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GOLDEN EAGLE SPORTS HOTLINE 585.395.5168 |
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||| Men's All-American list posted ||| Women's All-American list posted
Athletics has always been close to the heart of students at the State University of New York College at Brockport. The College at Brockport was known as the Baptist College (1835-54), Brockport Collegiate Institute (1855-66), and the Brockport State Normal and Training School (1867-1947) before becoming part of the State University of New York system in 1948. The College has a rich history of sports dating back almost 100 years. Although baseball and football teams trace back to the 1890s, the college views 1928 as the year the athletic program commenced.
In 1928, a "blanket tax" was adopted to support the athletic endeavors of the school. A conference, including the Normal Schools at Oswego, Fredonia, Geneseo and several business schools, was formed, giving the Golden Eagles their first all-collegiate schedule. Many of the games prior to 1928 were against area high schools.
The early "golden days" of basketball for the Golden Eagles came under the direction of coach Ed Nihiser. The 1928-29 team won both the State Normal School Championship, and the Normal and Business School Conference title. The baseball team also began play in 1928. Playing a purely collegiate schedule, schools like Fredonia, Geneseo, Cortland and Canisius faced Brockport. Football at Brockport existed irregularly until 1916, when it was discontinued. It officially began in 1947.
There is little background information on the early women’s athletic program at Brockport. It is clear though that it began a couple decades after the men’s. Basketball was the first sport for women. Women’s games often preceded the men’s contests. Slowly the women’s program began to evolve. By 1928, volleyball, field hockey and even baseball all were available to women — although they were often viewed as intramural sports.
The first varsity letters were awarded in 1937. The coveted "B" was awarded to anyone who had played a majority of the varsity games, or to anyone who had served faithfully for three years.
The athletic program at Brockport has grown immensely since 1928. Brockport boasts a total of 23 sports teams: 13 women’s and 10 men’s. The College is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a Division III member. Brockport competes in the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC), the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) and the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) (for football only), and has fielded numerous champions in every sport.
The school’s first national championship came in men’s soccer when the Golden Eagles shared the title with Penn State in 1955. The men’s soccer team also won a Division III National Championship in 1974. Photo: 1974 National Championship Team
To date, the most successful program is wrestling. The Golden Eagles have been National Division III champions five times, including the 1992 title. For the women, the volleyball team has achieved outstanding success, advancing to the national playoffs six straight years. The softball team has advanced to the national tournament six times, including back-to-back appearances in 1993 and 1994, and a 13th-place national finish in 1997.
Here are a couple of historical pieces: a plea from 1929 for football to be added to the list of available sports at the College, and another about the creation of "Ellsworth the Golden Eagle."
A Plea for Football
Football is the greatest collegiate sport of America. The game stirs every red-blooded youth with enthusiasm. It develops athletes who are a credit to our country and who are a standard of manhood. Better than any other sport, football produces school spirit and sportsmanship.
The game develops the physical, mental, and moral side of American youth. The rigid code of training tends to give a certain vigor and vitality of constitution. The ever-changing factors in the game produce mental alertness and keenness. An overwhelming desire to win instills in the boys a spirit of fair play which shapes their social life.
When a certain crispness in the air announces that autumn is at hand, the call of the pigskin is heard. Every boy who has ever held a football in his hand has felt the thrill of nature’s summons to the gridiron. An indefinable urge impels even the timorous toward the field. The dull thud of a cleated toe striking a ball, the lusty yell of the coach, and the tense barking of the signals fill the fellows with a desire to get into the game and to start going. All these emotions have been sensed and felt by every American boy.
Brockport Normal needs a sport that will produce these fine qualities of manhood. Last fall a squad of young would-be pedagogues measured off a gridiron on the south campus, set up the goal posts, and formed a football team. This team played one game without any coaching or equipment, to show that the boys were enthusiastic about football. They were disappointed that such a good start did not materialize into an organized sport.
Since football has so many good points in its favor, it should be established as a major sport at Brockport Normal. The thorn which seems to bother the Athletic Council is the expense of the equipment. In other schools the profits from the game are tremendous. The same enthusiastic support would without doubt be given to a team here. Why not encourage a sport which would bring honor to Brockport. Our boys showed what they could do in basketball. Let us give them a chance to be champions in football.
Reprinted from Saga, the College yearbook, of 1929. The writer was identified simply by the initials "S.M." Those initials may have stood for Steward McCaw, a standout basketball player at Brockport Normal at that time. Football was added at Brockport in 1947. The first coaching staff of (left to right) assistant Martin Rogers, head coach Bob Boozer, and student assistant Jerry Guardino is above.
Ellsworth the Golden Eagle
On May 4, 1956 "Ellsworth the Golden Eagle" was born. Well, actually, created. In a move by the editorial staff of The Stylus and cartoonist Bob Bloxsom, a drawing of "Ellsworth" — the middle name of the College’s first football coach, Robert Ellsworth Boozer — was presented to current and prospective students on Spring Day in 1956. It was created to be used to urge students to "attend and participate in college functions," according to the May 3, 1957 edition of The Stylus. Here’s how the rest of that article went...
"Since his inauguration, he has led Brockport’s athletic teams on all fields of battle and competition, and attended college dances, assemblies, concerts, and plays. He has performed his duties as a cartoon, paper mache, model, and poster figure. He even led the Homecoming Day parade sitting on the back of a convertible and was featured on the Sophomore Class float. His latest portrayal as a stuffed eagle is on sale in the book store.
"It is expected that Ellsworth will soon become a college symbol with his picture on buses, banners, bookjackets, etc."
The author of that article was quite a prognosticator. The College’s mascot has appeared everywhere — even on the athletic bus! Brockport’s most recognizable bird, which is now a licensed symbol, is coming up on 50 years on the campus, and is seen all over the community as well as on campus. During the summer months, Ellsworth attends fairs, mascot games, festivals, and many other events. On January 31, 2003, a new and improved Ellsworth was born, and now a new generation of Golden Eagle fans, young and old, can show their spirit and support for the college.
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