Pat Principe, Channel 8 Newscaster Lists His Top 5 Most Memorable Events

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about one of my all-time favorite broadcasters at Lancaster PA's Channel 8. Guy's name is Pat Principe who started at Channel 8 in 1983 and has since covered eight Super Bowls and four World Series.

He also reported on 24 Penn State bowl games since 1990, including four Rose Bowls.  But, we will remember him just as much for all the sporting events he covered in and around Lancaster and surrounding counties.  Pat recently listed his top 5 moments in Lancaster sports history that he remembers and cherishes the most.  They are: 

 #1 - The 1995 Rose Bowl because that was Penn State's Nittany Lions' first Rose bowl as a Big 10 member.....  It was notable for Ki-Jana Carter breaking an 80-yard run on the very first play of the game.  Penn State was undefeated at the time and finished the game undefeated.  However, the Nittany Lions didn't win the national championship.  Back then, it was done in a vote.  Nebraska also finished undefeated a day before they got the vote over Penn State.  Coach Joe Paterno got a ride off the field from his players.  "It was special for the Susquehanna Valley natives like Kyle Brady, the Cedar Cliff High grad, and Kerry Collins, the quarterback of the team who grew up in Lebanon and played football at Wilson High School.  He was the team leader, and it was great to see them go out like that with a win in the '95 Rose Bowl, one of four Rose Bowls that I got to attend.  Penn State sports has been a lot go fun to cover," Pat said.

#2 - Cal Ripken Jr. breaks record for consecutive games played.....  Principe was in Baltimore two nights - when the Orioles shortstop tied the record and when he broke it on September 6, 1995.  "This was a tremendous moment when they finally rolled down the 2,131 banner, and what I remember most about this night was a 45-,mute standing ovation that Cal got.  He did a victory lap around Camden Yards," Pat said.  "It's always fun to witness history.  And to be ale to witness it firsthand, that makes it even more special."  

#3 - 2003  Snow Bowl..... Manheim Central played Pine-Richard for the state football championship during a blizzard at Hersheypark Stadium.  The game was 9-3 at the half, and as the snow fell harder, the teams kept racking up the points.  The Barons scored a touchdown to get ahead nd kick the extra point.  Then it was Sean Wilt with the "Block Hears Around Manheim". That gave Manheim Central the 39-38 double overtime win for their first-ever-state-championship.  It was also the 400th win in Barons' history.  "I love covering high school football.  Football Friday's been a great passion of mine," Pat said.  "It was so good, though, to see Manheim Central finally get that state title. Coach Mike Williams certainly deserved it.  What a game.  It was probably the best game I've ever see - high school, college or pro."

#4 - The first event Pat covered in June 1983 was the Lady Keystone Open.  It was one of the bet-aattnded events on the LPGA tour during its nearly 20-year run.  Crowds of up to 30,000 to 40,000 people lined the fairways on the final day.  Greats like Nancy Lopez, Juli Inkster and Betty King all competed.  The most successful women's tournament of ll time was the 2015 U.S. Women's Open at Lancaster Country Club.  "Golf and women's golf in particular has been very important here in the Susquehanna Valley, and I enjoyed my years at th LKO and at the U.S. Women's Open," Pat said.

#5 - Hershey Bears win the 2010 Calder Cup.  This was notable for several reasons: 1. It was just the second time win team history that the Bears won back-to-back Calder Cups. 2. It was only the third time ever they were able to raise the cup on home ice.  They did it in 1959 and 1969.  3. This was the team's 11th Calder Cup championship, which move them two ahead of the next closest pursuer.  "And Brian Helmer, the captain - great friend of mine and he's now the president nd general manager of the Bears - it was great to see him hoist the cup," Pat said.  "Hershey Bears have been one of the great things to cover in this area.  They are one of the oldest pro sports franchises in the entire country.  They've been great to work with as well." 

Thank you Pat for all you have done for the sports fans of Lancaster and surrounding areas.  You made it exciting and memorable for all of us.  Hope you have a fantastic retirement.  You certainly do deserve it!  Perhaps I'll see you at another sporting event in the near future, sitting in the stands just like the rest of us!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.