West Point Rugby – The Early Years and the Role of the Can Do Class of 1962
Final Rev 0 – June 22, 2003
It was gloom period 1961. Since the previous summer John Taylor ’62 was intent in bringing the game of rugby-football to West Point. He knew that once started it would spread like wildfire adding to the long tradition of leaning how to win by competing in the fields of friendly strife. He faced a tough challenge. Little support from organized sports at the Academy, no funds, no experienced players, no coach, and no fields to call home. John persisted against all odds. He got the support of Pete Dawkins, who had made fame first as an All-American Football player and later as a successful rugby player while at Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship. He gathered positive feedback from the Corps, Finally John received a personal letter from General Westmoreland, the Superintendent, authorizing the formation of a Class B competitive Club.
From the surveys that John conducted he learned of a classmate from Chile who had played rugby. I first met John in March 1961. John infected me with his enthusiasm to add rugby-football to the sports practiced at West Point. Would I coach? Coaching was an art about which I knew nothing – although I had been blessed with wonderful coaches in my life. My rugby experienced was limited to playing wing forward for 6 years at the Grange School, an English Boarding School in Chile, with some success as a player. To coach in English, my second language, was a daunting thought. But I could not refuse John’s request and thus I joined him in starting the Army Rugby-Football Club and in creating the first team of what would become the seed to the most successful sport in the history of West Point.
Authorized to start the Club John, raised enough funds to buy a few rugby balls, whistles, and rulebooks. In recalling those early days Bill Scherr ‘62, Army Rugby’s first great scrum half recalls...”during our first practices we didn't have uniforms. During practices, half of us had to turn our USMA Sweat Shirts inside out to distinguish the two sides. One afternoon, walking back to the barracks after practice, I was written up by the OIC for being out of uniform because I was wearing my muddy sweatshirt inside out. My understanding TAC threw it out”. Later, Coach Palone loaned us Army soccer equipment and much came from the B football team. We were assigned the furthest-most field on Post (Target Field located by the Hudson River) where only the NYC railroad trains would visit us, once in a while. If you got injured, your teammates would have to carry you back. John took the lead on all administrative tasks and in learning how to finds rugby teams to challenge. He also played whenever and wherever there was a need. At the time, rugby in the USA was played mainly in Ivy League schools, in the West Coast at Stanford and Cal, and by Clubs formed mostly by immigrant enthusiasts from traditional rugby countries like England, Ireland, France, Australia and South Africa. The Rugby Clubs were the best teams around and were known for having the best party traditions in American sport circles.
Those who volunteered to start the Rugby Club finally gathered at our lonely playing field. About 40 cadets from all four classes showed up on that cold April day. Their backgrounds were B squad football, 150 lb. football, soccer, and ice hockey and intramurder jocks. Not one of the prospective players knew what rugby was all about. Within minutes John and I realized that creating a respectful Army rugby team would be a bigger challenge than we ever imagined, specially doing so safely and without serious injury. Learning the basics on how to tackle (not block), how to use your feet (after all the game is called rugby-football because the feet play an important part in winning the game), how to constantly pass the ball to your team-mates (and not hang-on to the ball while trying to gain as many yards as possible), how to play without rest in 45 minutes halves, how to form loose scrums to retain control of the ball, etc would be the key to our mission... and so, we started with the basics. But the volunteers wanted to “play” the game, and so, we started playing a little at a time, with the one practice ball we had, selecting in the process an A and a B team, without regards to class standing, and without loosing focus of the need to master the basics. We all learned at the same time, not only how to play the game but how to do a better job of coaching the game and administering the emerging organization. By late April 1961 we were ready to try our new skills, against one of the best rugby clubs in the East – the Westchester NY Rugby Club (NYRC). It would be a learning experience – Army lost, but the score was very close, and we did so with our heads held high. In the process, we gained confidence and we became a better team. Rugby had become part of our life at West Point.
In our second year, spring 1962, we again focused on the basics while learning to improve our teamwork. John had organized a full schedule of games ending the season with a match against "our teachers of an earlier year..." – the Westchester NYRC. We started fielding one team. We had about 40 - 50 club members by then. General Westmoreland and his wife took interest in our Club and we got more support including a medic and an ambulance in case of serious injury. Once in a while they would show up during practice and encourage us on.
