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La Salle College : In Retrospect

NOTE: This is the twenty-ninth of, I hope, many retrospectives highlighting some unique history of the football program at La Salle. The topics to discuss seem endless at this time. Hope you enjoy these.

Bill Wasylenko, ‘69 Issue Number Twenty-Nine: 1960 – Explorers and Eagles

Prologue

In 1958, the Eagles made three major changes to alter their fading fortunes. First, they hired as their (had retired to private business after coaching ), despite being first interested in either Vince or , both assistant coaches for the . Secondly, they traded for Rams , feeling that was just too young to lead their team. And finally, they moved from Connie Mack Stadium to , a place of greater capacity for a professional football league that was about to explode. The Eagles went 2-9-1 in that season, but improved to 7-5-0 in 1959, and looked forward to a 1960 season as contenders for the Eastern Division title, and the NFL championship. In 1958, La Salle College High School firmed up plans to move away from La Salle College’s campus at 20th and Olney, and chose a location on the site of the Brown estate in Wyndmoor. It took a little longer to build than expected, but September 15, 1960 was the first day of classes for the La Salle students in the suburbs. La Salle football was in its heyday at the time, having won Catholic League titles in 1955, 1957, and 1958, City Titles in 1955 and 1957, but they lost out to Monsignor Bonner, 6-0, in the Catholic League title game in 1959, and were looking forward to rebound in 1960 to again reach the top of the League, as well as the city. This is the story of two teams who played in Franklin Field in December of 1960 for a Championship, and who made 1960 so memorable for all of us. These are the Explorers and the Eagles.

Pre-Season Prognostication

The Eagles had bolstered their 1960 team with some key additions in trades, such as , a safety from the Rams, and Bobby Freeman, another , from the Packers. They had several good drafts in the late 50’s, adding players like end , , , and backs , Ted Dean, and Timmy Brown, joining a solid contingent of Van Brocklin, end , Jesse Richardson, defensive back , fullback , as well as flanker Tommy McDonald, and the heart and soul of the team, center and linebacker . Yet it was still concluded that there were several better teams in the NFL, including the Giants, Browns, and the Packers.

Norm Van Brocklin, Chuck Bednarik, Tom Brookshier, Pete Retzlaff, Jesse Richardson La Salle had to replace several key players due to graduation, including quarterback Howie Guarini, and some key members of the line, including Barry Dunleavy. But they had a solid group of returning starters, and would augment that group with some rising juniors that would play significant roles on the 1960 team. They also added to the coaching staff, as Bob Vincent was brought on to be the line coach, and Bill Magee, great Explorer and Villanova quarterback, would be the backfield coach. Head coach Tex Flannery was confident that the Catholic League championship would return to La Salle, but now would reside in the school’s 1st year in Wyndmoor, not Olney Heights.

The Season of 1960

La Salle opened their season on a muddy field in South Philadelphia against the Pirates of Bishop Neumann on Sunday, September 18. The Explorers were already hampered with the loss of their starting fullback, Harry Heinzl, who suffered a severe leg injury in a scrimmage over the Labor Day weekend. And Neumann was as tough as usual, with a rugged line to contend with. But co-captains Jack McDonald (T) and Vince Dennery (E) would lead the line play for the Explorers in shutting down the Pirate offense. Halfback Tom Crow scored from 1 yard out in the first period, and in the 4th quarter, junior fullback Ed Brennan, filling in for Heinzl, followed center Roger Agin’s block for a 3 yard TD, and La Salle blanked the Pirates, 12-0. Other lineman who excelled this day included Bill Cheney, Jim Putz, and Fred Poellnitz. One week later, at the friendly confines of McCarthy Stadium at 20th and Olney, the Explorers defeated Cardinal Dougherty for their second win, 20-8. In the first period, halfback Bob Biggans broke loose on a 31-yard run for a , and the two point conversion was successful on a pass from junior QB Dan Maiden to Vince Dennery. After the Cardinals scored to make it 8-6, Tom Crow scored on a 50 yard run for another touchdown. The Explorer defensive backfield was sensational, with two by Ed Bogdan and one by Carl Mattia. Dougherty added a safety, but in the 4th quarter, the dynamo Vic Gittens matched Crow’s score from 50 yards, and the Blue and Gold rode back to Wyndmoor on a happy note.

