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Our "Going Camping" tour was at Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School today. But before we get to the Vikings, a few tidbits ...
** Aliquippa football coach Mike Zmijanac is always good for a good comment or two. Colleague Brad Everett was speaking to Zmijanac Sunday about the Quips' team. Zmijanac remarked how there is a young defensive tackle on his team that he likes. When Brad asked the player's name, Zmijanac said, "I only know these guys by their nicknames. I call him the Ice Cream Man."
Brad asked, "Why Ice Cream Man?"
Zmijanac's answer? "Well, he shows up for the first day of practice looking like he ate a gallon of ice cream every day this summer."
** Josh Stepoli, a Division I football prospect who has played at Monessen and Greensburg Central Catholic, is not at Monessen any longer. That's old news. Reportedly, he is somewhere in North Carolina. Not sure of what school. Pitt had offered him a scholarship when he was a junior.
** P.J. McLaughlin, a 6-7 senior on the Greensburg Central Catholic basketball team, has committed to Seton Hill.
** Deion Turman, former basketball player at Mt. Lebanon, is now at Wingate University, a Division II school in North Carolina. Turman was on Robert Morris' team as a freshman this past season, but saw little playing time and transferred.
** The son of Sean "Diddy" Combs is getting scholarship offers for football. Justin Combs plays at Iona Prep in New York and UCLA just offered him. He has a few other offers from big-time schools. By the way, is Sean Combs now Diddy? P Diddy? What is he going by these days?
Now, "Going Camping" at Central Catholic.
LINE PLAY: The Central Catholic football team does some conditioning at the end of practice.

Cracking the top 25
Central Catholic has cracked the top 25 in at least one national poll. The Vikings are ranked No. 24 in this week's Rivals.com rankings. Rivals ranks 100 teams. The only other Pennsylvania teams in the top 100 are Allentown Central Catholic (No. 64) and La Salle (90).
Nixon to play more defense
Senior Anthony Nixon will play full-time on both offense and defense this season. Nixon already has made a verbal commitment to Maryland, and the Terrapins recruited him as a defensive back. That might be considered a little odd because Nixon was a full-time player at receiver last year, but not a full-time player at defensive back. He will be a safety.
Pitt was Nixon's other top choice and the Panthers recruited him as a receiver. Nixon committed to Maryland in July.
"Pitt was No. 1, but I I lived in Pittsburgh all my life," said Nixon, who lives in the Hill District. "I wanted to get out of Pittsburgh and get to a new city. Maryland is close enough that I can get back and forth. It's only four hours away. I think they have a good program, a great head coach. It was the best place for me."
Look for more from Nixon later this week when he is featured in our "Blue Chip Chat" series in the newspaper.
Jones-Moore gets offers
Damion Jones-Moore is only 5 feet 7, but he now has a few Division I scholarship offers. Toledo and Ohio of the Mid-American Conference have both offered, as well as I-AA Youngstown State. Jones, by the way, now weighs 180 pounds. He has been on the varsity since his freshman year, but has added about 15 pounds since his sophomore year. The kid might not be big, but he is "put together."
As for the scholarship offers, Jones-Moore said, "I'm pretty happy with that, but as long as I get to go to college for free, whoever wants me. I'm not going to be picky and choosy."
Jones-Moore missed a few games with an ankle injury last year. He is trying to take precautions to stay healthy this year.
"I did a lot of joint and muscle workouts for this year," Jones-Moore said. "I've started taking ice baths now. Just after some practices."
Ice baths? Jones-Moore laughed and said, "I never did it before because I couldn't take it. It's still really cold. I still kind of scream when I get in there. But whatever it takes."
Jones-Moore insists Central Catholic is paying no attention to rankings. Apparently, the Vikings have learned.
"Rankings don't mean anything," Jones-Moore said. "You see what happened last year. We were No. 1 in the WPIAL almost all year and we didn't even make it to the championship."
Central Catholic lost in the semifinals to North Allegheny.
Fab 5
Central Catholic has five seniors who have either committed to Division I schools or been offered by scholarships by Division I colleges. Nixon and quarterback Perry Hills are both committed to Maryland. They were both recruited by Maryland assistant coach Greg Gattuso, who is in his first season at Maryland. He was previously a Pitt assistant coach.
Jones-Moore has the Mid-American Conference offers mentioned above. Offensive lineman Logan Dietz has scholarship offers from West Virginia and MAC schools and defensive back Juwan Hayes has MAC offers.
COACHSPEAK: Central Catholic coach Terry Totten, below, addresses his team after this morning's practice.


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I can't wait for the Central vs. Archbishop Wood game. Wow !!!!!!
Morton - I read your comments about Pryor in the previous thread. He's going to Da Raiders, which has become a joke of an organization. He may have a chance to start at QB. Good luck to T.P.