Holy Cross Crusaders football
Encyclopedia
The Holy Cross Crusaders
football team is the collegiate football program of the College of the Holy Cross
. The team is a member of the Patriot League
, an NCAA Division I conference that participates in the second-level Football Championship Subdivision, more commonly known as FCS or the subdivision's former designation of I-AA. The team plays their home games at Fitton Field
.
). Since 1910, the Holy Cross Crusader "Goodtime" Marching Band has performed half time shows at home football games. The original field was built with wooden and concrete stands. These were replaced with steel stands in 1924 and aluminum seating in 1986. The largest crowd ever to pack Fitton Field was the 27,000 who showed up to see Holy Cross's All-American back Bill Osmanski
in his last home game.
's largest sports crowds. To accommodate larger crowds, the Holy Cross game was routinely held at larger venues off campus, with the 1916 matchup taking place at the newly constructed Fenway Park
. A record 54,000 attended the 1922 game at Braves Field
, home of the Boston Braves
baseball team. On November 28, 1942, Holy Cross beat BC in a huge upset by a score of 55–12. The game is still the most famous between the two foes, not only for its result but also its aftermath. The Eagles had booked their victory party that night at the popular Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston, but canceled after the loss. As a result, the BC team was absent when the club caught fire
, killing nearly 500.
But fortune did not always favor the Crusaders. By the late 1970s the Holy Cross game had become more of a tradition than a rivalry, as Holy Cross had ceased to be a major power in football. By 1980, the game was no longer part of the student ticket package, and was mostly attended by alumni. In 1986 Holy Cross changed the direction of its football program, joining the Division I-AA Patriot League
, and terminated the series. BC had won 17 of the last 20 games.
for the Orange Bowl title. With the score tied 6-6 and only seconds remaining in regulation, Holy Cross was intercepted by Miami's Al Hudson who ran the ball 89 yards for a touchdown. The final score was 13–6.
In the early 1980s things changed. HC enjoyed a football renaissance for a decade starting in 1981 with coaches Rick Carter
(35-19-2) and especially Mark Duffner
(60-5-1). In 1983 the team was No. 3 in the nation in 1-AA under Carter. Later under Duffner Holy Cross became the nation's most successful 1-AA program. There were 11-0 seasons in both 1987 and 1991. Holy Cross won five Patriot League
championships, four Lambert Cups, and four ECAC Team of the Year Awards. It also earned the No. 1 ranking in the final 1987 NCAA Division 1-AA poll. In 1987 running back/defensive back Gordie Lockbaum finished third in the Heisman Trophy balloting.
In the midst of these winning seasons Holy Cross changed the direction of its football program. In 1986 it joined the Patriot League
, a conference that does not allow its member schools to award athletic scholarships for football (but allows them for other sports, with the recipients ineligible to play football). Today Holy Cross continues its football tradition, although more in line with its enrollment of under 3000 students.
, Holy Cross had one of its best teams since the founding of the Patriot League, led by the team's star Quarterback Dominic Randolph
. The Crusaders won the league title and earned an automatic berth to the FCS playoffs, where they lost in the first round to eventual national champion Villanova.
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College Football Hall of Fame
:
Holy Cross Crusaders
The Holy Cross Crusaders are the athletic teams representing the College of the Holy Cross. They compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Patriot League. The men's and women's ice hockey teams compete in Atlantic Hockey Association and women's golf in the Big South Conference...
football team is the collegiate football program of the College of the Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
. The team is a member of the Patriot League
Patriot League
The Patriot League is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I) for a number of sports; in football, it participates in the Football Championship Subdivision...
, an NCAA Division I conference that participates in the second-level Football Championship Subdivision, more commonly known as FCS or the subdivision's former designation of I-AA. The team plays their home games at Fitton Field
Fitton Field
Fitton Field is a multi-purpose sports stadium in Worcester, Massachusetts. Primarily used for College of the Holy Cross sporting events, the baseball stadium also serves as the home field for the Can-Am League Worcester Tornadoes.-History and layout:...
.
History
Football began at Holy Cross in 1884 with games against teams from other schools beginning in 1891. Starting in 1896 the Holy Cross Football team played at the Worcester Oval. The first home game played at Holy Cross was a 6-0 defeat of Massachusetts Agricultural College on September 26, 1903. In 1908 the football field was moved to next to the baseball field which bears the same name (Fitton FieldFitton Field
Fitton Field is a multi-purpose sports stadium in Worcester, Massachusetts. Primarily used for College of the Holy Cross sporting events, the baseball stadium also serves as the home field for the Can-Am League Worcester Tornadoes.-History and layout:...
). Since 1910, the Holy Cross Crusader "Goodtime" Marching Band has performed half time shows at home football games. The original field was built with wooden and concrete stands. These were replaced with steel stands in 1924 and aluminum seating in 1986. The largest crowd ever to pack Fitton Field was the 27,000 who showed up to see Holy Cross's All-American back Bill Osmanski
Bill Osmanski
Bill Osmanski was a college and professional football player, playing fullback. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973.-College of the Holy Cross:...
in his last home game.