Vic Gittens Ed Bogdan Ed Brennan

On that same day, the started their campaign at Franklin Field, losing to the at Franklin Field, 41-24. The Browns throttled the Eagle offense early, and the twin rushing attack of the great (156 yards) and the legendary (153 yards) carved holes in the vulnerable Eagle defense. This was an unexpected bad start to a season that held a lot of promise, but the veteran leadership of the Eagles team was a big factor in getting them back on track.

The Eagles then headed down to to take on the Cowboys for the first time ever, and the game was on a Friday night. The Dallas expansion team nearly pulled an upset, but the Eagles prevailed, 27-25. Billy Ray Barnes scored twice, and Tommy McDonald caught a 16-yard TD pass from Van Brocklin, and the Eagles evened their record at 1-1.

Two days later, the rejuvenated Golden Bears of St. Thomas More planned an ambush of the Explorers at McCarthy Stadium, but long runs for by Crow and Gittens, as well as an return for a touchdown by Bogdan, who now had five for the young season, kept the Bears at bay, 20-0. Jack McDonald was again a force on the line on both sides of the ball. La Salle was now 3-0-0, a third of the way through their regular season. Vic Gittens and Timmy Brown

Vic Gittens was a small package of dynamite who provided quite a change of pace both in kick returns as well as in the backfield for La Salle, and he scored 4 touchdowns and passed for another. His great breakaway speed reminded many of Johnny Herrera; indeed, Gittens chose number 24 to honor his idol. Timmy Brown had some spot time in the backfield, but contributed mightily for the Eagles on kick and punt returns, and became one of the league’s best returners in subsequent years. He also provided a change of pace to the bruising style of the Eagle runners.

Jim Putz tackles West Catholic runner as ref Jim Reilly ‘44 looks on But the following week was a frustrating one at McCarthy Stadium, as the Burrs of West Catholic stymied the Explorers in holding them to a scoreless tie. Despite an interception by Carl Mattia and some fine running by Bob Biggans, the game featured and interceptions on both sides, as well as defensive stands that kept both teams off the scoreboard. About 6 miles away at Franklin Field, the Eagles were more successful, defeating another team with a recent move, the St. Louis (formerly Chicago) Cardinals, 31-27. Van Brocklin hit Retzlaff for two early scores, but the Cardinals’ ran for 46 yards and a touchdown to tie the score at 24-24 in the 4th period, and the Redbirds added on a to take the lead. But, in a theme that would occur several times in 1960, Van Brocklin brought the Eagles back, and he hit McDonald with an 11-yard TD pass for the win to get the Eagles’ record to 2-1-0.

The Kelly green and silver made their record 3-1-0 with a dismantling of the , 28-10, as the defense stepped up to play impressively. FB Clarence Peaks scored from 1 and 49 yards, and HB Ted Dean and E Bobby Walston caught TD passes from Van Brocklin. The Eagle offense was now in full gear, as Van Brocklin expertly combined a punishing running game with a passing game that featured receivers Retzlaff, McDonald, as well as Bobby Walston, an end who doubled as the .

On that same day, Sunday October 16, La Salle ran their record to 4-0-1 with a whitewash of the Bulldogs of St. James, 14-0. It was their third consecutive shutout, and fourth in five games, reminiscent of the great defensive team of 1955.

Harry Heinzl and Clarence Peaks

Harry Heinzl was a fullback who had a great 1959 season, and was expected to carry quite a load in 1960. But an early- season injury limited Heinzl’s availability, and other backs like Ed Brennan and Bob Biggans had to step up to fill the void. Clarence Peaks was the starting Eagle fullback for several years, but in 1960 he suffered a broken leg in the 7th game of the season against the Redskins. Fortunately, the Eagles also had a deep backfield, and youngsters like Billy Ray Barnes and Ted Dean took advantage of their opportunities to play and play well.

