1972 Game Action vs Cortland

1972 Game Action vs Cortland
Eagle QB Dennis Rosolowski around left end
Half a century ago we endured triple sessions in the August heat, pounded each other on a daily basis, and battled rugged competition weekly, all in spartan conditions. We bled green and gold.

And we had fun together, too.

Half a century later we have our memories and we have each other. We no longer flash the green and gold like we did in the day. Ours is the color that comes with age, experience, and some wisdom.

We are The Gray Eagles. Our stories are preserved here.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

April 2012

In 1971 we had three Gowanda grads starting;  Hank Huff,  Danny Elvin, and myself all on offense: LT, QB, and C. On one of the New England road trips, Coach D sat down with us during a meal and wanted to know where the hell Gowanda was. I told him we played in the Southwest Conference, the same as Nugent, Oyler, and Nash (Salamanca), and Owens (Southwestern) and that he had recruited me to come to Brockport at the All Star Banquet.

I had played on the freshman team, did not play as a sophomore and was the center in '70 and '71.  He responded, "Hell, Bob! I thought you were one of those 2- year wonders from a junior college." I had taken at least three skill classes from him my two first years.

I remember once after a touchdown I went to snap for an extra point and the other team misjudged the snap count and buried me. So we went to snap the ball again and the stupid backup QB and the soccer -style kicker moved back 5 yards and we moved up 1.5 yards. I looked between my legs and they are back 13.5 yards instead of 7. I had asked coach D before if, as a center, I should call time out if something wasn't right. He replied, " NO! You should be able to adapt." So the play went off and it fucked up. I came off the field. Coach had the doggie-eyes blazing and he hit me with his clip board and all his papers flew all over the field. I calmly told him it was not my fault. When we reviewed it on the film the next Monday, he asked me to explain why it was not my fault. So I explained what happened and he asked me why I hadn't called a timeout. I told him I had asked him about calling a TO and he told me not to. His answer was, "Hell, Bobsein, you have to adapt."  He was something.

One week I practiced as the starting center and the second series for the defense he put me in as a defensive tackle for the rest of that game. I was happy; didn't want to be a center. So the next week I practiced all week as a defensive tackle and, after the second time the offense had the ball, the center messed up and he put me back to center.

After graduation I coached high school football and all the other coaches asked where I got that Texas drawl when I got excited. Went to watch Hank and Danny play a game in '72 and Coach D told me how proud he was of me coaching in front of his team. I remember how proud I felt.


Hank has passed away. Danny and I are retired. We all took great pride in being Doggie Boys. I love hearing other people's thoughts about Coach D. He touched me as others.

Tim Bobsein, '72
Gowanda, NY
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