We became a pretty good team, blessed with tons of enthusiasm, lots of energy and speed, fearless low tackling, a serious lack of weight and size in the forward line, and an incredible “Can Do” attitude. We needed no coaching in having a good time together or in partying in NYC when we played away. Lack of discipline in our trips was noted by the Sup. As the team departed for NYC to play Columbia it was stopped by the MPs and returned to barracks for inspection, by General Westmoreland, no less. The bus commander, Mike Schredl ’62, was requested to call him at his quarters on the team’s return to WP. In Mike’s words... “When I called him at home that Sunday evening and told him that we lost, I was expecting disciplinary action. I had visions of a 15&15 and possibly a delayed graduation. Completely opposite of the tact taken when inspecting us he expressed his sorrow over our loss and then complemented us for a good season. I am sure that he sensed the anxiety in my voice. He then commended me for seating at the front of the bus and explained that good leaders lead by example and are highly visible but, at the same time, are always aware of what the troops in the back are doing. I found General Westmoreland to be a warm, caring and compassionate man and he then told that there would be no further actions taken....”
Our second season was our first winning season. We had lost only one game by the time we again met the NYRC. It was Saturday, May 12, 1962 when we were scheduled to play the NYRC, our last game of the season. That same day General Douglas MacArthur would make his famous trip to West Point to deliver his last speech to the Corps of Cadets. [“Yours is the profession of arms, the will to win, the sure knowledge that in war there is no substitute for victory, that if you lose, the Nation will be destroyed, that the very obsession of your public service must be duty, honor, country”....”Today marks my final roll call with you. But I want you to know that when I cross the river, my last conscious thoughts will be of the corps, and the corps, and the corps. I bid you farewell.”] No doubt, MacArthur’s speech had a profound impact on all of us. Maybe it was listening to the author of such inspiring words. Maybe it was just what West Point is all about. On that day, the Army Rugby-Football team would play and beat the best team in the USA, giving those who would follow us the legacy that our rugby team was destined to stand not only among the best in America, but ultimately rank with the best in the world.
Success in the rugby fields requires total commitment to teamwork and rarely one player makes the difference, perhaps with one exception – the fullback position. This is the last line of defense, the one person who has ... “to stop the hordes at the gate” – and we were blessed by the best fullback in the Eastern Rugby League – Rizzio – who knew not fear and kept the opponents from scoring in numerous occasions. He would be selected to the All Eastern Rugby Team to play the All Canada Rugby team.
A few weeks later, the oldest of the Founding Classes would graduate. On June 6, 1962 we bid a fond adieu to some of the best friends we made while at the Academy, our Rugby-Football teammates.
The 1963 season would be successfully coached by Steve Popiliarsky ’63, continuing a tradition of using cadet coaches, a practice which lasted many years.
Coaching and playing the game of rugby at West Point had a profound influence in our life as military, civic or industry leaders. The words from some of the founding members of the classes of 1962 – 1965 says it all...
Ricardo Cesped ’62 – First Army Rugby Coach... retired in 1999 from the position of President, Latin America Region, Bechtel Corporation where he previously was the President of the Mining and Metals global business line. “Playing rugby in Chile, and later coaching the first Army Rugby team, taught me about teamwork and about good sportsmanship and that my success could only be gauged by the success of those I coached and helped along the way...”
Dennis Reimer ’62 – First Army Rugby Right Pillar (Prop)... General Reimer retired in 1999 from the position of 33rd Chief of Staff of the US Army....”Rugby was a learning experience for me in 1962 that taught me a lot about overcoming odds and persevering---and it was also fun. I drew on that experience many times during the next 37 years and like many other things we did at West Point I found its relevance increased with time.”
Bill Scherr ’62 – First Army Scrum Half ... “Rugby was the major influence in my development as a cadet. Playing Rugby, I learned that hard work on the practice field (training) paid off in the game, and that it was the team that won, not the individual. I carried these two principles, learned on the Rugby Pitch, throughout my professional life.”
Wayne Parker '62 - First Army RFC Hooker... "Army Rugby was the most enjoyable and rewarding athletic event I played at West Point. As an individual, I experienced a genuine appreciation for success gained through teamwork. Knowledge of the personal and team efforts necessary to be an important part of a winning team remained with me later in both my military and civilian careers.
