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Edinboro celebrates 50th anniversary of Lambert Bowl

Edinboro celebrates 50th anniversary of Lambert Bowl

Football / 10/5/2020 11:02:00 AM
50 years ago, The Edinboro State College Fighting Scots football program made history as they won the Pennsylvania Conference Championship game over the West Chester State Golden Rams. 
 
This 1970 team made school history by going an astonishing 9-1 on their way to being crowned Lambert Bowl recipients.

Edinboro went a perfect 9-0 during the regular season which marked the first undefeated regular season in program history.

The Lambert Bowl in 1970 was given annually to the best NAIA Division III football in the East. According to a November 5th,1970 article published in the New York Times, the Fighting Scots were ranked number one in the polls coming into their last two regular season games.

Edinboro was 4-0 in conference and 7-0 overall coming into an anticipated matchup against the California State College of Pennsylvania. 
 
This big turnaround was due to a variety of factors, but one of them was the emergence of transfer Joe Sanford who played quarterback for the Fighting Scots.
 
The Conneaut, Ohio native and now long time high school football coach was a transfer from Iowa Wesleyan, and the 1970 regular season was the first time he ran the Texas Veer Triple Option offense in regular season games.
 
"In high school, I actually played running back. I was converted to quarterback in college, and I was built for this offense and it was built for me," Sanford said.
 
Sanford went on to play in the preseason with the Green Bay Packers in 1974 and became a high school football coach for Corry High School and McDowell High School.
 
California State finished second in the Pennsylvania Conference's Western Division in 1970, and this matchup in week eight would be the first of tough back to back games for the Fighting Scots.
 
Coming into this one, Edinboro controlled their own destiny; if they win, they reach the Pennsylvania Conference title game. If they lose, California State would hold the head to head and would represent the Western Division against the Eastern Division.
 
Edinboro took care of California State, and marched with an 8-0 mark to take on the defending Pennsylvania Conference champions West Chester State.
 
The West Chester State Golden Rams had won five Pennsylvania Conference titles in the 1960's, but this did not phase Edinboro as their quest for an undefeated season was completed. However, former Edinboro Head Football Coach Dennis Creehan did say West Chester was a complete and strong team.

"They looked like Notre Dame coming out of the locker room," said Creehan. "They were massive and that game was ugly. The field conditions were what you would expect from Edinboro. It poured the entire game, and we could not see our shoes because they sunk so deep into the mud on the field." I will never forget some of the West Chester's players' faces because they were in shock of the weather and field conditions.
 
The Fighting Scots prevailed in this mud bowl, and the Edinboro faithful celebrated in style according to Creehan.
 
"I remember they tore the goal post down, and boy did that goal post go down fast. Fans were all over the field covered in mud. I can also visualize my teammates hugging their parents and covering their parents in mud. It was an awesome celebration and it signified an unbelievable turnaround for our program."
 
Offensive guard and captain Paul Burkell talked about the turnaround that happened under Bill McDonald. "Coach McDonald built an excellent program, and he let his assistant coaches really coach us up. We did not have the biggest guys, but we had smart players who love the game of football."
 
One of Burkell's favorite memories from the 1970 season was staying in New York City after defeating Central Connecticut in the middle of the season. It was his first of two trips to NYC that season as he also was in attendance to accept the Lambert Bowl.
 
Burkell went on to be a captain in 1971 for another 9-1 Fighting Scots team. After his days at Edinboro, he had a long and successful career in the manufacturing and engineering spaces.
 
Edinboro was led by a trio of captains Joe Sanford, Dennis Creehan, and Paul Burkell. In addition to this trifecta, Ebby Hollins was a defensive stud for the Fighting Scots who would go on to be an All-American performer. His 132 tackles coming into the Pennsylvania Conference title game was a Fighting Scots program record.

Under the direction of head coach Bill McDonald, the Fighting Scots shattered their previous best record in school history when they went 5-2 back in 1928.
 
Edinboro defeated West Chester to advance to the NAIA semifinals. In the semifinals, they faced a familiar opponent in Westminster who they beat up on in a scrimmage earlier in the season.
 
Unfortunately, Edinboro lost this contest and ended their season 9-1. When talking about the 1970 team, center Tom Herman had a lot of great memories to share.
 
"Prior to this 1970 team, Edinboro did not have a rich football tradition. Coach Bill McDonald and his staff turned this program around big time in just a few seasons."
 
Herman explained that prior to the 1970 season, the Fighting Scots struggled to beat IUP for a few consecutive seasons. "I remember being a freshman and working that game as an usher. IUP beat us badly, and then beat us again the following year. We then went on to beat IUP three years in a row which demonstrates the turnaround the team had."
 
In total, Coach Herman spent 17 seasons at Edinboro as a player and coach. Herman is now an assistant football coach at Mercyhurst University.
 
While there will be no Homecoming football game in 2020 to honor this team, the 1970 and 1971 teams will be honored in a joint ceremony in 2021. All of those who played and coached for this magnificent 1970 team are as follows;

Coaches of the 1970 team include Head Coach Bill McDonald, Tony Zvonar (Defensive Line), Joe Shesman (Offensive Line), Jim Bowen (Running Backs), Bill Straub (Defensive Secondary), Mickey Watson (Quarterbacks & Receivers), Jack Hyland (Linebackers), Chuck Blaney (Offensive Backs, Freshmen)

Players from the 1970 varsity squad include Pat Barco, Bill Bender, Frank Berzansky, Tom Bliss, Tom Boylan, Torry Buck, Paul Burkell, Paul Chakot, Denny Creehan, Dan Dahlgren, Rick DiOrlo, Gary Ellis, Tomy Foryt, George Gast, Dave Gates, John Gecina, tim Georgvich, Steve Hamm, Tom Herman, Ebby Hollins, Jeff Howell, Jeff Idzik, Rich Iorfido, Bill Jeeves, Bob King, Gordie Kissman, Joe Kodba, Nick Lamenza, Keith Laslow, Barry Masterson, Jack McCurry, Scott McKissock, Ed Meeks, Bob Mengerink, Steve Mennen, Jay Minotas, Mike Mormino, Bill Nicolella, John Petcehl, Santo Policicchio, Larry Pollick, Al Raines, Tom Rockwell, Jim Romaniszyn, Mike Romeo, Gary Roth, Nick Salupo, Joe Sanford, Joe Sass, Les Shannon, Gary Sisko, Jay Sterret, George Stoffel, John Sullivan, Jim Tabaczynski, Dave Tamasy, Larry Underwood, Mark Worley, Joe Young, and Ken Zbinovec
 
 
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