The Jimmies drove inside the La Salle 15 in the first quarter, but defensive stops by McDonald, Agin, and Cheney kept them off the scoreboard. The rain came down heavily in the third quarter, with the game still scoreless and the field now a quagmire. But in the 4th quarter, QB Dan Maiden, subbing on occasions for starting QB Ed Stranix, bootlegged for a touchdown from 40 yards out, and, after a Bulldog , Vic Gittens bolted in from 10 yards to preserve a 14-0 win for the Explorers. However, Jack McDonald broke a bone in his leg on the last play of the game, but assured everyone that he was a tough South Philly boy, and that he’d be ready to play by the Bonner game.

Van Brocklin to Tommy McDonald

La Salle was on a roll defensively, and on Sunday, October 23, they continued their shutout streak with a 12-0 blanking of Roman Catholic. The Cahillites netted only three first downs, and the Explorers scored on runs by Bob Biggans and Tom Crow. Ed Stranix, whose passing had been kept under wraps so far this season, made some clutch throws to keep drives alive.

Bob Biggans and Billy Ray Barnes

Bob Biggans was a sturdy halfback who was the perfect complement to Tom Crow, Ed Brennan, and others in the backfield. He broke off several long runs, scored 3 touchdowns, and was a capable out of the backfield. Billy Ray Barnes was also a complement to the Eagles backfield, and had a nose for the end zone, scoring 6 touchdowns, second on the team to Tommy McDonald’s 13. Ed Bogdan and Don Burroughs

Ed “Hands” Bogdan was quite a ballhawk in his defensive back position, and he tacked on quite a few interceptions to his record in 1960 while still providing some offense from the end position. Don “Blade” Burroughs was a 6’-4” hard-hitting safety who had come over from the Rams to play for the Eagles in 1960. Burroughs racked up ballcarriers and also racked up 9 interceptions that year.

Meanwhile, the Eagles had traveled to Municipal Stadium in Cleveland to seek revenge against the Browns. Though the Birds scored first on a Van Brocklin to Bobby Walston pass, the Browns took control of the game, leading 22-7 in the third quarter, on a Jim Brown 71 yard run. But this was a game in which leaders take charge. Center Chuck Bednarik was pressed into two-way service, taking over for injured linebacker ; this game was the epiphany of the last 60-minute man in the NFL. Van Brocklin started to move the ball efficiently against the Browns defense. Billy Ray Barnes scored from 2 yards out, and then Van Brocklin found Tommy McDonald for a 57 yard touchdown to bring the Eagles to within one at 22-21. Another drive resulted in a Barnes TD from Van Brocklin, but the Browns regained the lead as Bobby Mitchell caught a short TD pass from QB . Van Brocklin, the “Dutchman”, led the Eagles into field goal position, and with 10 seconds to go, Bobby Walston pounded a 38- yard field goal through the uprights, and this team of destiny avenged its opening day loss, 31-29.

The Eagles, at 4-1-0, had a bye week, but La Salle played on, running their record to 6-0- 1, crushing Father Judge, 42-0, on October 30. The offense came alive against the young Crusaders, as both Stranix and Gittens had 22-yard runs around end for first-period touchdowns. Ed Brennan scored in the second period for a 22-0 halftime lead, and Ed Stranix completed his first touchdown pass of the season to Jim Detwiler in the third period. After a long Stranix to Bogdan pass, Harry Heinzl scored on a three yard run. Heinzl had diligently worked out to improve an atrophied muscle in his leg after an operation, and subsequently played in the Bonner game, but his leg swelled up when he was hit hard, and his season was over. Gittens ended the scoring with a halfback pass to soph Joe O’Neill to wrap up the big win.

