Comments on: Why I’m (Still) a Rugger http://www.drewmagazine.com/2009/09/why-i%e2%80%99m-still-a-rugger/ Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:48:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Steve Carnahan http://www.drewmagazine.com/2009/09/why-i%e2%80%99m-still-a-rugger/comment-page-1/#comment-647 Steve Carnahan Sun, 13 Feb 2011 12:58:22 +0000 http://www.drew.edu/admblog/magazine/?p=115#comment-647 Hi Tom, Great article about a great game. A friend passed it on to me because of a Google search he made after my "Brag," about the Club"s success in the late 60's when I played and later coached at Drew. The whole issue popped up after watching Invictus with his teenage son's and my mentioning that I had a Rugger chapter in my life. The guys who played Rugby at Drew in those days were a unique collection of gifted athletes and free spirits who put together some memorable moments for anyone who cared to underestimate them, Army, Rutgers, and Princeton to name a few. I also coached High Football and Varsity Offshore Sailing at the Naval Academy, but the Rugby days at Drew and those great guys continue to be a highlight. Steve Carnahan Hi Tom,

Great article about a great game. A friend passed it on to me because of a Google search he made after
my “Brag,” about the Club”s success in the late 60′s when I played and later coached at Drew. The whole
issue popped up after watching Invictus with his teenage son’s and my mentioning that I had a Rugger
chapter in my life. The guys who played Rugby at Drew in those days were a unique collection of gifted
athletes and free spirits who put together some memorable moments for anyone who cared to underestimate
them, Army, Rutgers, and Princeton to name a few.
I also coached High Football and Varsity Offshore Sailing at the Naval Academy, but the Rugby days at
Drew and those great guys continue to be a highlight.

Steve Carnahan

]]> By: Neil Manowitz http://www.drewmagazine.com/2009/09/why-i%e2%80%99m-still-a-rugger/comment-page-1/#comment-213 Neil Manowitz Sun, 10 Jan 2010 19:36:03 +0000 http://www.drew.edu/admblog/magazine/?p=115#comment-213 Don't forget about our beloved coach, Steve Carnahan. One of the funniest guys I ever met. Neil Manowitz Drew RFC, 1969-1970 Don’t forget about our beloved coach, Steve Carnahan. One of the funniest guys I ever met.

Neil Manowitz
Drew RFC, 1969-1970

]]> By: Tom Tani http://www.drewmagazine.com/2009/09/why-i%e2%80%99m-still-a-rugger/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Tom Tani Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:29:12 +0000 http://www.drew.edu/admblog/magazine/?p=115#comment-27 Hello and thanks to everyone for their kind words. I made it out to the alumni game this year and was delighted to see two full sides going at it. The "Dad" thing (coaching my son's youth soccer team) had me show later than I hoped but I still got to ref a half. It was a lot of fun and a bit of a challenge since everyone wore a different colored shirt. I had taken my self of the Society's Sat. schedule to be at Drew, but was assigned to a college match Sunday between William Paterson College.... vs Drew! Just goes to show, wherever you may go, your past will catch up with you. Great seeing everyone and look forward to another alumni game next year! Tom T Hello and thanks to everyone for their kind words. I made it out to the alumni game this year and was delighted to see two full sides going at it. The “Dad” thing (coaching my son’s youth soccer team) had me show later than I hoped but I still got to ref a half. It was a lot of fun and a bit of a challenge since everyone wore a different colored shirt. I had taken my self of the Society’s Sat. schedule to be at Drew, but was assigned to a college match Sunday between William Paterson College…. vs Drew! Just goes to show, wherever you may go, your past will catch up with you.

Great seeing everyone and look forward to another alumni game next year!

Tom T

]]> By: Evin Lederman http://www.drewmagazine.com/2009/09/why-i%e2%80%99m-still-a-rugger/comment-page-1/#comment-24 Evin Lederman Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:03:18 +0000 http://www.drew.edu/admblog/magazine/?p=115#comment-24 Tom, Good to hear that you're still at it. Thanks for helping me coach the Drew Womans team in about 1992, just as they were getting started. Evin Tom,
Good to hear that you’re still at it. Thanks for helping me coach the Drew Womans team in about 1992, just as they were getting started.
Evin

