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Patriots history in focus
USA Today begins a series today in which writers will explore the histories of all 10 American Football League franchises, in conjunction with this year's 50th anniversary of the AFL.
The Patriots lead off the series.
Writer Sean Leahy talks with Patrick Sullivan, Gino Cappelletti and Babe Parilli to provide a flavor for what life was like for the Patriots of the 1960s. Cappelletti painted a picture of modest beginnings.
Many of the players wouldn't have been playing professionally if not for the upstart league. So Cappelletti said it was easy for the Patriots, who also didn't have a permanent practice field, to accept watching game film while sitting on milk crates in the bowels of a high school stadium."We hung bed sheets over water pipes," Cappelletti says, "and we'd show the film against those sheets."
Patrick Sullivan, the son of owner Billy Sullivan, touched on how the team didn't have a permanent home.
"We really didn't know whether we'd play at Fenway, BC or Harvard. So we printed tickets for all three venues to send to season ticketholders."
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Memories... I played football for Curry College in Milton for two seasons('68 & '69). Curry had a smallhouse that quartered both the Pats and the Curry Colonels. That was a wonderful opportunity to meet, talk and learn from the those pros on a daily basis. That group of Patriots (Mike Holovak,Jon Morris, Jim Nance, Billy Bates, etc) were outstanding gentlemen and truly professional.
I rember those early years well. Traveling to different place to watch games. I always tell people that Schafer Stadium was a jewel when compared to the nomadic life the Pats had before that.
38 Days until training camp opens... That is practically a lifetime.
Chris I'm with you. The season couldnt come any faster.
Of course, no mention will ever be made of the Sullivans stealing the stock back they sold to individual buyers in a self-serving repurchase of stock for much less than the fair market value. It cannot be overstated how inept and shady that family ownership group was.
I remember shoveling my seat at Harvard Stadium with a piece of
cardboard. Then I had to endure watching Joe Kapp's futile attempts
to throw a football.
"Schafer Stadium was a jewel compared to (venues prior)..."
Shuddering at the thought.
Consider your point made, Bill.
$2.50 to sit in the end zone at Braves Field (Nickerson, BU Field) in 1960. Fighting for the footballs on extra points and field goals...Friday night games...jumping onto the field to get at referee Walter Fitzgerald when he screwed up on a call against the Pats..Kickin the TV when they blew a game in Dallas...Chuck Shonta's return of a blocked punt against the Titans of New York to win a game in the final minute... sitting in the Polo Grounds to watch the Pats beat the Titans of NY with an announced crowd of around 30,000 and the next morning a NY sportswriter wrote that 25,000 of them must have been disgujsed as empty seats..... Babe Parilli, GHino, Larry Garron, Ron Burton, Bob Dee, Mike Holovak, Larry Eisenhauer, Butch Songin, Roimmie Loudd, Jim Nance, Billy Sullivan and so many others...names that will forever be etched in my mind.....And some of the opponents, "Golden Wheels" Dubenion, Cookie Gilchrist, Charlie Tolar, Lance Alworth, George Blanda, Abner Haynes who screwed up on the coin toss in the AFL title game, and, LORD knows, many, many more...Those were great days, great great days and memories of the Pats and the AFL.
great article-i loved it
and it will be awesome to see the Pats finally with the old uniforms and Pat on the helmet
great memories and, yes, Pat Patriot is finally back with red unis ! Go Pats !
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