When he was in junior high, Matt Groves attended Penn State track practice once every week or two. He listened to the players talk and took in their advice. Occasionally, he threw a football around with the guys after practice.

He could do this because his dad, Harry, was the head coach of the Nittany Lions for 38 years. And after all those years of watching practice, Matt finally participates in practice. He is now a sophomore at Penn State and a runner on the same team he hung out with in middle school.

Spending his whole life in State College, Matt often walked around the University Park campus. He and his sister, Kelly, often went to the University Creamery.

"Growing up in State College, it's hard not to be a Penn State fan," Matt said. "You are surrounded by it."

Before he started his high school track career, Matt followed his dad around until he built up enough nerve to watch the team on his own.

Senior Teddy Quinn dubbed Harry a "one in a million guy" with a great, funny personality and it showed in his antics. When the team ran on the cross country track, Harry drove the team van alongside. On a few occasions, Matt went with his father.

Harry recalled one time they came across a dead bear along the side of the road. They got out of the van and looked at it. Once they made sure it was dead, Harry told Matt to touch it. Matt did so because his dad convinced him he'd never get the chance again.

Matt traveled to away meets with the team once or twice a year. It was basically a vacation, Matt said. He sat in the bleachers and took in the whole experience, so he could tell his friends he was on a trip with a college team.

Being around his dad and traveling with him and the team gave Matt opportunities he would not normally have. At the Olympic Trials in Sacramento when he was 14, Harry got Matt a job helping security check bags at the gates.

"That was really cool," Matt said. "The Olympic Trials are one of the biggest meets in the country. My dad set it up so I wouldn't be bored. I made sure no one brought outside food into the meet."

Growing up around the team and his dad sparked Matt's interest in track. He spent so much time around track, it was hard not to get into it.

However, Harry -- who also coached at William and Mary for 13 years before Penn State -- said he tried not to push Matt into the sport.

"You have to be careful about your kids, that you don't structure their lives too much," he said. "You have to let them make their own decisions."

When he got to high school, Matt competed on the track team all four years. Because of his time spent around the college team and his dad, Matt felt he knew more about the sport than some of his coaches and teammates. Coaches would have the team participate in similar practices to the ones Matt saw his dad conduct.

He also corrected teammates when they discussed track stars and world records. Harry made it to all the home meets. He gave Matt tips and help when he needed it, but stayed mostly out of the picture, Matt said.

Matt always knew he was going to Penn State and didn't apply to any other schools. Harry had made the decision to retire once Matt graduated high school and followed through on that. He officially retired after the 2006 season. He didn't want to try to coach his own son, adding he had seen others try it with little success.

"The toughest thing in the world is to coach your own kid," he said. "I made up my mind that I would not play that role."

Harry still attends every home meet for Penn State, even though Matt is redshirting this season to get another year of eligibility. Matt said Harry would attend the meets even if he was not on the team.

Harry also helps the coaches from time to time. Assistant coach John Gondak said Harry helped him a lot with things when he got to Penn State. Harry helped Gondak measure the cross country course and familiarize him with it because he knew it all so well.

Quinn said he and teammates often tell Harry Groves stories, and Matt sometimes chimes in with his own. Matt said teammates still ask him about his dad but never say, "That's the coach's son."

Harry believes his son has all the potential in the world but needs to develop and make the full jump into collegiate track.

"About 80 percent of the All-Americans I had were guys who had to develop a lot after we got them," he said. "Two things that make you a good runner are a heck of a lot of work and a heck of a lot of patience.

"I think Matt is in the right place with the right coach in John [Gondak]. He's progressed pretty good and he loves the sport."