Bucknell University Athletics
1960 Bucknell Lambert Cup Football Team Celebrates 50-Year Reunion on Homecoming Weekend
11/1/2010 8:00:00 AM | Bison Club
Nov. 1, 2010
1960 Reunion Photo GalleryLEWISBURG, Pa. -- Fifty years ago this fall the Bucknell football team captured its first-ever Lambert Cup, emblematic of Eastern small college supremacy. This past weekend, nearly 30 players, coaches and administrators from that program reunited on campus to celebrate Homecoming and the Golden Anniversary of the team's magical season.
The weekend started with a Friday evening dinner reception held in the formal room of Hunt Hall, where team captain Mickey Melberger, the first featured speaker, welcomed his former teammates back to campus.
Head coach Joe Susan addressed the members of the 1960 team, filling them in on the current Bison squad. Bucknell Athletics Hall of Famer Brad Tufts, who in 1960 was a 22-year-old sports information director just getting started in his administrative career, took the audience through each of the nine games on the schedule as well as some of the behind-the-scenes work that led to the Lambert Cup.
Unfortunately, Hall of Fame Coach Bob Odell was unable to return to campus for the event, but assistant coach Bill Wrabley, who remains close friends with Coach Odell, offered remarks on his behalf. Wrabley recalled that the team was outnumbered and outsized in virtually every game, but the team thrived on toughness, smarts, and an All-America quarterback in the late Paul Terhes.
Director of athletics and recreation John Hardt presented each member of the team a plaque featuring the 1960 team photo. Each player also received a Bucknell football jersey.
During "open mic" time, Ron Giordano, Kirk Foulke, Charlie Johnson, Dick Tyrrell and Tom Alexander all spoke, with Tyrrell's comedic musical number one of the highlights of the evening.
"It was an honor and a privilege to host so many members of the 1960 team on campus over the weekend," said Todd Newcomb, associate director of athletics and director of the Bison Club. "They truly represent the core values of the Bucknell Football program, and it was easy to see their love and devotion for one another and for their alma mater."
On Saturday morning, many of the 1960 team members attended the 32nd Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony, where one of their own, lineman Kirk Foulke, became the 10th individual associated with the Lambert Cup team to be enshrined in the Hall.
Also at the Hall of Fame ceremony, team member Rick Elliott was honored with the Bison Club Award, given in recognition to a lifetime of contributions to Bucknell Athletics.
At halftime of Saturday's Bucknell-Lafayette football game, the team was honored on the field at halftime, where they were presented certificates by Bucknell President John Bravman and John Hardt. The weekend wrapped up with a Sunday morning brunch, hosted by Mickey Melberger at his farm not far from Lewisburg.
The following members of the 1960 Lambert Cup team were in attendance: Brad Tufts (sports information director), Bill Wrabley (assistant coach), Roger Oberlin (assistant coach), Bob Patzwall (graduate assistant coach), Tom Alexander, Don Chaump, Rene Clements, Ray Cosgrove, Rick Elliott, Bob Erwetowski, Jake Flyzik, Kirk FOulke, Norm Garrity, Ron Giordano, Charles B. Johnson, Charles F. Johnson, Dick Lebec, Dennis Lucas, Walt Mayer, Mickey Melberger, Dennis Morgan, Darryl Novak, Dick Orlowski, Marty Pope, Ed Reitzel, John Sommers, Ken Twiford, Dick Tyrrell, Bob Williams and Doug Williams.
The 1960 team finished 7-2, winning its final five games after a 2-2 start. In that final five-game stretch, Bucknell defeated Lafayette, Lehigh, Colgate, Temple and Delaware by a combined score of 107-14. Bucknell would go on to win the Lambert Cup again in 1964.
