HUSKIES F001~BALL PRESS INFORMATION BOOK Mel Montanye 1961 Clyde Baker Fred Frey Edward Cocco Left to right: Michael F lanagan, Backfield Coach; Robert Zeigler, Trainer; Walter Blair, Head Coach; E li McLaugh lin, Line Coach. BLOOMSBURG STATE COLLEGE BLOOMSBURG,PENNSYLVANIA Prepared by PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE Boyd F. Buckingham, Director Glenn Gruber Frank Creneti BLOOMSBURG STATE COLL?GF Bloomsburg Pennsylvania Sports Publicity Office 1961 FOOTBALL BROCHURE, President of the College.••••• ....... .......Dr. Harvey A. Andruss Athletic Staff (Football) Athletic Director....... ••••• ..... Russell Houk, Lock Haven S.C. '52 Head Football Coach.................Walter R.. Blair, West Chester s.. c. t 50 Line Coach ................................ Eli McLaughlin, West Chester s .. c. '57 Backfield Coach............................Michael Flanagan, Lock Haven s.. c.. ,49 Freshman Coach .......................... Donald Bashore, Susquehanna University Trainer.....................................Ropert Zeigler, West Chester s.c. 1 58 Student Managers .................... Richard Lockhart , 64 Lee Jackson '63 Student Coach ......................... Frank Sorochak , 63 Student Statistician ................. Joe Jennings 162 Director of Public Relations .... Boyd F., Buckingham, B.s .. c.. 143 Secretary ....................................... Joann McAfee Athletic Information Member .................................... NCAA, PScAC ·., NAIA Colors ....................................Maroon and Gold Nickname.................................. Huskies Home Field............................Mt. Olympus Capacity ................................. 3,000 Press Table ............................Accommodations for 10 persons College Information Denomination.................. Non--D enominati onal Conducted by ................. Cormnonwealth of Pennsylvania Year Founded .................... 1839 Enrollment ...................... 1900 Addresi ....................Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania Radio Facilities are available *lt lE 1l'***lHHH***'*******"'-'YH-'****i:-ff** : * * : -x- * * * FOR FUR'IHER INFORMATION Write or call BLOOMSBURG STATE COLLEGE Bloomsburg Pennsylvam.a PHONE 5 T 4-466o Ext. 18 : * * * * * * * ~ * * * I E IE IE*****-**** '47 Sports Publicity Office Boyd F. Bucld.ngham Director of Public Relations 1961 OUTLOOK When varsity letters were awarded to football players at the Annual Athletic Awards Dinner at Bloomsburg early in May, 1961, Coach Walt Blair noted that 1/3 or 10 of the 30 men receiving the awards were scheduled also to receive diplomas later that month. In addition to these 10, several others did not report for practice or did not return to school, and two others have been prevented from participating in pre-season practice sessions due to illness or injuries. On ,SeptEmber S, the Husky coaching stnf f b e-gm , i n 01:;.r9- cst , the grueling task of molding a new grid machine from the 45 seniors, juniors, and sophomores who reported. Following last year 1 s pattern, the sophomores, 17 in number, out-numbered any of the other groups. Most of them were members of last year's freshman squad who had developed into potential varsity material before the season ended. For the second time in Bloomsburg 1 s history, there will be few, if any, freshmen starting in the varsity unit, although Coach Blair has indicated that several frosh are very likely to move up to the varsity later in the season. I During the intensive pre-season practice and scrimmage sessions, the experienced observer would have noted that the squad lacks experience in depth. Although individual team members are not too big, physically, the squad has shown much of the same speed, hustle, and desire which netted them 6 victories and 2 defeats in the 1960 campaign. One of those def eats was a 21-·20 loss at East :;,troudsburg. Last year, t he Huskies had good depth in the end positions with Stan Hugo, Rollie Cunningham, Jim Conrad, Ron Wetzel, Wayne Miller, and Charlie Brown; five of those men graduated, and Brown has not reported due to illness. In order to bolster the completely depleted corps of ends, Blair has moved Moses Scott and Roy Peffer up from the backfield, and has