Boston College Rivalry
In 1896, Holy Cross and Boston College played the first football game between the two schools starting one of the most storied rivalries in college football. For much of the early to mid 20th century, BC and The Cross drew some of New EnglandNew England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
's largest sports crowds. To accommodate larger crowds, the Holy Cross game was routinely held at larger venues off campus, with the 1916 matchup taking place at the newly constructed Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
. A record 54,000 attended the 1922 game at Braves Field
Braves Field
Braves Field was a baseball park that formerly stood on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts. The stadium was home to the Boston Braves National League franchise from 1915–1952, when the team moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
, home of the Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
baseball team. On November 28, 1942, Holy Cross beat BC in a huge upset by a score of 55–12. The game is still the most famous between the two foes, not only for its result but also its aftermath. The Eagles had booked their victory party that night at the popular Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston, but canceled after the loss. As a result, the BC team was absent when the club caught fire
Cocoanut Grove fire
The Cocoanut Grove was Boston's premier nightclub during the post-Prohibition 1930s and 40s. On November 28, 1942, occurred the scene of what remains the deadliest nightclub fire, killing 492 people and injuring hundreds more...
, killing nearly 500.
But fortune did not always favor the Crusaders. By the late 1970s the Holy Cross game had become more of a tradition than a rivalry, as Holy Cross had ceased to be a major power in football. By 1980, the game was no longer part of the student ticket package, and was mostly attended by alumni. In 1986 Holy Cross changed the direction of its football program, joining the Division I-AA Patriot League
Patriot League
The Patriot League is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I) for a number of sports; in football, it participates in the Football Championship Subdivision...
, and terminated the series. BC had won 17 of the last 20 games.
1946 Orange Bowl
In 1946 Holy Cross brought their best team in school history to the Orange Bowl only to feel the heartbreak they gave BC four years earlier. On January 1, 1946 Holy Cross faced off against the University of MiamiMiami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
for the Orange Bowl title. With the score tied 6-6 and only seconds remaining in regulation, Holy Cross was intercepted by Miami's Al Hudson who ran the ball 89 yards for a touchdown. The final score was 13–6.
A Glorious Decade
In 1969 Holy Cross had to cancel the final eight games of the season when a contaminated faucet on a practice field led to an outbreak of hepatitis. Through the 1970s Holy Cross continued to play major East Coast football powers but the Crusaders football program struggled to compete with the bigger schools.In the early 1980s things changed. HC enjoyed a football renaissance for a decade starting in 1981 with coaches Rick Carter
Rick Carter
Rick Carter is an American production designer and art director. He is known for his work in the film Forrest Gump, which earned him an Oscar nomination, as well as numerous nominations of other awards for his work in Amistad and A.I. Artificial Intelligence...
(35-19-2) and especially Mark Duffner
Mark Duffner
-References:...
(60-5-1). In 1983 the team was No. 3 in the nation in 1-AA under Carter. Later under Duffner Holy Cross became the nation's most successful 1-AA program. There were 11-0 seasons in both 1987 and 1991. Holy Cross won five Patriot League
Patriot League
The Patriot League is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I) for a number of sports; in football, it participates in the Football Championship Subdivision...
championships, four Lambert Cups, and four ECAC Team of the Year Awards. It also earned the No. 1 ranking in the final 1987 NCAA Division 1-AA poll. In 1987 running back/defensive back Gordie Lockbaum finished third in the Heisman Trophy balloting.
In the midst of these winning seasons Holy Cross changed the direction of its football program. In 1986 it joined the Patriot League
Patriot League
The Patriot League is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I) for a number of sports; in football, it participates in the Football Championship Subdivision...
, a conference that does not allow its member schools to award athletic scholarships for football (but allows them for other sports, with the recipients ineligible to play football). Today Holy Cross continues its football tradition, although more in line with its enrollment of under 3000 students.
2009 season
In 20092009 NCAA Division I FCS football season
The 2009 NCAA Division I FCS football season, part of the college football season, began in August 2009 and concluded with the national championship game on December 18, 2009 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, won by Villanova 23–21 over Montana.-Rule changes for 2009:The NCAA football rules committee...
, Holy Cross had one of its best teams since the founding of the Patriot League, led by the team's star Quarterback Dominic Randolph
Dominic Randolph
Dominic Randolph is an American football quarterback who is currently a Free Agent in the Arena Football League. He played college football at the College of the Holy Cross, and high school football at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio...
. The Crusaders won the league title and earned an automatic berth to the FCS playoffs, where they lost in the first round to eventual national champion Villanova.
Hall of Fame Honors
Pro Football Hall of FamePro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
:
- George ConnorGeorge Connor (American football)George Leo Connor was an American football offensive tackle/linebacker for the Chicago Bears from 1948 to 1955. He was originally a number one draft pick by the New York Giants in 1946. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and of the College Football Hall of Fame. He attended the...
Ex-Class of 1948
College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
:
- Eddie Anderson Coach 1933–1938, 1950–1964
- George ConnorGeorge Connor (American football)George Leo Connor was an American football offensive tackle/linebacker for the Chicago Bears from 1948 to 1955. He was originally a number one draft pick by the New York Giants in 1946. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and of the College Football Hall of Fame. He attended the...
Ex-Class of 1948 - Ed HealeyEd HealeyEdward Francis Healey, Jr. was a professional football player for the Rock Island Independents, and best known with the Chicago Bears.-College years:...
Ex-Class of 1917 - Gordie Lockbaum Class of 1988
- Bill OsmanskiBill OsmanskiBill Osmanski was a college and professional football player, playing fullback. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973.-College of the Holy Cross:...
Class of 1939 - Bill SwiackiBill SwiackiWilliam Adam Swiacki was an American football end in the National Football League. He played five seasons for the New York Giants and the Detroit Lions...
Ex-Class of 1945