SWC75
Bored Historian
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- Aug 26, 2011
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(I finally get back to this after my computer problems and other diversions.)
In the days of old, when knights were bold
Every city had its warrior man.
In the days of new, when fights are few
You will view them from a big grandstand.
In our college town one has great renown
If the game of football he should play.
With his pig-skin ball he is cheered by all,
He's the Saltine Warrior of today.
The Saltine Warrior is a bold, bad man,
And his weapon is a pigskin ball,
When on the field he takes a good, firm stand,
He's the hero of large and small.
He will rush toward the goal with might and main
His opponents all fight, but they fight in vain,
Because the Saltine Warrior is a bold, bad man,
And victorious over all.
We are early in a new era in SU football- the Scott Shafer era. 64 years ago, another era began- the Ben Schwartzwalder Era, during which SU rose from its greatest depths to its greatest heights, and then all the way back down again. It was the era into which I was born, the one I remember from my youth. I can still recall listening to the games on the radio and waiting until Tuesday to see the grainy black and white films of the previous Saturday’s games on the local news. The music played over these highlights was not “Down, Down the Field”. It was “The Saltine Warrior”. My Dad thought he knew the beginning of it and would sing “The Saltine Warrior was a bold, brave man”. I later found that the line was “bold, bad, man”. But that’s not the way I learned it and it’s not the way I like it. My heroes were not “bad” men. They were “brave” men. They were the “Bold, Brave Men of Archbold”.
The Build-Up
Earlier this season, (2012), Syracuse played an FCS team, Stony Brook. We’d lost 7 games in a row and a local reporter said that if we lost this one, it would be the first time we lost to an FCS team since 1958. That 1958 loss was a one-pointer to Holy Cross. But Holy Cross was not the equivalent of an FCS team in the 1950’s. They were a major eastern independent, coached by the legendary Dr. Eddie Anderson, who had played for Rockne at Notre Dame and coached Nile Kinnick at Iowa. He had two stints with the Crusaders, 1933-38 and 1950-64, winning 129 games, losing 67 and tying 8.While Anderson was at Iowa, the Crusaders beat #1 ranked Boston College in 1942 by the whopping score of 55-12 and were invited to the 1/1/46 Orange Bowl, which they famously lost to Miami, which they famously lost on the last play of the game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QzGiSM6Zd4
Ouch!
They were a formidable opponent in those days and were off to a strong start in 1955. They’d beaten Temple, Dartmouth, Colgate, the Quantico Marines and Boston University for a 5-0 start. Not exactly a soft landing for SU after getting blown out by Maryland. On top of that the Crusaders wanted to break a five game losing streak against the Orange, three of which had been by a touchdown or less.
But we were not without weapons. Jim Brown was getting recognized as a very big one. He was the subject of a Monday column by the Herald-Journal’s Jack Slattery. “Jimmy Brown stood out head and shoulders over every other performer in the game between Maryland and Syracuse.” Bob Pellegrini of Maryland had told him “If Brown were playing behind our line he would run right out of the stadium”. Slattery reported that there wasn’t a single Maryland footballer who had anything but praise for Jimmy’s efforts. For two weeks in a row, Brown has been outstanding against a first rate line. From here on he should be something special to watch. His foes will be tough and they will be pointing for him, but they can’t be any tougher than the Maryland line was Saturday.” The column contained a portrait of the handsome young star in a suit and tie.
Bill Reddy noted that Maryland had been giving up 39 yards rushing a game but Syracuse, behind Brown, got 115. Terp guard Jack Davis told him “That Brown is the hardest halfback to bring down that I’ve ever played against. It’s like tackling a truck!” Brown was leading the team with 298 yards rushing on 55 carries, (5.4 yards per carry).