George Telenko ’64 – First Army RFC Scrum Lock..."I was extremely proud to play on the first rugby team at West Point because it made me feel that we were writing a new chapter in the history of West Point! For me, learning to play rugby was difficult because of having been trained as a football player. What I learned on that rugby field has helped me take on many challenges in life. I learned that no matter what my previous knowledge or experience I could adapt myself to any new situation using the basic truths I learned on that rugby field. If you attack any problem in life with an open mind and hard work you can always count on succeeding!"
Russ DeVries '62 ... First Army RFC - Right Wing 3/4... Playing in the mud, without let up, for two 45 minute halves, against some of the toughest opponents I ever met while playing sports at West Point, was not only a lot of work but an experience that really helped me develop the toughness of mind which I would need as an infantry, airborne-ranger officer leading elite combat troops. I will never forget how much bigger the rugby opponents were than our team, more powerful and fast. It was brutal yet we beat most of them.
Ken Sprague ’64 player/coach… “After three years scrimmaging and playing rugby, First class year was hard for me; I wanted to play and did occasionally on the B side. But for the best of the team, I made a better coach than player. I learned the value of teamwork – there were no stars just a team that trained, played, and bled together. This helped in later years to be able to delegate even when I felt I could contribute as a “player.” I believe this helped me become a better manager (coach) in later life. I retired from the Army Corps of Engineers as the Honolulu District Engineer and I directed three different departments for the City and County of Honolulu before my final retirement in ’01.”
Eddie Brinkman ’64... “Playing rugby was a ball. Most of us were not familiar with the game so we were all in the same boat trying to translate our football(or other
native) skills to the rugby field. The values of teamwork, competition,
respect for the opponent, perseverance, enthusiasm and fun have stayed
with me through the years. Taught me to never understimate your
opponent, as we played, and were usually beaten, by the Ivy Leaguers who
fielded many of their varsity football players”
___________________________________________________________________
(Received while preparing the draft of The Early Years of West Point Rugby)
June 2003)
John Taylor ’62 – Founder and General Manager of the first Army Rugby Club...RICK, YOU HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF PRESENTING THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF ARMY RUGBY. THEREFORE, I CAN BEST HELP YOU BY PROVIDING THE SPECIFIC ACTIONS THAT I TOOK IN 1961 AND 1962 TO ESTABLISH THE RUGBY TEAM. HOPEFULLY, YOU CAN WEAVE THE ACTIONS INTO YOUR DRAFT.
DURING NEW CADET BARRACKS IN THE SUMMER OF 1961, I WATCHED A DEMONSTRATION RUGBY GAME BY THE NYRC ON "RED" BLAIK FIELD. I WAS INTRIGUED BY THE CONSTANT FLOW OF THE GAME SEEMINGLY WITHOUT RULES AND WITH PLAYERS OF AVERAGE BUILD AND WEIGHT. I SPOKE WITH ONE OF THE NYRC COACHES AND RECEIVED HIS NAME AND PHONE NUMBER.
DURING THE FALL OF 1961, I CONDUCTED A WRITTEN SURVEY TO DETERMINE THE INTEREST LEVEL AMONG THE CORPS OF CADETS FOR A RUGBY TEAM.
TO HELP CREATE MOTIVATION FOR A RUGBY TEAM AT WEST POINT, I HAD PURCHASED AN OFFICIAL RUGBY BALL FROM MY PERSONAL FUNDS. THIS BALL, ALONG WITH A PICTURE OF LT PETER DAWKINS, A STUDENT AT OXFORD, PASSING A RUGBY PITCH, IN A TWO-PAGE SPREAD, IN LIFE MAGAZINE, WAS USED TO CREATE AN INTEREST DISPLAY IN THE CENTER OF THE CADET LIBRARY.
IN THE MEANTIME, I WROTE LT DAWKINS A LETTER ASKING FOR HIS SUPPORT FOR RUGBY AT WEST POINT AND FOR HIS PERMISSION TO ATTACH HIS LETTER. LIEUTENANT DAWKINS RETURNED HIS VERY SUPPORTIVE LETTER AND HIS PERMISSIONQUICKLY.
MEANWHILE, I HAD COLLECTED THE 45 POSITIVE RESPONSES TO THE CORPS SURVEY. BASED ON "SAINT PETER" S LETTER AND THE 45 POSITIVE RESPONSES, I COMPOSED A LETTER TO GENERAL W. C. WESTMORELAND TO ASK HIS APPROVAL TO INITIATE RUGBY AT WEST POINT. (NOTE: OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS VERY UNUSUAL FOR A CADET TO CORRESPOND DIRECTLY WITH THE SUP. AND FOR HIM TO RESPOND DIRECTLY TO A CADET.) HE AUTHORIZED RUGBY AS A CLASS B COMPETITIVE CLUB SPORT IN EARLY 1962.