]]> By: Neil Block http://www.drewmagazine.com/2009/09/why-i%e2%80%99m-still-a-rugger/comment-page-1/#comment-23 Neil Block Thu, 24 Sep 2009 01:23:35 +0000 http://www.drew.edu/admblog/magazine/?p=115#comment-23 Tom, You probably don't remember me, but I remember you. I was the hooker from 1980-1983, and was president of the club my senior year. You were a faithful mentor and friend to the club then, and I am glad to see your passion for the sport and DRFC has not waned. I, too, have very fond memories of my time being a part of this "fraternity". Perhaps the greatest memory I have is the first time we played the cadets of Army. This Army team routinely crushed their opponents, and, on paper, we were outmatched. However, for us it didn't matter. We were home, the sidelines were packed, the weather was perfect and the music was blasting. As we were warming up, a big coach bus rolls in with the letters USMA on it's side. We were so pumped up. The game begins, and we were playing out of our minds. We went into halftime ahead. We were actually beating ARMY. Well, in the end, we lost the game. But, we gave that team a good scare. The kegs started flowing soon after the final whistle, and I am fairly sure we won the party. I hope there are readers out there that remember this experience whether you were on the field or on the sidelines, and you find yourselves smiling. Tom,
You probably don’t remember me, but I remember you. I was the hooker from 1980-1983, and was president of the club my senior year. You were a faithful mentor and friend to the club then, and I am glad to see your passion for the sport and DRFC has not waned. I, too, have very fond memories of my time being a part of this “fraternity”. Perhaps the greatest memory I have is the first time we played the cadets of Army. This Army team routinely crushed their opponents, and, on paper, we were outmatched. However, for us it didn’t matter. We were home, the sidelines were packed, the weather was perfect and the music was blasting. As we were warming up, a big coach bus rolls in with the letters USMA on it’s side. We were so pumped up. The game begins, and we were playing out of our minds. We went into halftime ahead. We were actually beating ARMY. Well, in the end, we lost the game. But, we gave that team a good scare. The kegs started flowing soon after the final whistle, and I am fairly sure we won the party.
I hope there are readers out there that remember this experience whether you were on the field or on the sidelines, and you find yourselves smiling.

]]> By: Ron Fischetti http://www.drewmagazine.com/2009/09/why-i%e2%80%99m-still-a-rugger/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Ron Fischetti Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:25:52 +0000 http://www.drew.edu/admblog/magazine/?p=115#comment-17 Tom, Nice piece, and I do remember the first time I met you. You came to one of our practices to help coach the new guys. In every setting, there is always one perosn who is willing to take it upon themselves to get things organized and get things done. It's an often thankless, but very vital job. Thanks for all you've done over years. Your passion and respect for this great game of ours is very obvious thru the years. Chris, A couple of years back in one of my many post surgical periods on crutches, you reached out to me as a fellow Rugby Brother, and steered me toward a tourmanment near Yorktown, NY. I really wanted to connect to some Ruby vibe and you were a gracious guide on a day when I was flying solo and needed a but of inside knowledge. A true illustration of how we are all connected by this game and DRFC. Thanks, Ron Fischetti '85 Tom,

Nice piece, and I do remember the first time I met you. You came to one of our practices to help coach the new guys. In every setting, there is always one perosn who is willing to take it upon themselves to get things organized and get things done. It’s an often thankless, but very vital job. Thanks for all you’ve done over years. Your passion and respect for this great game of ours is very obvious thru the years.

Chris,

A couple of years back in one of my many post surgical periods on crutches, you reached out to me as a fellow Rugby Brother, and steered me toward a tourmanment near Yorktown, NY. I really wanted to connect to some Ruby vibe and you were a gracious guide on a day when I was flying solo and needed a but of inside knowledge.

A true illustration of how we are all connected by this game and DRFC.

Thanks,

Ron Fischetti ’85

]]> By: Chris Walsh http://www.drewmagazine.com/2009/09/why-i%e2%80%99m-still-a-rugger/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Chris Walsh Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:36:42 +0000 http://www.drew.edu/admblog/magazine/?p=115#comment-13 Tom, Nice piece. I know people who, after moving from one area to another, shop for a rugby team to join the same way some people shop for a church or synagogue to join. After a few decades of playing mostly just in alumni games, I have been playing regularly again for about 3 years, for the Morris Old Boys. A teammate of mine is Ralph Scoville (CLA '80). On Tuesday we leave for Munich to play in an Old Boys Tournament. I understand there's some sort of 'Oktoberfest' event going on there at the same time. Maybe we'll have time to check that out. This will be only the 2nd time I will miss the DRFC alumni game and the first time in 15 years. Oh well. I will start a new streak next year. I heard of a winger on a New Zealand team who just played during his team's recent tour of Europe, and he's 70, so there's precedent for me playing another 20 years. I hope I wouldn't have to make the move from the scrum to the backfield to do so, though. In 2011 we are planning on going on tour in New Zealand during the next Rugby World Cup. If things go right, we will be visiting John Hinchcliff while we're down there. John was a DRFC player in the early 60s and still keeps up with the news of the Drew club and players. The picture accompanying your article indicates three things: You enjoy reffing Sometimes, while on a rugby pitch, you can't help but be near some shady characters Ruggers age exceedingly gracefully. Tom, Nice piece.

I know people who, after moving from one area to another, shop for a rugby team to join the same way some people shop for a church or synagogue to join.