Carl Mattia and Jimmy Carr

Both Carl Mattia of the Explorers and Jimmy Carr of the Eagles were reliable who both wore number 21, and both logged several interceptions in their respective careers. Carr’s return of a fumble for a touchdown in the Giants game in was a signature highlight of the 1960 season. Both Mattia and Carr became assistant coaches after their playing days; Mattia coached at La Salle in the late 80’s, and Carr was a longtime assistant coach in the NFL. Ed Brennan and Ted Dean

Ed Brennan was a junior fullback who capably replaced the injured Harry Heinzl, scoring 4 TD’s and 3 two-point conversions. Brennan went on to All-Catholic honors in 1961. Ted Dean was both a return man and a dynamic fullback, who scored the winning touchdown in the championship game against the Packers on a 5-yard run, just minutes after he contributed a 58-yard kickoff return after the Packers took the lead at 13-10. His career was shortened due to injury.

Heinzl injured; Stranix bolts vs. Bonner; Eagle DB Tom Brookshier

The Eagles had an equally easy time of it in their next game, as they trounced the Steelers, 34-7, at Franklin Field. McDonald and Van Brocklin were now like Rogers and Astaire, hooking up for three long TD passes. Billy Ray Barnes added a score, and Walston kicked two short field goals.

On that same day, Sunday November 6, the Explorers were out to avenge 1959 against the Friars of Monsignor Bonner. Before a capacity crowd at McCarthy Stadium, the Explorers burst on top with two 1st period scores. Ed Brennan bolted up the middle for a 70-yard TD, and, after completing an 80-yard pass to Bob Biggans, Ed Stranix scored from 1 yard out. Two successful two-point conversions by Crow and Maiden had La Salle up, 16-0, at the end of the 1st period. But the Friars stormed back with two 2nd period TD’s, and were also successful on their two-point plays, and the teams headed to the locker rooms tied at half, 16-16.

Bonner fumbled the second half kickoff, and Stranix re-took the lead with a 12-yard run. Mike Ginieczki then recovered yet another Friar fumble, and Tom Crow hit Ed Bogdan with a halfback pass for a 55-yard TD, and the Explorers now led, 28-16. Additional fumble recoveries by John Ormond and Jim Putz led to a Biggans 2-yard TD run, and a Maiden to Bogdan 27 yard strike for another. Freshman Jim Maxwell scored the two- point conversion after the last TD. Bonner added a late score against the second- stringers, but the Explorers got their revenge, 42-24, and now were one win away from clinching the Catholic League title. Tom Crow/John McDonald/Tommy McDonald/John David Crow

Tommy Crow was an all-purpose, All-Catholic back, who ran and threw for TD’s for the Explorers; he ran for 2 TD’s and threw for one in the Championship game. John McDonald was a rugged tackle who both opened holes for the likes of Crow and closed them for his Catholic League opponents. Tommy McDonald, a halfback out of the University of Oklahoma, was converted to a flanker, where he flourished under quarterback Norm Van Brocklin, scoring many long touchdowns in 1960. And John David Crow? Not an Eagle, but needed him to complete the “name game”. This Crow was a 220- pound bruising back for the St. Louis Cardinals, gaining over 1000 yards in 1960, and led the league in yards per carry with 5.9.

Sunday, November 13, was a great day for our local teams. La Salle pounded the Falcons of North Catholic, 28-8, in the final regular season game to clinch the Catholic League championship. No playoff game was played unless required back in those days. Ed Brennan scored on an 8-yard run, and then, after a Bob Biggans interception, Tom Crow streaked on a 52-yard TD run to make it 12-0. Ed Stranix, playing with a heavy heart, as his father died of a heart attack the day before, scored on a 10-yard run in the 3rd quarter. After North scored their lone touchdown, Crow scored again on a 7-yard slant through the line; Stranix passed the two-point conversion to Hank Stoebenau to end the scoring. Tex Flannery said after the game that Ed Stranix displayed real courage in playing this game, and that he was a terrific inspiration to the team. Certainly, Stranix, in different ways, brought the same type of leadership to the Explorers that Van Brocklin did to the Eagles.

