Thanksgiving Day Football - 2 by Pete Zizka 12/4/2021 |
My friend Mike Tirone guest wrote an article about Windham vs.
Manchester Thanksgiving Day football games. Due to the article’s length,
some parts were left out and so this week, we’ll take a look at what was
omitted since the lists of names should evoke some great memories.
In the 50's and the early 60's, some of the WHS football players were
the Francis brothers, (Steve, and Richard) Johnny Wheaton, Lou Sorrochi,
Tommy Kowalski, Bill Chowola, Bob Twerdy, George Williams, Jim
McLaughlin, Mike Lombardo, Bill Schamback, Alan (spaceman) Ferrigno,
Alexis Caisse, Wayne Maheu, Nick Moore, Richard Cormier, Mike Curran,
Bob Muir, Bob Haynes, and many others, whose names I have forgotten. In
the later 60's, players like Jim Nelson, Tim Hart, Walt Wanagel, Dave
Geissler, and many others. My era 65-69, there were players like Robert
Francis, the Hammon brothers, Bill, Marty, Jim, and Tom. Jack Noheimer,
Doug Robinson, brothers, John, and Mike Green, Ed Ferrigno, Rich
Duchesneau, Donald Pelc, Brian Vertefeuille, Art Smith, Pete Wielock,
Johnn Kowalski, and others. Steve Marrotte, Eugene Wittenberg, Fred
Mondino, Jeff Dente, and others too numerous to mention. During the
undefeated1968 season ( during which WHS adopted the slogan “Farmer
Power”), the only team that gave Windham a rough go, was a scrimmage
that Windham had with state powerhouse, New London, during the summer.
New London was far and away the best club in Connecticut that fall, and
if it were not for the fact that New London had an open date, while a
team from downstate, who was ranked #2 played, New London would have won
the mythical State Championship. There were no state playoffs, and the
New Haven Register made the choices of who was the top team, in the
state, and teams from Eastern Connecticut were not given their due
credit.” Windham finished the season 10-0 and was one of 6 teams honored
by Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference the for a perfect
season. In November, 1974, Chronicle sportswriter John
Bozadjian wrote and article about the traditional Thanksgiving Day game
and mentioned that, “almost every level of football has that one game
each year that is THE game to the two respective teams playing….it makes
or breaks the season regardless of titles or records. In 1974, Windham
went into the Thanksgiving Day game 3-6 and Manchester 2-6.
What was special about Bozadjian’s article was that he included quotes
from the thirteen seniors who were coming to the end of their WHS
football careers. They had suffered through a losing season and the
Thanksgiving Day game wasn’t going to turn it around but it would still
be a special day for them and they all spoke about what this traditional
arch rivalry meant to them. Art Radcliffe (44), the team Captain, Said,
“this is my last game and this season has been rough on all of us. A win
would taste good. This game makes more difference to me than any other”.
John Shea (81) said it was his last high school game and, “I’d like to
win it. The season has been disappointing. We beat ourselves most of the
time. I’d like to win without making any mistakes”. Steve LaFlamme (83)
Was very emphatic and, with a stern look, said, “To prove ourselves as a
team we have to win this game”. Mark Phelps (51) was hopeful and said
that since it was the end of his high school football career, ”It means
a lot to me to win. I’d like to top off the season with a good game. I
just hope we win”.
Mike Naumec (86) and Dave Shepaum (26) both said that the game had
special meaning to them and that they felt that they would “put a little
extra into this one”.
Nate
Schilberg (32) said that, “a win would be great. It would give us some
respect from our fans and opponents. It’s been a disappointing year and
I think the fans thought we’d do better. Dave Walencewicz (31) said he
hoped, “we can put it all together and play a game we can be proud of”.
Other seniors on the
team were Marty Graham (80), Tom Keegan (64),Andy Urban (72),Steve
Sanborn (65). I received a note from Mark Phelps who was one of the
seniors. He said it was a “memorable game” and that Windham won the 1974
Thanksgiving Day game….for the first time in four years.
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Other seniors on the team were Marty Graham (80), Tom Keegan
(64),Andy Urban (72),Steve Sanborn (65). I received a note from Mark
Phelps who was one of the seniors. He said, it
snowed a couple of days before the game and I think they had to plow
the field so we could play.
He also said It was a “memorable game” and that Windham won
the 1974 Thanksgiving Day game….for the first time in four years.
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