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Number of Catholic College Football Teams Waning
BY BERNIE BEGLANE
The numbers they are dwindling!
With the college football season officially underway, it was time to check how many Catholic colleges still field a team.
Gone are the days when Notre Dame would come to the Big Apple to play Army at Yankee Stadium.
Or when Fordham put the Seven Blocks of Granite, one of the most acclaimed groups of linemen in the history of the sport, on the field.
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FORDHAM'S longtime athletic director Jack Coffey, above, left, confers with a Fordham baseball player in 1952. |
The original group (1929-30) posted 12 shutouts while compiling a 15-1-2 record. The more famous of the ‘Blocks,’ which included Vince Lombardi, ruled college football for the 1936-37 seasons.
Proof positive: a 12-1-3 record that included eight shutouts.
The Jesuit Fathers’ school in the Rose Hill section of the Bronx, behind Frank Cavanaugh, the legendary ‘Iron Major,’ guided the Rams to a 24-14-4 record in six seasons.
Failing health caused him to retire in 1932.
Checking the record book even closer, one discovers that Fordham played three consecutive scoreless ties (1935-37) with Pittsburgh.
When they battled in ’38, the Panthers prevailed, 24-13, at Pitt Stadium before a crowd — believe it or not — of 68,918.
More Fordham history. The school is the only Division I-AA member to have competed in at least two of the four major bowl games — Cotton, Orange, Sugar and Rose.
Not to be overlooked is the fact that the Rams play at Jack Coffey Field named in memory of its legendary athletic director.
Jack, an alumnus, became baseball coach and graduate manager of athletics in 1909 and remained at Rose Hill in one capacity or another until retiring in 1958.
Coffey, who registered 817 victories, became a popular answer to a baseball trivia question.
Why? He was the only player to compete with Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb in the same season — 1917 — Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers.
Back to the football and current Rams, who open the season next Saturday, Sept. 6, at home against Rhode Island.
Fordham, defenders in the Patriot League, must wait until Sept. 27 when it hosts Colgate in this season’s first league encounter.
Now we return to football at the 11 Catholic colleges that still play. Notre Dame, competing for 119 seasons, owns the best record — 824-278-42.
This for 1,144 games.
Dayton is 594-337-26 in 957 contests over 100 seasons for a .634. That barely beat out Fordham’s .624.
Boston College, since 2002, leads the four Jesuit schools still playing with a 56-20 record for .737.
The Rams (37-33 for .529); Holy Cross (28-40 for .412) and Georgetown (19-48 for .284) complete the quartet.
Ray Nash Honored at Cancer Golf Benefit
 Ray Nash was the 2008 honoree at the seventh annual Coaches vs. Cancer Golf Tournament at the Cherry Valley Club, Garden City, Aug. 25.
One of many honors he has received in his career. Others included the Halls of Fame of Bishop Ford H.S., Park Slope, where he is currently president; and St. Francis Prep and St. Francis College (he is a graduate of both and played basketball).
Also, Holy Name Foundation, New York CHSAA and Basketball Old-timers of America.
The Kodak Legends of Coaching Award was earned in 1992. Ten years later, Bishop Ford’s gymnasium was named in his honor. And earlier this year, St. Francis College bestowed an honorary doctorate.
The tournament honored Lou Carnesecca of St. John’s University in 2002 and followed with Bill Raftery of Seton Hall; Rollie Massimino of Villanova; Nick Macarchuk of Stony Brook; Jack Curran of Archbishop Molloy H.S., Briarwood, and Jack Powers of Manhattan College who is now executive director of the National Invitation Tournament. Tom Pecora, coach of Hofstra University who started his basketball playing career with Our Lady of Lourdes CYO, Queens Village, was the chairman of the day-long festivities.
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