La Salle’s defense in the North game was led by linemates Agin, Dennery, and Ed Dale, and a ballhawking defensive backfield of Carl Mattia, Bob Biggans, Ed Bogdan, and Ed Stranix. The Explorers (8-0-1) had given up only 40 points in their 9 games, and now would await the Public League winner to play in the City Title game, on either Saturday, December 3, or the following Saturday.

Tom Crow barrels through the Falcon line for a long TD E Ed Dale Vince Dennery and Pete Retzlaff

Vince Dennery was one of the great ends in La Salle football history despite not catching a TD pass in the 1960 regular season, but his two long touchdown receptions in the City Title game in 1960 cemented his legacy. Pete Retzlaff was a great end who led the league in receptions in 1958 despite never catching a pass in college at South Dakota State. He went to the 5 times, became the general manager of the Eagles, and also was a local sportscaster and color analyst for NFL games on CBS. Both Dennery and Retzlaff wore number 44.

The Eagles had a great day as well, facing the Washington Redskins at Franklin Field, but it wasn’t as easy. The Eagles only touchdown in the first 3 quarters was just another Van Brocklin to McDonald hookup, but the Green and Silver were trailing in the 4th quarter, 13-9, when Van Brocklin worked his magic again, hitting Bobby Walston for a touchdown with a 4th-down pass. Walston added a short field goal, and the Eagles hung on to win and to raise their record to 6-1-0.

This now brings us to Sunday, November 20, 1960, when the Eagles headed to Yankee Stadium to take on the arch-rival New York Giants, in a game that would become notorious for one play. The Eagles had not beaten the Giants in New York since 1952, and this was a key game to expand their lead in the standings. The Giant defense stymied Van Brocklin’s offense in the first half, holding a 10-0 halftime lead. The Eagle defense had stopped near the goal line to prevent another score. Coach Buck Shaw felt that he needed Chuck Bednarik’s presence on both sides of the ball, and Bednarik replaced at linebacker. It proved to be a fateful decision.

Van Brocklin made some adjustments to counter the Giant blitz, going to a short passing game, and he found Tommy McDonald on a 35-yard TD pass and run to get to within three points in the 3rd quarter. Walston added a short field goal with 4:24 left in the 4th quarter to tie the game. With the Giants starting a drive, Bednarik met fullback in the hole, and the ball was jarred loose, heading straight into the arms of defensive back Jimmy Carr, who gleefully raced 36 yards to paydirt, his first touchdown of his life, including high school. Walston’s conversion made it 17-10, Eagles.

But the Giants were not done, and with 1:30 left, they had the ball near midfield. Halfback Frank Gifford was split wide left, and ran an “under” pattern just across the line of scrimmage. QB Charley Conerly completed the pass to Gifford, who spotted safety Don Burroughs coming in from his left to make the tackle. But Burroughs never got there; coming across the field, Chuck Bednarik belted Gifford on a clean hit that knocked the ball out, and knocked Gifford out. LB recovered the ball, effectively ending the game and the season for the Giants, and Gifford was carted off on a stretcher, not to play again till 1962. The Eagles were now 7-1-0, and in control of their own destiny.

Bednarik’s tackle remains controversial to this day among New York fans, but Giant LB , a notorious adversary, said: “It was the finest tackle I’ve ever seen”. When Gifford returned in 1962, he played flanker instead of halfback. Incredibly, the teams were scheduled to play in back-to-back weeks, this time at Franklin Field. After the Gifford tackle the previous weeks, emotions were high, and the consensus was that the Giants would avenge Gifford and win this game.

The Giants bolted to a 17-0 first quarter lead behind two touchdown passes from backup QB George Shaw Retzlaff reception in Yankee Stadium to . But the Eagles, with Van Brocklin’s signal-calling, and 56 minutes out of Chuck Bednarik, would come back. Walston kicked a short field goal, and then Ted Dean scored on a 25-yard TD pass from “The Dutchman”. The Eagles drove again, and then caught a break. Billy Ray Barnes fumbled into the end zone, but big J.D. Smith, the Eagles offensive tackle, recovered the ball for a TD, and the Eagles had tied the game at 17-17.