added Dick Davala, Art Tinner and Bob Mayefskie, who were jayv ee starters last year. If Scott can snare passes and elude would-be tacklers at the end positions as effectively as he did while playing halfback, Husky fans can look forward to a reasonable share of thrills. Four varsity lettermen, each tipping the scales at better than 200 pounds, will form the nucleus of nine candidates who hope to win one of the starting posts at tackle. The four are Francis Gurski, Bill Garson ( conference wrestling champion), Don Denick and Howard Hunter ( one of Russ Houk' s heavyweight · matmen). They will be joined by John Jens en, and Vic Widman, jayvee stalwarts last year. Another quartet of lettermen - Trevor Carpenter, Gary Stackhouse, John Sills, and Gary Barnaba - are among the six candidates vying for guard positions. Frank Creneti, a senior, has also shown pranise and anticipates earning the first varsity letter of his college career. The Huskies seem to have a wealth of talent to compete for the center slot this season. For the past two years, Bob Christina, fiery, capable, and alert junior from West Hazleton, handled most of the offensive Sports Publicity Office Boyd F. Buckingham Director of Public Relations 1961 Outlook contt and defensive defensive end Casarella and much-deserved assignments. With the conversion of Larry Tironi from to offensive center, and the additions of sophomores Joe Ray Fino, from the jayvee team., Christina should get some relief during the season. Two juniors, Dick Rohrer and Ken Robbins, have already earned two varsity letters each, caJling signals and tossing passes at the quarterback position. They will be joined by John Ribble and Bill Moran. These four are strong in experience, throw fairly well, and can provide an important spark for the team as a whole if they live up to past performances and indicated potential. In the backfield, Coach Blair has four light but speedy veterans who have already proved their ability as consistent ground gainers. E.d Cocco, Mel Montanye, Fred Frey, and Glenn Gruber - all seniors will be joined by CJ_yde Baker, another senior, who was one of the leading ball carriers with the jayvees last yearo Don English and Lee Fredericks nave also moved up frcm the freshman squad to bolster the corps of halfbacks. Three of last ye3.r 1 s freshmen will handle most of the fullback assignments. Cary Sr2out, Ken Dries, and Howard Vanderpool will also be looking for their first varsity ''B"., Gary Rupert, a Bloomsburg High School alumnus, who ranked 10th in puntinif among small ;:,o1leges in the nation last year, will again handle most of the pli.r~ting assignment so Of the ei r;ht opponents, to be faced by the Huskies this year, it may well be sa·:.d th:?.t each has improveo. in strength and experience. Beginni:r.,g with .S hipp e:13burg on September 23, the Huskies will have no let~up until t'.'.le cur-t.2.in r 1.rtgs down in the s ea:son finale with the powerful Rams cf West Chester on November 11,. It is alwc:>.ys extremely difficult to predict exactly what kind of a season Blai1··1 s ch 2:!':r;es wlll have, but it may well be said that they sh0u.ld measure up to t.he o·-1.tstand:iag pe:ti'orman::: e of last year's squad. Sports Publicity Office Boyd F. Buckingham Director of Public Relations THE COACHING -STAFF WALTFR R. BLAIR, HFAD COACH Walt Blair will hold the reins of the Husky grid machine for the fifth year after serving two years as assistant coach at Bloomsburg. Blair was an outstanding athlet e at Northeast High School in Philadelphia, lettering in football, baseball, and basketball. Military service in the Army during World War II ended a brief stay at Temple University., While in the Service, Blair played football with the Eighth Armored Division and Camp Polle Teams. In September, 1946, he entered West Chester c;. C. to begin an outstanding carrer in college competition under Coach Glenn Killinger. It was during this period that the Rams became one of the nation's small college gridiron powers. Blair played in three post-season bowl games, seeing service in both the line and backfield. An able and enthusiastic competitar:- Blair used his know-how to good advantage while coaching at Neshaminy, Jenkintown, and Chambersburg High Schools. His