But the Marylanders were a happy group when they learned that, off the Syracuse victory they had once again risen to be ranked the nation’s #1 team in the associated press poll. Thus, while the Maryland game may not show up on a list of games where Syracuse played a #1 ranked team, in essence, that’s what they were. In the following week’s stats, Maryland was still the #1 rushing defense in the nation, now with 52 yards per game. #2 was the Orange’s next opponent, Holy Cross, at 58 yards per game. The Terps and Crusaders ranked 6th and 7th in total defense, (101 and 102 yards per game, respectively) while Syracuse was tied for 10th in pass defense, (51 yards per game). Two other SU opponents, Army and Colgate were ranked #4 and #5 in total defense and were #3-4 in rushing defense. Still another, West Virginia, was #9 in rushing defense. It was quite a schedule. “To win it looks like Syracuse must get the ball in the air for Anderson is a master at throwing eight and nine man lines at the Orange, stopping their running attack before it can get underway.”
SU end Harvey Healy came up with a “charley horse”, (remember them?) and was doubtful for the Holy Cross game. But fullback Don Laacksonen, injured against Army, was expected back, along with halfback Ed Ackley, who had pulled a leg muscle in workouts. Ronnie Tyler had been injured in traffic accident after the Maryland game, suffering a bruised shoulder and abrasions. “It is hoped he’ll that be ready to help the Orange try to make it six in a row against the Crusaders.” The “Boys of Mount St. James” had injury problems of their own Halfbacks Gerry O’Leary and Bob Rosmarino were out. “We may have trouble finding a halfback to use against Syracuse” said Anderson.
Slattery: “Gerry O’Leary, Crusader fullback who was deemed to be one of New England’s all-time greats when he left high school for the Holy Cross campus, is the object of everyone’s sympathy. O’Leary seemed headed for national fame during his high school career. In his sophomore year, he broke his leg so badly that it was believed he might never walk again. But O’Leary wasn’t listening. He made himself well. Well enough to play again. But against BU, a block from behind crunched him to the ground and he sustained a triple break in the same leg. His injury so depressed the Crusaders that they didn’t even celebrate their victory. And one or two of the players even cried at the unfairness of the situation. O’Leary wanted more than anything else in the world to play college football. When Holy Cross takes the field Saturday you can bet they’ll be playing this one for the young Irishmen in Boston’s Carney Hospital.”
They still had Manlius grad Jim Buonopane, “who has looked like an All-American guard to Central New York fans”. Also, “Holy Cross doesn’t just have one top quarterback: it has two. John Stephens and Bill Smithers share the signal calling job but because Smithers is such a fine runner, in addition to his other skills, scout Bill Eschenfelder says he wouldn’t be surprised to find Anderson putting Smithers at right half if Rosemarino doesn’t recover from his injury.” It’s a formidable combination to have a quarterback and also halfback who can pass like one. “And of Dale Hohl, a junior halfback from Buffalo who personally wrecked Colgate’s undefeated season. Eschefelder says he’s as great a competitor as there is in football anywhere.” Bill said “This is a team that likes to run and pass, which will make the exceedingly difficult to stop.” The Crusaders used a “tricky Chicago Bear type T which employs the cross buck and the dive series as their basic running plays and the short pass and pitch-out as their touchdown getters.”
Bill Eschenfelder later went to work for General Electric and worked with my father. He told Dad that the coaching staff used to like to watch Jim Brown eat ice cream at the training table just to see the muscles in his neck move. They fed them ice cream?
Bill Reddy noted that Notre Dame was using an unbalanced line- with both tackles on the same side of center, a scheme that had originated with Ben Schwartzwalder. Jim Tatum said he’d been thinking of doing the same thing. Ben said “I’d still rather have Maryland’s line, unbalanced or not.” Ben was not of the opinion that Syracuse had played well against Maryland, even though it had been suggested that we competed well against the best team in the country. “After looking at the movies, I have to say that we played a very poor game. I think Maryland must have played a poor game, too. If we play the same kind of game against Holy Cross Saturday, we’re in for a licking.” He admitted, “Maryland is the best blocking team we’ve ever played.” Reddy wondered about that. “When you think about other opponents, like Illinois and Alabama, for instance…but who wants to think about them?” Playing teams like that, (also Michigan State) at least gave Ben a pretty good idea of what a national championship team looked like.