Two field goals on either side of halftime by gave the Giants a 23-17 lead, and the start of Bednarik celebrates Gifford fumble the 4th period had the Eagles near midfield. Van Brocklin faked a pass to Barnes, and he hit Dean in the open area vacated by the trapped Sam Huff, and the 49-yard TD put the Eagles on top for the first time, 24-23. Van Brocklin put icing on the cake with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Barnes, and the Eagles had beaten the Giants in back to back weeks, 31-23.

With a win against the Cardinals in Busch Stadium on December 4, the Eagles would clinch the division. And they did so with a 20-6 win, featuring TD receptions by McDonald and Retzlaff from the golden arm of Norm Van Brocklin. McDonald beats at Franklin Field Ed Stranix and Norm Van Brocklin

This is an unfair comparison, because Van Brocklin was a great QB for the Rams long before he became an Eagle in 1958. His performance in the 1960 season led the Eagles to their conquest of the Packers in the championship game. Ed Stranix is more suitably compared to Hugh Brolly, who led the 1955 Explorers to the City Title. Brolly never played football before, and Stranix never played offense before 1960. Both signal-callers were intelligent, great with the sleight-of-hand, could run, and passed enough to keep defenses honest. The most significant comparison between Stranix and Van Brocklin is that both were winners.

The Eagles had clinched their division, and the let-down the following week at Pittsburgh was somewhat understandable. The Steelers led at half, 27-0, in a blizzard. Buck Shaw inserted Sonny Jurgensen at QB, and Timmy Brown at HB in the second half, and Brown scored twice, once on a pass from Jurgensen, who also threw a TD pass to Tommy McDonald, but the Eagles lost their second game of the year, 27-21. They rebounded the following week to complete a 10-2-0 regular season by beating the Redskins, 38-28. Van Brocklin hit McDonald for two first-half TD’s, and Jurgensen matched that in the second half with passes to Retzlaff and Brown.

The Eagles were now slated to face the , under , on Monday, December 26 (no Sunday game due to Christmas) at Franklin Field, for the Championship. It had been a while since the Eagles played in this game; they lost in 1947, but won the NFL Championship in 1948 and 1949. Chuck Bednarik was a rookie on that 1949 team, and was now going to play 60 minutes in the 1960 Championship game. Meanwhile, La Salle was patiently awaiting the outcome of the Public League race, which was won by Frankford. Tex Flannery was keeping his charges in shape, despite the long layoff since the North Catholic game back on November 13. Though the City Title game was originally scheduled for Saturday, December 3, it was moved back a week, to Saturday, December 10, at Franklin Field, sixteen days before the Eagles would play for their championship.

Explorers and Eagles versus Pioneers and Packers.

Roger Agin and Chuck Bednarik

Though Chuck Bednarik was indeed a 60-minute player, Roger Agin may have been a 48-minute man, an All-Catholic center on offense and a member of the dominant line on defense that registered 6 shutouts in 1960. Agin was a stalwart offensive lineman at Villanova, and then served in the military in Vietnam. Bednarik flew in 30 combat missions in World War II, and then came home and played for the University of , achieving All-American honors before being drafted by the Eagles. La Salle vs. Frankford, December 10, 1960, at Franklin Field

The City Title game was indeed played on December 10; the Explorers had not played in 4 weeks, and the Pioneers since a Turkey Day upset loss to North Catholic. The rustiness showed up early as both teams had trouble moving the ball in the first quarter, involving a series of fumbles. But in the second quarter, Tom Crow took a pitchout and rolled right, and threw a halfback pass to Vince Dennery, who ran away from the Frankford defenders like a wild stallion and into the end zone for a 46-yard touchdown reception.