teams rolled up 30 victories, 13 losses, and 1 tie. In the Fall of 19.55, Coach Blair received a call to come to Bloomsburg as assistant coach. Jack Yohe, then head man of the Huskies, had observed Blair's prowess firsthand when Yohe served as backfield coach at West Chester under Killinger. Blair's record as head coach since 19.57 is 16-13-2. NICHAFL FLANAGAN, EACKFIELD COACH Quiet, likable Mike Flanagan came to Bloomsburg in January, 1960, as assistant wrestling and football coach. In the Spring of 1960, he was also named head track coach. Be came to BSC after 7 years at Bellefonte as assistant football and head wrestling coach. Prior to that, he spent a year at Curwensville, as an assistant in football and two years at Dubois as a ssistant f8otball and wrestling coach and head track coach. Flanagan played 3 years of var sity football at Clearfield H. c., and was named All-State guard in his junior and senior years, lettering also in wrestling and track. He lettered in football and wrestling for 4 years at Lock Haven .s.c., and captained the gridiron squad in his s.enior year. He specializes in dev eloping backs for the Maroon and Gold squad and teaching Health and Phys ical Education in th e classroom. Sports Publicity Office Boyd F. Buckingham Director of Public Relations The coaching staff can't ELI MCLAUGHLIN, LINE COACH Hard-working, affible Eli McLaughlin joined the Husky coaching staff in September, 1961. He was an outstanding center on the varsity squad for three years at West Chester State College and was Line Coach one year for the Rams' Freshman Team. In addition to serving as line coach, McLaughlin will be plenty busy as varsity swimming coach at Bloomsburg. irJhile teaching at Penncrest High School, he participated actively in athletics, serving four years as football line coach, three years as golf coach, and two years as assistant wrestling coach. For more than eight years, he has worked as a swimming coach for private clubs, and has been a qualified college swimming official for the same period of time. DONALD BASHORE, FRESHMAN COACH Don Bashore, joined the Husky staff in September, 1960, after serving as assistant coach for seven years at Juniata Joint High School at Mifflintown; he played an important role 1rJi. th the teams which ran up a 35 game winning streak over a three year period at Mifflintown. Bashore also spent three years coaching at Yeagertown. He played 4 years of high school ball at Bloomfield, New Jersey, two years of varsity ball at Susquehanna University, a year of semi-pro competition with the Bloomfield, N. J. 11 Comets", and a season with the Newark "Bearstt. His calm but warm and confident manner on the gridiron is also put to good use in the classroom where he teache:is psychology. ROBFRT ZEIGLER, TRAINER One of the youngest members of the coaching staff is Bob 7eigler, who played three years of baseball and one year of football at New Cumberland High School. At West Chester State College, Zeigler played two years of baseball and served as football trainer for one year under Coach Glen Killinger. During the 1959-60 school year, he was assistant football and baseball coach at Susquehannock Joint H. S. Thorough and enthusiastic in his work with the squad, Zeigler has earned a similar reputation as a member of the faculty of the Health and Physical Education Department, since joining the college faculty in September, 1960 Sports Publicity Office Boyd F. Buckingham Director of Public Relations Th'UlffiNAIL SKFTCHES RETURING VET.ERA NS MEL MONTANYE - Halfback - Senior - West Pittston - has developed into one of the best all-around backs on the squad - played outstanding role in defensive picture in 1959 and 1960. A plugger, he is expected this year to be a vital cog in the offense. FRED FREY - Halfback - Senior - Tunkhannock - one of the key senior playPxs in secondary defense - a three letter winner, he can be an even greater asset to the over-all picture if he receives his full potential. ED COCCO - Back - Senior - Upper Darby - fastest man on the team - won the State College Championship in the 100 and 220 yard dashes last Spring named to Middle Atlantic Conference First Team in 1959 while attending Pennsylvania Military College., - Should have a great