On Tuesday Ben attended a Varsity Club luncheon at the Yates Hotel, along with Coach Chuck Dailey Pete Schwert and Jim Brown. (Wouldn’t that have been fun?) Films were shown of the Maryland game. Per Slattery, “Ben’s comments on the game reflected a certain bitterness because he didn’t feel the team played the kind of game of which it is capable.” Ben: “They just didn’t hit out there. It seemed almost as if there was an element of mass hypnosis. When we finally woke up and started to play it was too late….I hope my kids are mad at those Holy Cross guys. Just for 60 minutes and then they can be the best of friends. I tell you that the Holy Cross coach, Dr. Eddie Anderson, is just about one of the nicest fellows we play against all year. He’s a great coach and a grand guy and I like him. But for 60 minutes on Saturday afternoon I’m going to find something to be mad at him about. And I hope these boys get the same idea.”
24,000 were expected to witness the game at Fitton Field in Worcester, Massachusetts. Sam Corenswet, the chairman of the Sugar Bowl selection committee was said to be present for the game. They weren’t looking at Syracuse. Holy Cross athletic director Gene Flynn was quoted as saying “I doubt very much if they’ll be considering any team from this area after that walloping Syracuse took in the Orange Bowl a couple of years ago. They set Eastern football prestige back 20 years.” Jack Slattery wondered if the Syracuse players might have been informed of that quote. Will Grimsley, who did a column of predictions, had the Crusaders winning 13-21. “Syracuse had played Army and Maryland on successive weekends and will have little pep left.” Holy Cross, despite being the home team, elected to wear white jerseys while the Orange was “orange” for the first time in the season. SU’s 100 man marching band with Orange Girl Alta Burg, was along to entertain the fans. Bill Reddy did an interview with the ticket seller at the Holy Cross athletic department, a tall fellow named Tom Heinsohn, who was the star of the basketball team.
In the days of old, when knights were bold
Every city had its warrior man.
In the days of new, when fights are few
You will view them from a big grandstand.
In our college town one has great renown
If the game of football he should play.
With his pig-skin ball he is cheered by all,
He's the Saltine Warrior of today.
The Saltine Warrior is a bold, bad man,
And his weapon is a pigskin ball,
When on the field he takes a good, firm stand,
He's the hero of large and small.
He will rush toward the goal with might and main
His opponents all fight, but they fight in vain,
Because the Saltine Warrior is a bold, bad man,
And victorious over all.
We are early in a new era in SU football- the Scott Shafer era. 64 years ago, another era began- the Ben Schwartzwalder Era, during which SU rose from its greatest depths to its greatest heights, and then all the way back down again. It was the era into which I was born, the one I remember from my youth. I can still recall listening to the games on the radio and waiting until Tuesday to see the grainy black and white films of the previous Saturday’s games on the local news. The music played over these highlights was not “Down, Down the Field”. It was “The Saltine Warrior”. My Dad thought he knew the beginning of it and would sing “The Saltine Warrior was a bold, brave man”. I later found that the line was “bold, bad, man”. But that’s not the way I learned it and it’s not the way I like it. My heroes were not “bad” men. They were “brave” men. They were the “Bold, Brave Men of Archbold”.
The Build-Up
Earlier this season, (2012), Syracuse played an FCS team, Stony Brook. We’d lost 7 games in a row and a local reporter said that if we lost this one, it would be the first time we lost to an FCS team since 1958. That 1958 loss was a one-pointer to Holy Cross. But Holy Cross was not the equivalent of an FCS team in the 1950’s. They were a major eastern independent, coached by the legendary Dr. Eddie Anderson, who had played for Rockne at Notre Dame and coached Nile Kinnick at Iowa. He had two stints with the Crusaders, 1933-38 and 1950-64, winning 129 games, losing 67 and tying 8.While Anderson was at Iowa, the Crusaders beat #1 ranked Boston College in 1942 by the whopping score of 55-12 and were invited to the 1/1/46 Orange Bowl, which they famously lost to Miami, which they famously lost on the last play of the game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QzGiSM6Zd4
Ouch!