AS A CONSEQUENCE, I CONTACTED THE 45 MEMBERS AND BEGAN A SERIES OF LEARNING PRACTICES-- THE SCRUM FORMATION, THE LOOSE SCRUM, THE LINEOUT AND LOW-TACKING. HOWEVER, I QUICKLY CONCLUDED THAT THE TEAM NEEDED A "REAL" COACH WITH EXPERIENCE. ONLY ONE RESPONSE SHEET REVEALED ANY RUGBY EXPERIENCE. I VISITED CADET RICK CESPED AND CONVINCED HIM TO BECOME OUR COACH. AT THIS TIME, OUR PRACTICE/GAME FIELD WAS TARGET FIELD BY THE RAILROAD TRACKS ADJACENT TO THE HUDSON RIVER.
AS THE CLUB PRESIDENT IN 1961 AND 1962, I MANAGED THE CLUB FUNDS UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE OCA AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR GRADES TO THE PE DEPARTMENT. ALSO IN CONCERT WITH THE NYRC, I SCHEDULED "AT HOME" AND "AWAY" GAMES. WE WERE INVITED TO JOIN THE MANHATTAN RUGBY LEAGUE THAT GAVE US LIMITED INTERCOLLEGIATE PLAY.
FORTUNATELY, WE FOUND RICK CESPED TO COACH US TO AN EXCELLENT PLAYING LEVEL IN ONLY A SEASON AND A BUTT. FROM 15 GAMES, WE LOST ONLY ONE TO COLUMBIA IN NYC ON A PENALTY KICK FROM MID FIELD. THEY USED THEIR FOOTBALL PICK TO WIN THE PLAY.
Dennis Reimer ’62 – First Army Rugby Right Pillar (Prop)... Ric I played Right pillar---I was always better on the right than the left and this is still the case. I weighed about 195 pounds. I remember going up against some teams whose players didn't have necks---their shoulders just sort of merged with their heads. I can remember thinking how lucky I was to get out of some of those scrums with my head still in one piece---I imagine there are some who would blame some of my decisions as Chief on the fact that my brain got scrambled in some of those scrums.
Happy Fathers Day by the way!
Bill Scherr ’62 – First Army Scrum half ... Rick, Great article. If I remember correctly our first game against the Westchester side was decided by a kick. The kicker was featured in Sport Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd" for setting a record with the length of the kick.
I also believe that was the famous "waluable bag game
I also recollect that during our first practices we didn't have uniforms.
During practices, half of us had to turn our USMA Sweat Shirts inside out to
distinguish the two sides. One afternoon, walking back to the barracks after
practice I was written up by the OIC for being out of uniform because I was
wearing my muddy sweatshirt inside out. My understanding TAC threw it out.
Ken Sprague ’64 player/coach…if I remember well it was in one of the Westchester matches that one of their props had his breast bone severed from his ribs at the bottom of a collapsed loose scrum? And didn’t Westchester win that first game by a 70+-yard penalty kick that was written up in Sports Illustrated? I also remember a match Firstie year when the ref didn’t show until half time and I ref’d the game. When the real ref showed up both sides voted for me to continue but the ref pointed out that the rules we were playing by required him to ref (otherwise he wouldn’t have gotten paid)! While I reminisce, I recall my OAO (now my wife Margo) would wonder which side of face my nose would be on (it was frequently broken at rugby) I was scheduled for reconstructive surgery Firstie year, but the Dr. found little wrong with my nasal passages. I told him that I had it fixed by a pre-med student at Columbia Univ. He was nonplused so I explained that a student had kicked me in the face in a rugby match and straightened it out!
We should also remember ...John Hottel ’64 who was a B side scrum half. He earned his “blue” playing for the Oxford side while on a Rhodes Scholarship. Later he died in Vietnam.
Mike Schredl. ’62... (Received by fax in hand written form) Hi Ric, I am in Germany with 20 students. I do not know if I can help you or not. I’ll try.
We were in the Eastern Rugby Union. Rizio was our fullback and he was selected to play on Eastern All-League team against Canada’s All League team.
