West Point's New Head Coach - Rich Ellerson is at

http://forwhattheygaveonsaturdayafternoon.com/wp-coach/rich-ellerson

It took Col Blaik 4 years, losing in 1941, 1942 & 1943 before beating Navy. It will not take 4 years before we beat Navy. Col Blaik's record was a respectable 8-8-2 against Navy.

Rich Ellerson's brother John Ellerson #87(others who wore 87 include Bob Mischak '54 1st story below & see 1953 Team and Bill Carpenter '60 - Army's Lonely End -several stories) Class of 1963 is preparing to block for Al Rushatz #31 Class of 1962 in the photo below.

It was at the Polo Grounds, Army ahead 14-13 late in the 4th when 7th ranked Duke, from inside their own 30 sprung the reverse. Red Smith, Duke's All American cut through Army's right side crossing the 50, and breaking clear. All that could be seen in the old game film was a wide open runner headed for the score. Suddenly at the 20 Bob started to close as if appearing from nowhere. He caught Red at the 7. Army held on four straight downs, taking over an inch from the goal line. Army was back. In the locker room after the game, a number of the players who had played nearly the entire game, both sides of the ball, had to have their Triple A t-shirts cut off with scissors as they had adhered to their skin. Col Blaik, his eyes glistening handed Bob the game ball with the words "Don't ever give up". It was the team that gave more than any other. It was the season Army would "Return to Glory".

Click here for The 1953 Football Team , The play - Bob's rundown & Army's Goal Line Stand is at http://forwhattheygaveonsaturdayafternoon.com/armylore/50

Although his accomplishments are lost in memory, as a member of "The Class the Stars Fell On", he was one of Army's great baseball players.

The 2d floor of Arvin Gym is hot as hell in July and August. It mattered little that the morning had been spent running four miles in formation or rolling around on the grass with the sweat pouring off. Each time, walking out on that old hard wood floor provided an instant rejuvenation; an escape from Beast; a brief return to normalcy. She left everything on the court during the ninety minutes they allowed her to play the game she loved. It is with that passion that she gave over the next four years. As a starter Yearling, Cow and Firstie Year, she made her jump shot known.

During practice Coach Brock wanted him to wear a red shirt to prevent further injury to his ankle. He said -- "Coach I play for Army not Stanford". He was an Army Fullback.

"Kirschenbauer, Kirschenbauer, I saw George Kirschenbauer hit a home run over the roof of Cullum Hall" Comment by son of Mr. Link (PE Dept.) Spring of 2006, when George's name was mentioned. The excitement in his voice was as if was May of 1962. What we did made a difference.

At the weigh in everyone could see he had difficulty making weight; that he had been weakened going to 167. Coach Alitz was always willing to juggle his lineup based on who the opposing Coach put on the mat; so it was that another Army Wrestler was sent out for the 167 Pound Class. His time came in the last match - Unlimited. As he stepped on the mat his 215 pound opponent's lips curled into a smirk. It took him less than a minute to pin his man. Never smirk at an Army Wrestler!

The ties that bind Army Athletes

In 1952, Cadet Joe Austin of the U.S. Military Academy Lacrosse Team used a six foot stick while playing crease attack. Joe made an all-time West Point record of ten goals in one game and had a career total of eighty goals for three years of play which (when the story was told) was still a school record. He was selected 1st team All-American at attack.

In 1962, the then Captain Joe Austin of the United States Air Force, was an assistant coach of the Army Lacrosse Team. Bob Fuellhart '62, the second Lonely End, (following Bill Carpenter) on the Football Team, was playing on the Army Lacrosse Team as a defense man. Bob became very distressed when his favorite stick was broken in scrimmage. Assistant Coach Joe Austin, who had treasured his six foot high scoring attack stick for ten years generously loaned it to Fuellhart.

The head of the stick was much narrower than we liked for defensive use in those days but Bob felt that it helped his throwing and catching. (Today almost every defense stick has a head of this size which put Bobby much ahead of his time.) Appropriately, Fuellhart became first team All-American at close defense and won the Schmeisser Award as the outstanding defense man of 1962. Bill Carpenter was recipient of the Schmeisser Award in 1960.