Vince Dennery (#44) receives TD pass from Ed Stranix in the second half

The Explorer defense wasn’t rusty at all, as they completely stymied the Pioneer offense, holding them to just three first downs, and a total of just 110 yards on offense. La Salle had another drive in the second quarter, featuring another Crow pass off a pitchout, this time to Vic Gittens. On a rollout, Ed Stranix ran for 8 yards down to the Frankford two yard line, and Crow slashed off tackle for a touchdown to make the score 12-0. The Explorers headed to the locker room at halftime, leading by that score. Dennery (#44) stays wide to contain Conrad Snyder (#46); defensive wall including Mike Ginieczki (#51) In the 3rd quarter, Dennery lined up on the right in the “lonesome end” position. A quick look-in pass from Stranix, and Dennery was off to the races again, finally caught, but not until he landed in the end zone for a 44 yard touchdown. La Salle led, 18-0.

Dennery scores on his 2nd long reception; he had 3 catches for 110 yards & 2 TD’s (none during the season) A few minutes later, it was Tom Crow time. On his own 47, Crow took a pitchout again from Stranix, but this time kept it for a 24 yard gain. After a penalty, Stranix passed downfield to Crow, who carried the ball 41 yards to the Frankford two yard line. After being stopped at the one on first down, Crow smashed into the end zone to put the game out of reach, 24-0.

The Pioneers were demoralized, and Tex Flannery used the fourth quarter as an opportunity to clear his bench, using every one of his 35 players. Even the substitutes were outplaying Frankford.

La Salle had won their third City Title in six years, with other wins coming in 1955 and 1957. Their only loss in the City Title game was to Lincoln in 1958, 28-20, but they had now beaten Northeast, Roxborough, and Frankford. And the more things change, the more they stay the same: a petition was starting among the Public League coaches to abolish the City Title game, because of the Catholic League’s unfair advantage in practice time, larger coaching staffs, and wider talent pools for the suburban teams! Eagles vs. Packers, December 26, 1960, at Franklin Field

Philadelphia was hit with a major snowstorm during the week prior to the game, but the field was in good shape because the tarp had been kept in place since the previous game, the La Salle- Frankford game. The game was to be billed as a matchup of Van Brocklin’s passing versus the Packer ground game, featuring the best offensive line in the league, and backs and . The game started disastrously for the Eagles, as two fumbles led to one Packer field goal by Hornung. The “Golden Boy” kicked another early in the second period for a 6-0 Packer lead. Coin Toss

But the Dutchman brought the Eagles back, with two long passes to Tommy McDonald, the last one a 30 yard strike into the end zone to give the Eagles a 7-6 lead. A few minutes later, Van Brocklin’s passing led the Eagles down the field, and Bobby Walston’s 15-yard field goal extended the lead to 10-6.

The third period would be scoreless; Bednarik bear- hugged Hornung on a hard tackle, and Hornung would not return to the Packer backfield. But, with about 12 minutes left in the game, the Packers drove and scored on a Max McGee reception from , taking a 13- 10 lead. McDonald in snow after TD pass Ted Dean took the ensuing kickoff and raced 58 yards to the Packer 39. The Eagles then went to the ground game, and Dean scored from the 5 yard line to give the Eagles a 17- 13 lead.

The Packers mounted a drive that crossed midfield, but Bednarik ended that by pouncing on a Max McGee fumble at the Eagle 48.

Green Bay got one more chance, and Bart Starr passed the Packers down to the Eagle 23, with just 17 seconds left. And the Packers were out of time outs.

The Eagles went back into a “prevent” defense, rushing only three linemen. The Packer star receivers, and Max McGee, were both double- Ted Dean (right) follows G Jerry Huth into end zone covered in the end zone.

Starr tossed a little screen pass to Jim Taylor, the fullback, and he avoided the tackles of Maxie Baughan and Don Burroughs. At about the 10 yard line, Bednarik hit him and wrapped his arms around him, took him to the ground, and laid on top of him. Bednarik peeked up at the clock in the East stands as it wound down to zero, while Taylor was cursing up a blue streak. When the clock hit zero, Bednarik told Taylor, in one of the great quotes in Philadelphia sports history:

“You can get up now, you bastard. This f-ing game is over!!”

