI in the summer of 1999 with the lead up to the game with Arizona. A bunch of their fans were on here talking about how Penn State wouldn't be able to handle AZ's speed. Western speed, I guess! Didn't they call their preseason camp Camp Kochise (sp?) or something like that?
I have been following Phil since the "Catch Lions Fever" days and subscribed to the recruiting publication he put out with another guy, who I believe subsequently passed away. I appreciate the community he started that evolved into the board.
Thanks, Phil.
Thanks, Phil.
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