This would seem to be quite a rarity for two players Joe and Bob, in two opposite positions, ten years apart, utilizing the same stick to become outstanding players of their times. Both Joe Austin and Bob Fuellhart were killed in the Vietnam War in the mid 1960's.

Joe Austin, awarded 2 Silver Stars, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Purple Heart was first declared missing 19 March 1969, and confirmed Killed In Action 25 May 79.

Bill Carpenter was nominated for the Medal of Honor received the Distinguished Service Cross.

Bob Fuellhart, awarded a Silver Star, 2 Bronze Stars (V), and Purple Heart, was Killed in Action 12 Aug 65, the day his daughter was born.

A Half Century of Lacrosse by William H. (Dinty) Moore III, the long-time Lacrosse Coach at Navy. It was told to Moore by Army Coach Jim (Ace) Adams. Edited by Butch Darrell Captain 1962 Lacrosse Team

For Names: See Army Lore - References

Click on the small pictures on the left column

For Army's Greatest Athletes: Click on the Army A above left

There are 10 additional pages of Army Lore - Click on the MORE button below

Copyright December 2006
      Class of 1962
          Can Do

The photographs and articles you will find are the record. However, there are stories associated with those accomplishments that should be told. The Cadets of today need to know what went before. This site is focused on the athletic accomplishments of West Point Graduates. Military careers after graduation is not what this site is about, unless it relates directly to the Academy. The exception to that stipulation is for Classmates Killed in Action or awarded the Medal of Honor. Each Class must decide what it wants for input and is responsible for that input. It is the intent that the Academy either link to or absorb this web site at some point in the future.

This is a pilot site. Changes are being made as the site is developed. To understand what this site is about, please read the Disclosure above. The why is the last entry under Credits. The following is a list of where you can find data similar to what we are looking for.

1. The pages of Army Lore - click on Army Lore - References for the Athlete's names.

2. By clicking on the Army A you will go to the start of a listing of Army's Greatest Athletes. The page needs a lot of work.

3. By clicking on the small photos on the left particularly the 3d & 4th you will see how that area is being developed.

4. This is the link to very grainy series of Bob Mischak's run down of Red Smith, in what some would say is Army's Greatest Game. http://forwhattheygaveonsaturdayafternoon.com/armylore/50

5. The 150s, Lightweight, Sprint Program is into its 52d year. That page is started but needs a lot of work. http://forwhattheygaveonsaturdayafternoon.com/wp-teams/150-lightweight-football

6. Under Teams only Football & Wrestling have data. The 1953 Football Team is worth ones time. Rugby although not a Corp Squad has extensive material -- see Rugby button below.

7. Under Coaches - Col Earl Blaik, Coach Leroy Alitz and Asst. Coach Doug Blubaugh have pages started.

8. The following individuals have pages started which contain significant data.

• Doc Blanchard & Glenn Davis Class of 1947
• Joe Steffy Class of 1949
• Bob Mischak Class of 1954
• Bill Carpenter - Army's Lonely End & Bob Anderson Class of 1960.
• Al Rushatz, Jim Kays, Vin Murphy, Carl Morin, John Taylor, Dick Irwin and Tom Brewer Class of 1962
• Greg Gadson Class of 1989

9. Draft Data Entry Sheets for Teams & Individuals are at Submissions. Class of 1962 Can Do will give you more ideas for input.

10. Contact can be made at ArmyAthletes@aol.com

There are over 1,000 photos and documents covering the period Spring of 1959 to Spring of 1962 (Class of 62's 3 years of elgibiliby) to be loaded onto the site. The material was scanned at the USMA Library. Each Class can assume there are similiar amounts at the Library.

Information on 450 page scrapbook devoted to Col Blaik; a Locker honoring Coach Alitz; and Wrestling & Hockey Lockers marketed by the A Club -- click on the About button.

Rugby -- Rugby became a Club through the efforts of the Can Do Class.

Anyone with information that needs to go to all Classes send Email to ArmyAthletes@aol.com.

Identification of Athletes is currently at Army Lore - References .

Report of errors or recomendations for the site can be made at, ArmyAthletes@aol.com

USMA Web Sites Army Athletics is at http://www.goarmysports.com/ Alumni is at http://www.usma.edu/alumni.asp West Point is at http://www.usma.edu/ "1962 Can Do"