This years schedule looks similar to last years. We open up on September 24th against the Larries of St. Lawrence University. Last year, we crushed SLU 45-0. We then have two more easy games, against Case Tech, and Niagara. These three games will prepare us for the first big test of the season, against Lafayette. This game will be in Easton Pennslyvania as part of that college's 75th anniversary celebration. The week after that is the rematch with N.Y.U. Once again, this game will be in the Bronx at Yankee Stadium. The following weekend is homecoming, and on October 29th, the Colgate eleven will meet Penn State on Whitnall Field. Mississippi A&M is the next weekend, and then we travel to Syracuse for the biggest game of the season, in our annual battle with the Orangemen. Last season, the Kerrmen were victorious 21-7. The final game of the season is at Brown University. Last year, Brown gave Colgate a tough challenge, and the Maroon eleven need a 40 yard drive with 4 minutes left to finally win 13-7.
The opposition is looking stronger this year. Lafayette, Syracuse, Brown, NYU and Penn State are all bringing back most of their starters. Head Coach Andy Kerr has been working his team hard this past spring in the hopes of strenghtening his returning players. We have lost our teams most outstanding players, and our depth is questionable at this time. Our replacement players will have had some varsity experience, but they have not been depended on like they will be this season. Let's take a look at the open positions, and who might fill them.
Johnny Orsi will be the toughest player to replace. Vern Lee has a slight edge right now over Ken Nield, Johnny Pflug and Jack LeMessurier. All of these men looked good in spring practice, but the position is still up for grabs. The open tackle position should be another tight battle. Ed Prondecki is one possible replacement, as is Jim O'Hara, Lew Brooke, and Joe Pasquale, who changed over from the guard position after last season. The center position will almost surely go to Glen Peters, a rugged junior who saw pleanty of action last year on the second team. "Dutch" Bausch is expected to see playing time at this position however, he's very strong, and has experience. The fullback position will be one of the toughest to fill. Bob Rowe seems to be the front runner right now, he has seen some tough assignments at practice, and has done well with them. Claire Lyon and Wes Bacon are also being considered for the spot. George Reynolds old halfback position has several suitable replacements looking for the spot. "Whitey" Ask, Jack Fritts, Rene Antolini and Howie Conroy top the list, and will all likely see playing time. Bob Rowe is the only likely replacement who does not have any varsity experience. Coach Kerr commented on this years squad and potential replacements, "We expect a good team, how good will depend upon how well certain men develop."
The captain of this years team, as voted upon by last seasons letterman, will be Bob Smith. Bob filled the spot at guard left open to him by the graduation of Tommy Doyle, now a Colgate assistant coach. At 5'9" 175 pounds, he is not the biggest lineman, but his defensive contribution in last seasons win over Brown in the season finale must have been fresh in his teammates minds when they elected a new captain in December of last year. Bob's leadership on both the football team, and as a memeber of the DKE fraternity, should make him a fine captain, and he will need to rally his teammates for the task ahead.
Other returning starters from last years team are; Winnie Anderson, who will be starting again at one of the end positions. Bart Ellis, who will play right tackle this season. At a whopping 195 pounds, he is the heaviest player on the team. Joe Hill will complete the line at the other guard spot. Bobby Samuel broke into the lineup last year as the quarterback, will fill that role again this year. Charlie Soleau will be starting at halfback for the second year in a row. He earned a reputation last season as being an outstanding blocker, as well as doing well as a ball carrier. This will be a team without any great weakness at any position, but we do not seem to have any potential All Americans on the team this year.
Because of the lack of a superstar, Coach Kerr has been carefully preparing his team in the relativly new "Warner" system, which is only used by a few schools, and is slowly gaining popularity. Andy Kerr was tought this unique double wing brand of football while he was learning from his friend and fellow coach Glenn S "Pop" Warner at Pittsburg University in the early 20's. Kerr has throughly trained his troops to run carefully crafted reverse plays, spinners, lateral passes, and other complex plays that require a great deal of preperation and rely on the confidence and experience of the players running it, as well as trust amongst teammates and a great deal of teamwork. Coach Kerr has been working hard in the offseason, inventing and practicing new plays that will keep the opponents defense confused and on their heels. The double spinner is one of the new plays Kerr hopes to be able to use this season. This new style of play, which Colgate has mastered to the level of no other, will be sure to please the fans, as the multiple handoffs and passes are sure to make any game exciting.
The team began fall practice on the 6th, and the teams 42nd season, the 4th under Andy Kerr, is just a few weeks away, so fill up on the Colgate spirit, get your game tickets, and be prepared for another exciting season of Colgate football!
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