GOOD IDEA: Following up on our columns on some of the great high
school football contests of the 1950s, Courtney “Gus” Gustafson of
Fort Loudon, Pa., suggests a reunion between old rivals Smethport
Hubbers and the St. Marys Flying Dutchmen. He had written us on the
49th anniversary of that game and writes, “It would be neat to have
a 50 year reunion with our co-champs of the old AML league next
year.”

We haven’t quite exhausted the subject of football and, after
all, it is the season. In fact, tonight is the homecoming game
between Bradford and Meadvillle.

Joe Bennett of West Lafayette, Ind., who got us off on this
subject in the first place, follows up: “I’m glad Jim Ludwig
contacted The Era about the 1959 St. Bernard-Smethport game. In my
original submission, I did not mention him because I wasn’t sure I
remembered his name correctly. However, I’ll never forget the sight
of the back of his jersey going down the field that night. Another
member of the Smethport team, Mike Mulvihill, also now lives in
Bradford.”

We also heard from Jim Pringle of Vineyard Haven, Mass.: “I
would just like to point out that the 1959 Bradford High football
team was undefeated until its last game of the season against
Olean. We were one of ‘Rock’ Denning’s finest teams.”

Oh, those glory years!

AND THIS: Ted Viola of Gilroy, Calif., switches to a different
sport:

“St. Bernard’s basketball team won the Erie Diocesan league
championship in 1957 under Coach Don Raabe. We won the championship
when we defeated Erie Kanty Prep. The game was played at Junior
High Gym on School Street. The place was packed.

“Some members of that team were Bill Colestro, Dick Cavallaro,
Ed Harris, Tom Higie, Paul Platko, Jim Comilla, John Pionzio, Joe
Vecellio, Mike Vigliotta and Ted Viola.

“Some of us played mainly on the junior varsity but also were
reserves for the varsity. In the state regionals, we played
Uniontown St. John’s and they beat us bad. That game was played in
Butler. That team was called a ‘Cinderella’ team. The gong struck
midnight on that night.

“We had a great party after the loss. That party would not be
permitted today. Don Raabe was a great basketball coach also. He
played in college his freshman year at St. Bonaventure.”