Difference between revisions of "Short history of USNA Rugby"
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In my notes, I have that Jim Sims, Col., USMC and a graduate, was part of the start of the team, as I believe he was stationed there in 1969-71. But what follows is a history that predates the late 60s.... | In my notes, I have that Jim Sims, Col., USMC and a graduate, was part of the start of the team, as I believe he was stationed there in 1969-71. But what follows is a history that predates the late 60s.... | ||
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| + | See Here for a detailed account of the year startup years: [[File:CR_FINAL2.pdf|1000px|thumb|left| ]] | ||
From Frank Corah: "I found Prof. Buffum's history [see below after all the pictures] fascinating because those of us who had the privilege of playing in the sport he instigated at the academy had no idea of his struggle to make it happen. I can add some details and photos." | From Frank Corah: "I found Prof. Buffum's history [see below after all the pictures] fascinating because those of us who had the privilege of playing in the sport he instigated at the academy had no idea of his struggle to make it happen. I can add some details and photos." | ||
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And: the next photo looks to be an intramural team. We did play our intramural matches just in company intramural shirts, but I believe this was actually the team that played Baltimore in our first ever match against a regular club. I remember that match really well; I nearly got my ear torn off. Since one had to play on back then, rather than getting subbed, some tape was wrapped around my head to hold my ear in place until I could go to sick bay after the match. This was the first time my parents saw me play Rugby!" | And: the next photo looks to be an intramural team. We did play our intramural matches just in company intramural shirts, but I believe this was actually the team that played Baltimore in our first ever match against a regular club. I remember that match really well; I nearly got my ear torn off. Since one had to play on back then, rather than getting subbed, some tape was wrapped around my head to hold my ear in place until I could go to sick bay after the match. This was the first time my parents saw me play Rugby!" | ||
| − | [[File:Bob_USNA_1st_team_vs_Baltimore_RFC_1963.jpg|1000px|thumb|left|''' | + | [[File:Bob_USNA_1st_team_vs_Baltimore_RFC_1963.jpg|1000px|thumb|left|'''Company or Battalion team 1963.''' '''Standing:'''?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,? '''Sitting:''' ?,?,?,?,?,?,?,? ]] |
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| + | Navy’s ’63 All-Intramural A Rugby team pictured below included the following: Coaches—Buffum, Fournier, Revak. Players—L. Adriasola ’63, R. Bancroft ’65, D. Bonsper ’65, E. Blake ’64, F. Corah ’65, B. Friedrick ’65, J. Fyfe ’65, J. Halenza ’65, B. MacAuley ’64, J. O’Dwyer ’65, P. Parotti ’63, W. Sickel ’63, B. Tate ’64, B. Williams ‘64 | ||
[[File:1963_USNA_rugby.jpg|1000px|thumb|left|Team shot of the first "Exhibition Rugby Team" in 1963 which beat the Brits from Dartmouth June week of 63. '''Kneeling, L to R:''' Bob Friedrick, Judd Halenza, Jay Fyfe, Louis Adriasola (team captain from Chile), ???, and John aka JJ O’Dwyer, '''Standing, L to R:''' Lt. Paul Fournier, Frank Corah, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, Don Bonsper, Ron Bancroft, Prof. William Buffum, Paul Revak ]] | [[File:1963_USNA_rugby.jpg|1000px|thumb|left|Team shot of the first "Exhibition Rugby Team" in 1963 which beat the Brits from Dartmouth June week of 63. '''Kneeling, L to R:''' Bob Friedrick, Judd Halenza, Jay Fyfe, Louis Adriasola (team captain from Chile), ???, and John aka JJ O’Dwyer, '''Standing, L to R:''' Lt. Paul Fournier, Frank Corah, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, ???, Don Bonsper, Ron Bancroft, Prof. William Buffum, Paul Revak ]] | ||
