Portland responds to allegations

Lady Lion basketball coach Rene Portland refused to comment Wednesday on any allegations that she has mentally abused her players.

She also wanted to distinguish that the circumstances surrounding the departure of Shauntai Hall were different than those involving the exits of Julie Jarosz and Tara Macciocco from the Lady Lions.

Hall, Jarosz and Macciocco all decided to leave the team during the last two months. All three cited personal reasons, but would not elaborate.

However, Shauntai Hall's father, Tom Hall, and Julie Jarosz's father, Joe Jarosz, have complained that Portland created situations that forced their daughters to leave. Joe Jarosz even went so far as to say Portland created a "mentally abusive" situation.

Portland, however, refused to comment on Joe Jarosz's and Tom Hall's allegations.

"Two players quit the team for whatever reason, whether they were personal reasons or playing time," Portland said from Cincinnati, where she is attending the women's NCAA Final Four. "Shauntai is in a very different situation. I like Shauntai. The girls like Shauntai."

Portland said she would not comment on the details concerning Hall's leaving or on anything Tom Hall has said. It is in "protection of Shauntai," Portland said.

"I think I'm being very cooperative," Portland added. "I have said 100 times, I am not commenting on anything Mr. Hall says."

Portland also said she has not been in contact with any parents other than Tom Hall in recent weeks because she has been out of town recruiting. Portland denied ever receiving a letter from Joe Jarosz concerning her handling of a Nov. 2 car accident involving five Lady Lion players and a recruit.

"He did not send me a letter," Portland said. "He sent a letter to Ellen Perry."

Perry, Penn State's associate athletic director, previously admitted to receiving a letter from Joe Jarosz, but would not discuss the letter's contents.

Athletic Director Tim Curley also confirmed that he received a letter from Joe Jarosz but said he has not yet responded.

"It's been several weeks now," Curley said. "I'm in the process of responding to him now."

Curley said the departures of the three Lady Lions have upset him and that he has discussed matters with Portland. The two want what is best for the players, he said.

"Oh, we've had lots of discussions. We both want all of our student-athletes to have a positive experience," Curley said. "I think that any time that any of our student-athletes leave any of our programs it's disappointing, and it concerns us. But differences of opinion do occur and sometimes can't be resolved."

Curley could not recall any occasions in recent history when three players have left the same program in a two-month span.

"I have been here a while," Curley said, "but I would have to check."

Response to the recent criticisms of Portland by Tom Hall and Joe Jarosz has continued to vary.

Senior Lady Lion Angie Potthoff said she personally is hurt by some of the things being said about Portland.

"I've been here five years, and I've worked and helped build and help carry on the tradition of the team," Potthoff said. "I've been given such an incredible opportunity here. Rene has taken such good care of me and everybody. I wasn't highly recruited, and I was one of their project kids.

"She taught me that you work hard and respect the program and respect the coaches and being just honest with her, you are going to get places," she added. "I think that's what happened with me. I did everything she said, and I wouldn't change it for anything."

Potthoff said she has not seen Shauntai, Julie and Tara very much in the past few weeks.

"I've seen 'em around," she said. "Whatever they're doing is up to them."

Potthoff, who graduates in May, recalled what Portland said to her immediately following Penn State's 80-79 loss against Ohio State on Feb. 28 in the Big Ten tournament.

"Right before we went to media she gave me a big hug and squeezed me tight and said, 'It's been a great ride.' She said, 'You played your hardest.' We still talk every day now," Potthoff said. "All I know is that I have the most respect for her, just because she has given me so much and has given so much time to this school and to the program and to us.

"I think now that I'm leaving, I realize how good we've had it here, and how much she has given us," Potthoff said. "I think the thing that hurts the most is that I have so much respect for her. Just everything that's been said hurts, because we've been through so much together."

A person close to several Lady Lions, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Daily Collegian on Wednesday that many friends on the team have come home upset after practices.

"They've been put through a lot," the source said, "and there are a lot of tough players on that team. Mentally, it's killing them. I've seen them come home in tears."

The source also said that not many people are willing to talk about Portland because "she's just got too much power."

The source agreed with Tom Hall, who said in last Friday's Collegian, "These girls are scared to death. Players are afraid to say anything."

Macciocco previously said she did not want to comment on her situation because "she did not want to get in trouble."

Joe Jarosz, though, said the reason for Julie's not coming forward with more details about her departure is that she doesn't figure it would make much difference if she did.

"She (Julie) just figures what good would it do. She just wants to get on with life," Joe Jarosz said. "The only thing you can do is vote with your feet and leave."

Portland said despite what is being said about the way she runs her program, she has to focus on the future and prepare for next season.

"The history of our program speaks for itself. We go about Lady Lion basketball," Portland said. "The season's over, and you get ready for next year. The Lady Lions are already getting ready for next season. I've told them all to remember who you are and remember who you represent."

Potthoff said she has tried to pass on Portland's message to the younger Lady Lions. According to Potthoff, she saw no mental abuse taking place in Portland's program.

"I never saw it as anything like that," Potthoff said. "But I don't really think I have the information to answer that question. It wasn't directed towards me."