They were a formidable opponent in those days and were off to a strong start in 1955. They’d beaten Temple, Dartmouth, Colgate, the Quantico Marines and Boston University for a 5-0 start. Not exactly a soft landing for SU after getting blown out by Maryland. On top of that the Crusaders wanted to break a five game losing streak against the Orange, three of which had been by a touchdown or less.
But we were not without weapons. Jim Brown was getting recognized as a very big one. He was the subject of a Monday column by the Herald-Journal’s Jack Slattery. “Jimmy Brown stood out head and shoulders over every other performer in the game between Maryland and Syracuse.” Bob Pellegrini of Maryland had told him “If Brown were playing behind our line he would run right out of the stadium”. Slattery reported that there wasn’t a single Maryland footballer who had anything but praise for Jimmy’s efforts. For two weeks in a row, Brown has been outstanding against a first rate line. From here on he should be something special to watch. His foes will be tough and they will be pointing for him, but they can’t be any tougher than the Maryland line was Saturday.” The column contained a portrait of the handsome young star in a suit and tie.
Bill Reddy noted that Maryland had been giving up 39 yards rushing a game but Syracuse, behind Brown, got 115. Terp guard Jack Davis told him “That Brown is the hardest halfback to bring down that I’ve ever played against. It’s like tackling a truck!” Brown was leading the team with 298 yards rushing on 55 carries, (5.4 yards per carry).
But the Marylanders were a happy group when they learned that, off the Syracuse victory they had once again risen to be ranked the nation’s #1 team in the associated press poll. Thus, while the Maryland game may not show up on a list of games where Syracuse played a #1 ranked team, in essence, that’s what they were. In the following week’s stats, Maryland was still the #1 rushing defense in the nation, now with 52 yards per game. #2 was the Orange’s next opponent, Holy Cross, at 58 yards per game. The Terps and Crusaders ranked 6th and 7th in total defense, (101 and 102 yards per game, respectively) while Syracuse was tied for 10th in pass defense, (51 yards per game). Two other SU opponents, Army and Colgate were ranked #4 and #5 in total defense and were #3-4 in rushing defense. Still another, West Virginia, was #9 in rushing defense. It was quite a schedule. “To win it looks like Syracuse must get the ball in the air for Anderson is a master at throwing eight and nine man lines at the Orange, stopping their running attack before it can get underway.”
SU end Harvey Healy came up with a “charley horse”, (remember them?) and was doubtful for the Holy Cross game. But fullback Don Laacksonen, injured against Army, was expected back, along with halfback Ed Ackley, who had pulled a leg muscle in workouts. Ronnie Tyler had been injured in traffic accident after the Maryland game, suffering a bruised shoulder and abrasions. “It is hoped he’ll that be ready to help the Orange try to make it six in a row against the Crusaders.” The “Boys of Mount St. James” had injury problems of their own Halfbacks Gerry O’Leary and Bob Rosmarino were out. “We may have trouble finding a halfback to use against Syracuse” said Anderson.
Slattery: “Gerry O’Leary, Crusader fullback who was deemed to be one of New England’s all-time greats when he left high school for the Holy Cross campus, is the object of everyone’s sympathy. O’Leary seemed headed for national fame during his high school career. In his sophomore year, he broke his leg so badly that it was believed he might never walk again. But O’Leary wasn’t listening. He made himself well. Well enough to play again. But against BU, a block from behind crunched him to the ground and he sustained a triple break in the same leg. His injury so depressed the Crusaders that they didn’t even celebrate their victory. And one or two of the players even cried at the unfairness of the situation. O’Leary wanted more than anything else in the world to play college football. When Holy Cross takes the field Saturday you can bet they’ll be playing this one for the young Irishmen in Boston’s Carney Hospital.”