The 1960 Philadelphia Eagles – National Football League Champions Post-Game Celebrations

For both the La Salle Explorers and the Philadelphia Eagles, their seasons of destiny ended on high notes. The Eagles had done what no one ever expected them to do, win an NFL Championship only 2 years after going 2-9-1. The Blue and Gold lost the City Title game in 1958, the Catholic League Championship playoff game in 1959 (to Bonner), but came back to win everything in 1960, with only a scoreless tie against West Catholic to blemish their record.

Champions in Franklin Field locker rooms, sixteen days apart in December, 1960

Post Script

Well before the season ended, it was known that Eagles head coach Buck Shaw would retire at the end of the season. So would quarterback Norm Van Brocklin, and the Dutchman had a handshake agreement to become the next Eagles head coach. But that agreement was broken when assistant was named head coach. Van Brocklin then took over the head coaching position of the brand new , and he swore vengeance against the Eagles every time they played.

The 1961 Eagles picked up where they left off in 1960, winning 7 of their first 8 games. Christian Adolph “Sonny” Jurgensen became a prolific passer in 1961, setting the record at the time for passing yards in a season. But the Eagle defense fell apart in the second half of the year, and they lost both of their games against the hated New York Giants. Though they finished 10-4, they did not win the division, and would sink into oblivion in 1962, going 3-10-1, losing to Lombardi’s Packers in Franklin Field, 49-0, and not recovering till the late 1970’s under .

Chuck Bednarik played just at center in 1961, and he retired after the 1962 season.

The Eagles played at Franklin Field through 1970, and then moved to South Philaelphia to the concrete bowl known as . “Concrete” Charley Bednarik was the salesman for the construction company that provided the concrete for the stadium.

The Eagles 1960 season was the end of an era, and the start of a long drought; the Eagles haven’t won a Championship since December 26, 1960. La Salle’s fortunes looked high after December 10, 1960, with a winning head coach, solid assistant coaches, a new school, and a great run of years between 1955 and 1960. They continued their success in 1961, but, much like 1959, Monsignor Bonner defeated the Explorers in a Catholic League Championship game, 13-6, at .

They had winning seasons in 1962 to 1964, but then did not contend for even Divisional honors for many years, except for one or two years in the 1970’s. Tex Flannery had won his last Championship in 1960, and he retired after the 1984 season. Joe Colistra built up the program with a weightlifting regimen, his own innovations, a focus on defense, and a new array of assistant coaches that brought in new schemes, and by 1989 they had won their first Catholic League Championship in 29 years with a 13-0 whitewash of Roman Catholic at . The City Title game was dormant between 1980 and 2007, and La Salle won its first City Title in 49 years in 2009 by beating George Washington, 31-20, at Northeast High School.

The 1960 game against Frankford was the last time La Salle ever played at Franklin Field.

La Salle continued to play their home games at McCarthy Stadium till the early-70’s, and played a Thanksgiving morning game there against St. Joseph’s Prep, for 29 of the 30 years from 1976 to 2005. The 14-13 victory over the Hawks in 2005 was the last time La Salle played in McCarthy Stadium.

After playing most of their home games at nearby Springfield High School from the mid- 1970’s to the mid-2000’s, La Salle plays all but one home game at Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School, with one game reserved for Springfield.

La Salle’s long drought has been overcome by a tremendous period of excellence between 1988 and 2012. In those 25 years, their cumulative record is 222-87-2, an average of almost 9 wins per season. In those years, they have won 10 Catholic League Championships and 4 City Titles. Much like 1960, their future looks bright, but history proves that one cannot take anything for granted.

The Eagles had a fine run in the late 70’s, getting to the in the 1980 season, but losing to the Oakland Raiders. Another run in the late 80’s got them into the playoffs for several years, but they could not advance to the big game. In the early to mid-2000’s, they also had a winning team, advancing to the Super Bowl after the 2004 season, losing to the . Their current drought is 52 years, and counting, since the day after Christmas in 1960.

I welcome your comments, corrections, and additions. Go La Salle!! Bill Wasylenko, ‘69 [email protected] January 1, 2013, revised November 5, 2013