After a few decades of playing mostly just in alumni games, I have been playing regularly again for about 3 years, for the Morris Old Boys. A teammate of mine is Ralph Scoville (CLA ’80). On Tuesday we leave for Munich to play in an Old Boys Tournament. I understand there’s some sort of ‘Oktoberfest’ event going on there at the same time. Maybe we’ll have time to check that out. This will be only the 2nd time I will miss the DRFC alumni game and the first time in 15 years. Oh well. I will start a new streak next year. I heard of a winger on a New Zealand team who just played during his team’s recent tour of Europe, and he’s 70, so there’s precedent for me playing another 20 years. I hope I wouldn’t have to make the move from the scrum to the backfield to do so, though.

In 2011 we are planning on going on tour in New Zealand during the next Rugby World Cup. If things go right, we will be visiting John Hinchcliff while we’re down there. John was a DRFC player in the early 60s and still keeps up with the news of the Drew club and players.

The picture accompanying your article indicates three things:
You enjoy reffing
Sometimes, while on a rugby pitch, you can’t help but be near some shady characters
Ruggers age exceedingly gracefully.

]]> By: rory corrigan http://www.drewmagazine.com/2009/09/why-i%e2%80%99m-still-a-rugger/comment-page-1/#comment-10 rory corrigan Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:51:03 +0000 http://www.drew.edu/admblog/magazine/?p=115#comment-10 Tom, I was delighted and ilfessed with your rugby letter and even more motivated to respond by my friend, classmate & rugger Harry Litwack. In the spring of 68, I had the pai experience as a Prep ruby player and Drew applicant to be turned into a teen pretzel by Litwack and his Drew mates .Harry had the grace and wisdom to invite me afterwards to their Rugby party and a weekend of dubious activities...the rest is history! As Harry said, they went on to beat Princeton, Army, Duke , Penn and other Eastern powerhouses in their undefeated season of 68. My Drew tennis coach, George Davis, resented my "double dipping " from the courts to the pitch, but my best wordly friends and memories remain Ben Alexander, Dwight Davies, Rich Whiittaker,Geoff Barger etc from that golden era of Drew Rugby... Thanks for upholding and honoring the tradition....Rory Corrigan cla'72 Tom, I was delighted and ilfessed with your rugby letter and even more motivated to respond by my friend, classmate & rugger Harry Litwack. In the spring of 68, I had the pai experience as a Prep ruby player and Drew applicant to be turned into a teen pretzel by Litwack and his Drew mates .Harry had the grace and wisdom to invite me afterwards to their Rugby party and a weekend of dubious activities…the rest is history! As Harry said, they went on to beat Princeton, Army, Duke , Penn and other Eastern powerhouses in their undefeated season of 68. My Drew tennis coach, George Davis, resented my “double dipping ” from the courts to the pitch, but my best wordly friends and memories remain Ben Alexander, Dwight Davies, Rich Whiittaker,Geoff Barger etc from that golden era of Drew Rugby… Thanks for upholding and honoring the tradition….Rory Corrigan cla’72

]]> By: Harry Litwack http://www.drewmagazine.com/2009/09/why-i%e2%80%99m-still-a-rugger/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Harry Litwack Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:11:06 +0000 http://www.drew.edu/admblog/magazine/?p=115#comment-8 Hi Tom, I enjoyed your writing. Last week in Roxborough/Manyunk section of Philly I met my cousin Harris' daughter, Bess' boyfriend Jeremy. They just moved from Madison, Wisc. where they both finished Masters degrees. Now he is attending law school at Drexel. Jeremy is a rugger. Quite good apparently and I could see by the way he carried himself he had a ruggers confidence born of putting one's body into the fray. The scrums of life vicissitudes of the ball bouncing. Jeremy and I instantly had a common language, a brotherhood, a kinship born of playing on pitches although never with or against each other. I was telling him about playing & beating Army at West Pt in 1968. Drew teams of the late 60's beat Princeton, Rutgers & many other MUCH bigger schools. At the time, we were like those who came after us the next generation of Drew Ruggers unaware of the connections, the friendships that follow. Guess I'll see you at reunion assuming you are reffing. How are the knees holding up? Harry Hi Tom,

I enjoyed your writing.

Last week in Roxborough/Manyunk section of Philly I met my cousin Harris’ daughter, Bess’ boyfriend Jeremy. They just moved from Madison, Wisc. where they both finished Masters degrees.
Now he is attending law school at Drexel. Jeremy is a rugger. Quite good apparently and I could see by the way he carried himself he had a ruggers confidence born of putting one’s body into the fray. The scrums of life vicissitudes of the ball bouncing.

Jeremy and I instantly had a common language, a brotherhood, a kinship born of playing on pitches although never with or against each other.

I was telling him about playing & beating Army at West Pt in 1968. Drew teams of the late 60′s beat Princeton, Rutgers & many other MUCH bigger schools. At the time, we were like those who came after us the next generation of Drew Ruggers unaware of the connections, the friendships that follow.

Guess I’ll see you at reunion assuming you are reffing. How are the knees holding up?

Harry

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