Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Zack Mills


 * The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review).  No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was nomination withdrawn. (non-admin closure) Jenks24 (talk) 03:56, 15 November 2011 (UTC)

Zack Mills
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Non-notable former quarterback at Penn State. Fails notability guidelines, and currently is serving as an assistant high school football coach. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Go Phightins!  (talk • contribs)  22:35, November 11, 2011
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of American football-related deletion discussions.  • Gene93k (talk) 00:47, 12 November 2011 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of Sportspeople-related deletion discussions.  • Gene93k (talk) 00:47, 12 November 2011 (UTC)


 * Keep College football players are notable under WP:GNG if they have received significant, non-trivial coverage in the mainstream media.  Mills was the QB at Penn State, one of the top programs in college football, from 2001 to 2004.  A search of Google News Archive reveals hundreds of articles with non-trivial articles (i.e., more than a stat line or passing references in game coverage) about Mills.  Examples include: (1) 'General Mills' Is in Command; As a Redshirt Freshman Quarterback, Urbana High Graduate Guides Resurgent Penn State, The Washington Post, Nov. 2001; (2) Mills: A moving target,  His option skill displeases defenses, but he accepts the risk, Philadelphia Inquirer, Sept. 2002; (3) Freshman QB 101: Zack Mills describes difficult transition process from high school to college, Altoona Mirror, Aug. 2010;  (4) Mills can't continue to go it alone, The Morning Call, Sept. 2003; (5) Freshman quarterback is growing up fast, York Daily Record, Oct. 2001; (6) Lions Should Stick With Mills, Times Leader, Oct. 2001; (7) Mills sets record for freshman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sept. 2001; (8) Paterno: Mills will probably start: The Nittany Lions' talented freshman QB ..., Reading Eagle, Nov. 2001; (9) Zack isn't milling around the interview room, Reading Eagle, Sept. 2004; (10) Mills Shows Cool Hand in Leading Lions, Times Leader, Oct. 2001; (11) Mills runs, catches, throws TDs to rout Zips, ESPN, Sept. 2004; (12) Struggling Penn State gets a lift from Mills, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Nov. 2003; (13) Mills' slump is mystifying, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sept. 2003; (14) Lions put classy end on tough season,  Senior QB Zack Mills got an emotional send-off after he and the offense pounded the Spartans, Philadelphia Inquirer, Nov. 2004; (15) Zack Mills leads Lions to another comeback win, Reading Eagle, Nov. 2001; (16) Penn State's Mills may miss Ohio State game with concussion, Associated Press, Oct. 2004; (17) Mills will be tested to see if he can play, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Oct. 2004; (18) Mills still coping with the catcalls, Reading Eagle, Nov. 2004; (19) Stock Is Falling; Zack Mills, The Washington Post, Sept. 2004; (20) Mills gives Lions best shot to win, Reading Eagle, Sept. 2004; (21) Wounded pride for Lions QB now faced with being replaced, Philadelphia Inquirer, Nov. 2004; (22) Mills finds his past exploits a comfort amid struggle, venom of present, The Morning Call, Nov. 2004; (23) Mills might get last laugh at Penn State, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug. 2004; (24) Mills hopes to lay groundwork for Penn State's revival, Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 2004; (25) Mills Shows His Big Play Versatility, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sept. 2004; (26) Mills Does It All for Penn State, The New York Times, Sept. 2004; (27) Tragedy mars off-season for Penn State's Zack Mills, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Aug. 2003; (28) Knee injury alters Mills' perspective, approach to game, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Oct. 2003; (29) Mills has new grip on offense, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sept. 2003; (30) Mills' Arm Feeling Healthy, Centre Daily Times, Apr. 2008; (31) Mills has zero tolerance for committing turnovers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sept. 2002; (32) Former Lion Mills finds life after football: After searching for a team for two years, former QB went to work in business world, Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News, July 2007; (33) With coaching job, Mills gains new perspective, Philadelphia Inquirer, April 2006; (34) Ex-Penn St. QB Mills joins Temple staff, Philadephia Inquirer, Feb. 2006; Mills just wants another shot: Former PSU quarterback didn't last very long with the Redskins, York Sunday News, June 2005; (35) Mills' Career Has Emotional Ending, Centre Daily Times, Nov. 2004; (36) Mills Named Senior MVP at Banquet, Centre Daily Times, Dec. 2004. Cbl62 (talk) 01:50, 12 November 2011 (UTC)


 * Comment Isn't he a bit of a run of the mill college player? Many QBs from a few years ago have several articles from papers in their home markets, but does that really qualify them as notable? Go Phightins! (talk) 02:49, 12 November 2011 (UTC)
 * Reply We don't assess notability by our personal view of whether we think a player was "run of the mill."  It's the nature and extent of the coverage that matters.  Here, the coverage is extraordinarily deep and wide, including stories about him in some of the country's most significant major metropolitan newspapers, such as: Associated Press wire service, The New York Times (3rd in circulation), The Washington Post (5th in circulation), The Philadelphia Inquirer (13th in circulation), Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (31st in circulation), and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (35th in circulation). While there's no fixed rule that major college starting QBs are notable, starting QBs for major college football teams typically receive a lot of news coverage  -- far more than players at any position.  For a recent example of a major college QB (one with less coverage than Mills, see Articles for deletion/Nate Costa, which was closed as "keep."  Cbl62 (talk) 03:26, 12 November 2011 (UTC)
 * You Changed My Mind After reading the arguments for Nate Costa, I agree with you and withdrawal my support for this article to be deleted. Go Phightins! (talk) 13:46, 13 November 2011 (UTC)
 * Keep. Plenty of reliable reliable coverage. Jweiss11 (talk) 07:24, 12 November 2011 (UTC)


 * Keep Clearly notable with a wide array of independent, reliable sources.--Paul McDonald (talk) 17:40, 12 November 2011 (UTC)
 * Keep Tons of coverage as shown by Cbl. Passes WP:GNG.-- Giants27 ( T  |  C )  03:17, 14 November 2011 (UTC)
 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.