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| − | [[File:19162_USNA_team.jpg|1000px|thumb|left|Spring 1964 and NEW uniforms; '''Kneeling, L-R:''' JJ O’Dwyer, Jay Fyfe, Jimmy Pender, Judd Halenza, ???, Bob Friedrick, and ???, '''Standing, L-R:''' Lt. Paul Fournier, Prof. William Buffum, Frank Corah, ???, Ron Bancroft, ???, Tom Lynch (later USNA Superintendent), Bruce Davidson (bandana), ???, Don Bonsper, and Lt. Paul Revak. ]] | + | [[File:19162_USNA_team.jpg|1000px|thumb|left|Spring 1964 and NEW uniforms; '''Kneeling, L-R:''' JJ O’Dwyer, Jay Fyfe, Jimmy Pender, Judd Halenza, ???, Bob Friedrick, and ???, '''Standing, L-R:''' Lt. Paul Fournier, Prof. William Buffum, Frank Corah, ???, Ron Bancroft, ???, Tom Lynch (captain of '63 football team ranked #2 nationally and later USNA Superintendent), Bruce Davidson (bandana), ???, Don Bonsper, and Lt. Paul Revak. ]] |
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[[File:Early_year_USNA_team_4.jpg|1000px|thumb|left|#10 looks like Bonsper, Corah is to the far right, and Halenza is heeling the ball from the ruck. #3 in the ruck looks like it may be Jay Fyfe and at the opposite side of the ruck in the picture, with the white tape around his head, is Bruce Davidson (in an offside position-smile) ]] | [[File:Early_year_USNA_team_4.jpg|1000px|thumb|left|#10 looks like Bonsper, Corah is to the far right, and Halenza is heeling the ball from the ruck. #3 in the ruck looks like it may be Jay Fyfe and at the opposite side of the ruck in the picture, with the white tape around his head, is Bruce Davidson (in an offside position-smile) ]] | ||
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Latest revision as of 01:47, 26 February 2019
In my notes, I have that Jim Sims, Col., USMC and a graduate, was part of the start of the team, as I believe he was stationed there in 1969-71. But what follows is a history that predates the late 60s....
See Here for a detailed account of the year startup years: File:CR FINAL2.pdf
From Frank Corah: "I found Prof. Buffum's history [see below after all the pictures] fascinating because those of us who had the privilege of playing in the sport he instigated at the academy had no idea of his struggle to make it happen. I can add some details and photos."
From Bob Andretta: "All of the photos are from the spring set periods of each year. There was no "spring football practice" back then, so lots of guys on the football team would come out for spring Rugby, edging some of us lesser folk out of the mix for playing against teams from out of the yard. And: the next photo looks to be an intramural team. We did play our intramural matches just in company intramural shirts, but I believe this was actually the team that played Baltimore in our first ever match against a regular club. I remember that match really well; I nearly got my ear torn off. Since one had to play on back then, rather than getting subbed, some tape was wrapped around my head to hold my ear in place until I could go to sick bay after the match. This was the first time my parents saw me play Rugby!"
Navy’s ’63 All-Intramural A Rugby team pictured below included the following: Coaches—Buffum, Fournier, Revak. Players—L. Adriasola ’63, R. Bancroft ’65, D. Bonsper ’65, E. Blake ’64, F. Corah ’65, B. Friedrick ’65, J. Fyfe ’65, J. Halenza ’65, B. MacAuley ’64, J. O’Dwyer ’65, P. Parotti ’63, W. Sickel ’63, B. Tate ’64, B. Williams ‘64
Comments from Bob Andretta: " I did get to play in the match against the Royal Navy Midshipmen who visited while on their summer cruise, but that might be just because I had helped arrange the match. And BTW, as to that, I am pretty certain that we beat them rather handily; rather than having lost to them. After all, we were mostly older and bigger, and we had been playing all academic year before their visit. Most of them had never played Rugby, much less ever having played it together. They were very good sports about it all, and we enjoyed hosting them to shower and change in our rooms and accompany us to evening meal, then out to Crab Town. "
