Latta continues his 25-year love affair with soccer and University

Many athletes would be discouraged with themselves, their sport and their school if they had to endure what Dr. Stan Latta went through.

As a soccer standout at Easton High School, Latta had many colleges offering him scholarships to play his beloved sport. Growing up in Easton, Pa., he dreamed of playing for Penn State. But Penn State was not one of those schools offering a scholarship.

Nevertheless, Latta decided to pay his way through school at Penn State and try out for the soccer team as a walk-on. If that wasn't challenging enough, Latta suffered a knee injury playing intramural football that year, ending his promising, young soccer career.

Or so you would think.

- Dr. Stan Latta, director of student life and former Penn State soccer player

While pursuing his degrees, Latta's interest in soccer grew. While his injury ended his playing career, he has remained involved with the game. Latta became an intramural referee during his ju-nior year. And like his professional career, he has worked his way up from the bottom and now officiates high school and NCAA games.

Latta realizes that soccer has taken a back seat to other team sports in the United States, and especially so at Penn State. He commented that when someone thinks of Penn State, they think of football. But Latta is not jealous or bitter. He is very proud of Penn State's soccer programs.

"Both the men's and women's teams play the game the way it should be played: aggressive but within the constraints of the rules," Latta said. "They are well-coached, aggressive and disciplined."

Because of the popularity of youth and high school leagues, Latta is confident about soccer's future, not only at Penn State but in the United States in general. He also said that the newly formed Major League Soccer should boost the sport's appeal.

Whether on the soccer field, in the classroom, or working with student affairs, Latta is always trying to help others. "I am constantly educating," Latta said.

Not only in the classroom, but about the game and, more importantly, about life. Latta is completely unselfish when it comes to giving his time or knowledge to the University community.

"I bleed blue and white," he said.

Dennis Hall, Latta's friend and colleague, could attest to that.

"Dr. Latta is the consummate person who represents what Penn State stands for - excellence, both personally and professionally," said Hall, assistant director and academic coordinator of student support services. "He brings out excellence in others."

When asked how Latta's work as a University administrator relates to his work as a soccer referee, Hall said, "Stan's even-handed fairness (as an educator) carries on to the field. When he goes to another school or college he is a good ambassador for the University."

So Latta may have not lived out his dream of playing for his be-loved Nittany Lions, but that has not stopped him from making a positive contribution to the University.