year if the Husky line lives up to expectations., GLENN GRUBER - Halfback - Senior - Highspire - Rough and rugged, Glenn has been a defensive stalwart for three years - has a keen desire to play is being counted on to play important part in defensive secondary. MOSES SCO'IT - End - Junior - Upper Merion - Could develop one of Bloomsburg' s greatest all-around ball players - an outstanding receiver and broken field runner, he will also be an important part of the secondary defense. ROY PF'FFER - End - Junior - Cumberland Valley - Second fastest member of squad a versatile hard-working track standout, he will be used as an offensive end and halfback - Nill share defensive safety man assignments. FRANCIS GURSKI - Tackle - Junior - Coal Township - "Big Frank" could be a big help to the Husky cause if he developes more speed and agility. a hard worker, one of the bright spots on the line~ BILL GAi.~SON - Tackle - Junior - Williamsport - Rapidly developing into a topflight tackle - speedy - an excellent broker - a State Conference and NAIA wrestling champion, he could easily duplicate these honors on the gridiron.. DON DENICK - Tackle - Junior - Upper Merion - a 235 pounder, Don is expected to shoulder much of the brunt of the Husky defense - agile for his si~e - moves well - has the desire necessary to pick up his 3rd varsity letter in three season~. TREVOR CARPENTER - Tackle - Junior - West :=-cranton - Won letter as guard last season - is expected to be a regular perfonner in tackle slot his efforts are characterized by quick reaction and hard blocking. JOHN SILIS - Guard - Junior - Burlington, N.J. - An outstanding performer last year - expected to lead offensive line - fast - spirited - detennined to be outstanding - should be one of the outst~nding guards in the State College C0 nference. Sports Publicity Office Boyd F. Buckingham Director of Public Relations Thumbnail Sketches con 1 t GARY STACKHOUSE - Guard - Junior - Pen Argyl - a consistent performer for two years - strong - determined - equally outstanding on offense and defense - easy to coach - should earn a tention of fans on offense and defense. BOB CHRISTINA - Center - Junior - West Hazleton - Probably most under-rated center in the Conference - tough - durable - sharp in his analysis and reaction - a natural leader, he provides either spark or steadying influence when needed. DICK ROHRER - Quarterback - Junior - Mechanicsburg - Key to Husky offense in 1959 and 1960 - a capable signal caller and passer - with Moses Scott as his receiver, Rohrer should become outstanding in small college r~~ KEN ROBBINS - Quarterback - Junior - Williamsport - Small - fiery can capably fill the quarterback slot - a deadly tackler - lots of spirit. GARY RUPFRT - Back - Junior - Bloomsburg - Ranked 10th among small colleges in nation last year in punting - his skill and experience will be used again whenever tre occasion demands. GARY BARNABA - Quard - Sophomore - Binghamton, N. Y. - Burly - fast - eager as Middle Quard, he will be a key in the Husky defense - should be a consistent perfonner. DICK DAVALA - End - Sophomore - Exeter - Good receiver - tough defense man top candidate for varsity end - one of last year 1 s outstanding frosh. JOHN RIBBLE - Ouarterback - cophomore - f-'J_ymouth-Whi temarsh - Has poise and good passing arm - developing into top-flight quarterback - lacks game experience - a very capable substitute for Dick Rohrer. BILL MORAN - Quarterback - Sophomore - Lewistown - Won varsity letter as place kicker last year - one of four goodQB's at Bloomsburg, he will play alot of ball this year~ KEN DRIES - Back - Sophomore - Mahanoy Joint - Hard working - conscientious g-ood ball carrier - one of key backs. GARY SPROUT - Back - Sophomore - Lewistown - Tough fullback - excellent blocker a..'1dpu.nter - a consistently bright performer in pre-season drills - is ezpected to R.qual, at Bloomsburg, the brilliant record set while playing at Lew5.stown High School. LARRY TIRONI ·· Center - Sophomore - Morris Hills, N. J. - earned varsity letter lastyear as defensive end and linebacker - one of most versatile men on the squad - developing into a toP-flight center. JOSEPH CASARELLA .. Center - Sophomore - 'Wyoming Memorial - Small for college foot6aIT-: p