Westchester NYRFC kicked a 62 yard field goal against us in the 1962 game. At the time I remember thinking about how many of the Class of ’62 were starters. There was a small article in Sports Illustrated about that game claiming that it was the longest field goal ever made either in American football or rugby.
In early May 1962 we went to NYC to play Columbia. I was bus commander. As the bus left the area by the 1st Division some cadets unhooked their collars and unzipped their gray jackets. When the bus reached the Main Gate by the Thayer Hotel the MPs asked for the bus commander and told me to return to our departure point by order of the Superintendent. General Westmoreland had us form up and inspected us. He sent quite a few cadets back to their rooms for better cuffs or collars and then sent several cadets back for better trousers. He instructed me to call him at his quarters upon our return. As you recall we lost – our only loss of the season. When I called him at home that Sunday evening and told him that we lost, I was expecting a – I think we called them field report – where we had to type our actions, before facing disciplinary action. I had visions of a 15&15 and possibly a delayed graduation. Completely opposite of the tact taken when inspecting us he expressed his sorrow over our loss and then complemented us for a good season. I am sure that he sensed the anxiety in my voice. He then commended me for seating at the front of the bus and explained that good leaders lead by example and are highly visible but at the same time are always aware of what the troops in the back are doing. I found General Westmoreland to be a warm, caring and compassionate man and he then told that there would be no further actions taken.
The scrum front line consisted of Dennis Reimer (A1), Steve Popielarski '63, and me (A1). Since Deny and I were over 6 feet tall and Popiliarski was quite a bit shorter, I remember that his legs would often leave the ground as Deny and I literally picked him off the ground during scrum forward. With both feet off in the air he was able to control the ball well and we did very well in scrum situations.
Our coach was Ric Cesped ’62 from Chile. During games he would safeguard our rings, wallets and other valuables in a bag which Ric called “the waluable bag”. We would mimic him saying “Waluable Bag”, and some of us still do it to this date.
We practiced on the field way past the Field House almost at the same level as the Hudson River. Jogging to practice from the central barracks was a great warm-up and we would arrive ready to practice ready to go.
John Taylor ’62 and Ric Cesped were the only two cadets with any rugby experience. They were our coaches.
Initially we practiced in two groups – however, since we only had one rugby ball we changed that and Ric Cesped took over all field coaching while John did more administrative tasks. Although John and Ric would have been our two best players they opted to limit themselves to the coaching ranks.
Looking back now some 40 years later I think that the success on the field was a direct result of the overall experience of being at West Point. To loose only one game in our first regular scheduled year and to have one of our players selected to the All Eastern Rugby Union team was truly an accomplishment.
Some of the team we played were athletic Clubs consisting of older players with a lot of earlier experience playing in other countries. There is no doubt in my mind that we were successful and won so many games because we were more disciplined, determined, better teamwork, and in better physical condition. I think that many of us only realized that years later. Without such training and leadership we would not have been successful. It also showed in our obtaining advanced degrees and in our military and civilian careers. Today Ric is retired from holding key positions in Bechtel and Dennis Reimer retired as Army Chief of Staff.
Ric I hope that these comments help you. I am sorry that I could only do so by hand/fax. I will not have access to my email until this coming Saturday.
Regards and best of luck.
PS. I suggest that you expand on Rizio's career; he was our only All League player and probably one of the best tacklers I have ever seen.
Mike
Paul Dee McNamara '62 Rick, The details are fuzzy ,but I am glad you are
trying to put it all together. I think I played "left wing forward" or a similar position. I remember my first rugby tackle very well.I forgot to forget my
football training and charged right into the knee of the opponent ball carrier. I saw stars & developed a beautiful shiner as a result of my efforts. However, it was worth it and I have no regrets other than I wish I could have played the game years
earlier. My High School - XAVIER- stated playing in the 70's-over 12 yrs after I graduated. Since then, they have won 2 national championships. Too bad, I
would have preferred rugby over football. Rick, use any of this that you want for your article. Good luck in your efforts & please contact me if you need any info or assistance.
Eddie Brinkman ’64 - Rick,Playing rugby was a ball. Most of were not familiar with the game so we were all in the same boat trying to translate our football(or other
native) skills to the rugby field. The values of teamwork, competition,
respect for the opponent, perseverance, enthusiasm and fun have stayed
with me through the years. Taught me to never understimate your
opponent, as we played and were usually beaten by the Ivy Leaguers who
fielded many of their varsity football players. However, had great times
afterwards at their parties.
Finish