ALFRED, N.Y. – Alfred University Athletics and its Saxon Nation Hall of Fame Committee will honor the 1971 football team as the inaugural Team of Distinction honoree, announced on Friday, June 2.
The 1971 football team will join the six inductees of the Class of 2020,
Jared Manzer '11 (football),
Jesika (LeBarron) King '10 (softball),
John 'Skip' Hyde '83 (swimming and diving, men's soccer),
Kameron Chambliss '10 (swimming and diving),
Bryan J. Hill '90 (Distinguished Saxon Alumni; men's basketball), and
Steven Lester '77 (Silver Saxon; football). They will be honored as part of the 'Hall of Fame Weekend' festivities, culminating with the 48
th Saxon Nation Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 6.
"I am elated about the addition of the "Team of Distinction" to our Alfred University Athletic Hall of Fame as we have so many outstanding Saxon teams that deserve this recognition," said
Paul Vecchio, Director of Athletics. "It makes perfect sense on the 50
th Anniversary of our Lambert Bowl-winning 1971 football team to have them as our first honoree because of the tremendous amount of recognition they earned for AU and the excitement they brought to our community and campus. We are also delighted that honoring these teams will bring even more alumni and friends back for our Hall of Fame weekend which we think is a terrific showcase for our department."
The 1971 Football team under the direction of Hall of Fame head coach Alex Yunevich went a perfect 8-0, winning the second of three straight Independent College Athletic Conference (ICAC) titles in the midst of a 22-2 run between 1970-72. The two losses during that incredible stretch were by a combined three points. The Saxons shut out a pair of opponents in 1971, including a 32-0 road victory at Hamilton in the season finale on Nov. 6. That win was the last of four consecutive road games to end the season, and the Saxons outscored its opponents by a 236-89 margin. The Saxons were showered with plaudits after the season, as Yunevich was named the Eastern College Division Coach of the Year by the Football Writers Association of New York, and quarterback Jim Moretti '72 earned All-America honors by the Associated Press. A whopping seven members of this squad, including Yunevich and head athletic trainer Gene Castrovillo '75, are inducted into the Alfred University Hall of Fame for their individual prowess.
The Team
Richard C. Allen '73, Glen A. Bannister '75, James M. Bassage '74, Thomas L. Bassage '74, Lawrence R. Bauer '73, Randy C. Brown '74, Henry C. Bzdak '74, Richard J. Clark, Jr. '75, Paul T. Collins '74, Douglas Earle '75, Gary R. Eggler, '73 (captain), William M. Ekman '72 Thomas R. Evans '75, Howard S. Fahey, III '73, Joseph W. Farrell '72, Todd D. Flaherty '73, James E. Gardner '72, William R. Gibson '75, Robert F. Gueldner, III '72, Richard A. Gulvin '75, Richard M. Hansinger '75, John B. Henderson '75, Scott S. Herring '76, Kevin G. Hildebrand '72 (captain), Howard A. Hink '72, Donald E. Hock '74, Donald R. Hockenberry, Jr. '75, John F. Horsington '72, Keith R. Kelchner '74, Thomas J. Krenzer '74, Gerald R. Lachut '73, Mark J. Lawrence '73, Edward M. Louiz, Jr. '75, Joseph A. Marino '74, Miles McNett '75, James M. Moretti '72, Richard C. Morse '75, James E. Mylott '74, Allen J. Naples '74, Benjamin Ostrer '73, Andrew G. Pomeroy '72, Joseph J. Prunoske '75, Gerald E. Roe '75, Michael Santa-Donato '74, Alan P. Sefcik '73, Thomas C. Sperl '75, Steven J. Tierney '75, John K. Valentine '72, William H. E. Vaughn '73, Thomas F. Vredenburgh '74, David B. Warner '74, William G. Wilcox, Jr. '75, Gary A. Williams '75, Charles B. Young '74, Robert P. Young '74
Head Coach – Alex Yunevich
Assistant Coaches – Robert A. Codispoti '66, Nicholas A. Teta '58, Todd Flaherty, Howard Hink, Moody Johnson, Jr. '68, Lambros J. Touris '70
Trainers: Gene J. Castrovillo '75 (Head), Richard Allen (Assistant)
Manager: Mark O'Neil
The Schedule
Sept. 18: Alfred at Brockport State – 27-7 victory
Sept. 25: Alfred vs. RPI – 34-12 victory
Oct. 2: Alfred vs. Union – 35-0 victory
Oct. 9: Alfred vs. St. Lawrence – 21-6 victory
Oct. 16: Alfred at Hobart – 28-21 victory
Oct. 23: Alfred at Fordham – 42-33 victory
Oct. 30: Alfred at Cortland State – 17-10 victory
Nov. 6: Alfred at Hamilton – 32-0 victory
The Honors
ICAC Champions
Lambert Bowl Winner
Small College Coach of the Year: Alex Yunevich
AP All-American: Jim Moretti
Alfred University Hall of Fame Members: Alex Yunevich (coach), Henry Bzdak, Gary Eggler, John Henderson, Jim Moretti, Nick Teta, Tom Vredenburgh, Charles Young, Gene Castrovillo (trainer, athletic director)
