New York Giants or New England Patriots? It doesn't much matter which team wins Super Bowl XLVI tonight.
Either way, the city of Warren comes out a definite winner.
Giants wide receiver Mario Manningham and Patriots cornerback Antwaun Molden, former teammates at Warren G. Harding High School, will be on opposite sides tonight on football's biggest stage.
It's quite possible - even probable - they'll go head-to-head on some plays, not unlike they once did in practice with the Raiders from 2002-04.
No matter which player - or which team - gets the best of tonight's matchup, seeing two of Warren's own play in the Super Bowl is bound to be a thrill for anyone who calls this town home, especially those of us fortunate enough to watch them make the transformation from shy, little-known high school sophomores to major college recruits.
Tonight, Manningham and Molden will perform in the biggest sporting event in the world and Warren gets to go along for the ride.
BOOM IN?TOWN: Dan "Boom" Herron, another Harding graduate, might just be the next former Raiders standout in the NFL.
Herron wrapped up his Ohio State career against Florida in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 2 and also played in the Senior Bowl on Jan. 28 in Mobile, Ala.
On Saturday, Herron and former Buckeyes teammate DeVier Posey are set to appear at Everything Buckeyes in the Eastwood Mall. The players are scheduled to be available from noon to 2 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at Everything Buckeyes.
WSHOF EVENT: The Warren Sports Hall of Fame will conduct its annual membership dinner Monday, Feb. 13 at DiLucia's. A social hour is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the main program.
New Harding football coach - and current Raiders basketball coach - Steve Arnold is scheduled to speak and is expected to offer an update on the status of his football staff.
The organization's featured speaker will be Dr. Jon Steinbrecher, the commissioner of the Mid-American Conference.
Steinbrecher's remarks are expected to focus on proposed recent changes in the BCS, the realignment of the major college football conferences, and the possibility of MAC?expansion.
YSU?CHANGES:?The Penguins, who struggled on defense last season, will have a new defensive coordinator. Rick Kravitz will not be back in that role in 2012.
Linebacker Davion Rogers, who started 10 of 11 games as a freshman last season, also will not return.
Rogers was a Harding graduate who originally went to Michigan, then transferred to YSU.