They still had Manlius grad Jim Buonopane, “who has looked like an All-American guard to Central New York fans”. Also, “Holy Cross doesn’t just have one top quarterback: it has two. John Stephens and Bill Smithers share the signal calling job but because Smithers is such a fine runner, in addition to his other skills, scout Bill Eschenfelder says he wouldn’t be surprised to find Anderson putting Smithers at right half if Rosemarino doesn’t recover from his injury.” It’s a formidable combination to have a quarterback and also halfback who can pass like one. “And of Dale Hohl, a junior halfback from Buffalo who personally wrecked Colgate’s undefeated season. Eschefelder says he’s as great a competitor as there is in football anywhere.” Bill said “This is a team that likes to run and pass, which will make the exceedingly difficult to stop.” The Crusaders used a “tricky Chicago Bear type T which employs the cross buck and the dive series as their basic running plays and the short pass and pitch-out as their touchdown getters.”
Bill Eschenfelder later went to work for General Electric and worked with my father. He told Dad that the coaching staff used to like to watch Jim Brown eat ice cream at the training table just to see the muscles in his neck move. They fed them ice cream?
Bill Reddy noted that Notre Dame was using an unbalanced line- with both tackles on the same side of center, a scheme that had originated with Ben Schwartzwalder. Jim Tatum said he’d been thinking of doing the same thing. Ben said “I’d still rather have Maryland’s line, unbalanced or not.” Ben was not of the opinion that Syracuse had played well against Maryland, even though it had been suggested that we competed well against the best team in the country. “After looking at the movies, I have to say that we played a very poor game. I think Maryland must have played a poor game, too. If we play the same kind of game against Holy Cross Saturday, we’re in for a licking.” He admitted, “Maryland is the best blocking team we’ve ever played.” Reddy wondered about that. “When you think about other opponents, like Illinois and Alabama, for instance…but who wants to think about them?” Playing teams like that, (also Michigan State) at least gave Ben a pretty good idea of what a national championship team looked like.
On Tuesday Ben attended a Varsity Club luncheon at the Yates Hotel, along with Coach Chuck Dailey Pete Schwert and Jim Brown. (Wouldn’t that have been fun?) Films were shown of the Maryland game. Per Slattery, “Ben’s comments on the game reflected a certain bitterness because he didn’t feel the team played the kind of game of which it is capable.” Ben: “They just didn’t hit out there. It seemed almost as if there was an element of mass hypnosis. When we finally woke up and started to play it was too late….I hope my kids are mad at those Holy Cross guys. Just for 60 minutes and then they can be the best of friends. I tell you that the Holy Cross coach, Dr. Eddie Anderson, is just about one of the nicest fellows we play against all year. He’s a great coach and a grand guy and I like him. But for 60 minutes on Saturday afternoon I’m going to find something to be mad at him about. And I hope these boys get the same idea.”
24,000 were expected to witness the game at Fitton Field in Worcester, Massachusetts. Sam Corenswet, the chairman of the Sugar Bowl selection committee was said to be present for the game. They weren’t looking at Syracuse. Holy Cross athletic director Gene Flynn was quoted as saying “I doubt very much if they’ll be considering any team from this area after that walloping Syracuse took in the Orange Bowl a couple of years ago. They set Eastern football prestige back 20 years.” Jack Slattery wondered if the Syracuse players might have been informed of that quote. Will Grimsley, who did a column of predictions, had the Crusaders winning 13-21. “Syracuse had played Army and Maryland on successive weekends and will have little pep left.” Holy Cross, despite being the home team, elected to wear white jerseys while the Orange was “orange” for the first time in the season. SU’s 100 man marching band with Orange Girl Alta Burg, was along to entertain the fans. Bill Reddy did an interview with the ticket seller at the Holy Cross athletic department, a tall fellow named Tom Heinsohn, who was the star of the basketball team.
