I played against South Western in 1969, 70 and 71 (graduating from York Central in 1972) and this was the period just after the influence of Vince Lombardi and the Green Bay Packers' dynasty. The books we read back then were by players and coaches like, many time All Pro and Packer Right Guard from 58 till the end of the 60's, Jerry Kramer's, INSTANT REPLAY, about the winning of the first 2 Super Bowls and what they went through during the season from camp till the second bowl victory and how Lombardi's toughness was what got them there. And Lombardi's books on Winning. (This was a time when Kramer was so excited because the season after their first Super Bowl win, he got a raise from $24,000 per season to $27,500.00 per season - not per quarter like today.)

Lombardi's phrases have carried many of the athletes from that period through many of life's difficult situations and certainly were used by both players and coaches after they saw the results of his philosophy. "Fatigue makes cowards of us all"; "Cowards never win"; "The amount of disappointment when losing a game is in direct proportion to the amount of effort you put into winning"; "Grit your teeth and bear the pain"; and the one I heard repeatedly during the 3 yrs. I played and Kramer talked about - "Take another salt tablet".

The last year Central practiced at the old school on 7th Ave. in N. York, I went down to watch their 2 a day pre-season camp practices and couldn't believe what I was seeing. There was a tent without sides which had a comfortable chair with a tired player sitting in, a huge fan to help cool him off and a squad of female helpers who were holding the hoses hooked to tanks of iced tea, water, lemonade and Gatorade! My God! What kind of a game had football evolved into. It was like these guys were at a spa. We weren't allowed to have ice or water other than once per practice session. I know it was dangerous and could have resulted in sun strokes and even death but we survived
it and then went on to play and win. I was the first player in the league to wear a full cage face mask rather than the standard two bar mask and I had to buy it myself in 1970. The next year, 1971, the schools began buying them. Central bought 6 of them and that was it. We were just past the time when people were still saying that face masks took all the fear out of the game.

There were not too many schools at the time, which had lights for night games and we ALL played on natural grass; at least when we had it. I remember times when we all took our spikes off and saved the turf stuck between the cleats so we could put it on the spots of dirt and gravel on our field at Central - especially after playing Red Lion which had thickest and softest grass. So the players from the 50's on through the early to mid 70s were a much harder breed of player and a tougher type of coach, though one of the holdovers from that time was still coaching a yr. or two ago at Central; Brad Livingston who was a part time coach after he graduated from college. There were afternoon practices right after lunch at the end of August when the humidity was in the 90% range as well as the temperatures being in the low 90's and he'd yell and scream and get on anyone who seemed tired after running in place then literally throwing themselves on the ground only to get back up as quickly as possible and do it all over again - 70-80 times!

I'm not old enough to know but I'd imagine that the players from even earlier times, wearing leather helmets and hard cloth pads didn't have it as easy as we did. But I do know that even those athletes who played only football during their High School Careers, were tough enough to survive and then use those lessons learned throughout their
lives. The kids today don't have a clue what hitting really means. I went down to Central last week to watch the practice and left after ten minutes. The players were practicing in old game uniforms on a field as flat as a pool table and covered with short green Astroturf. The loudest sound during the practice was when they clapped their hands breaking out of the huddle. They'd run a play and as soon as the runner or receiver got close to the defense, they stopped the play. The lineman merely stood up and trotted in place while leaning on the defensive linemen. There was no hitting and no tackling and no stains on the uniforms. That's not progress or football ; not even close!

Anyway, with the South Western list, you guys missed the mark in 3 major ways I can remember and you missed it by a mile. You didn't list Mike Furhman, their quarterback for a couple years who graduated in 1971. He was big and fast and a great athlete who was also about as tough as they came in both football and basketball. Those were the two sports I played against him so he might even have played more, but he was tough and though I don't remember if he made all county, he should have. (And he was a great sportsman as well which you're not taking into account. He'd help people he'd knocked down from the opposing off the field and tell them they'd done a great job. He was an athlete with class.) Why wasn't he listed anywhere? And an even wider miss was his daughter Jennifer, who graduated in 1987 if I recall. She won 11 varsity letters from 9th to 12th grade and only missed out from getting 12 when she missed freshman basketball. I was ALL County in both football and basketball, over 115 scholarship offers, tried out for the Redskin and set records in basketball, volleyball and football at Central that have stood for over 35 years and I only won 9 letters. Why is this girl not at the head of the
list? You should be ashamed for not even mentioning her!

Finally, you ignored the greatest running back ever to come out of York County, let alone South Western. he was big and fast and strong and the main reason I've got degenerative disk disease and need a cane and meds to walk now at 54 years of age after running full speed too many times, face first into this run-away truck. GLENN GIEMAN! He graduated in 1971 and was the only running back who scared me. I thanked God every time he ran up the middle or to the other side from me. I was Central's left outside linebacker and trying to stop him was like tackling a bull! He'd run down field carrying half the defense clinging to him like a swarm of gnats. No one ever ran like
him. He was without a doubt the toughest SOB to ever carry a ball in York County football. He was also one of the toughest wrestlers to come from York County so he didn't just play football. Unfortunately, he was tragically killed in a work accident while downing trees for P.H. Glatfelter a yr. or two after graduating from H.S. If you don't have his name on the list, your list is just a joke.

Last week, your West York pick of John Sprenkle WAS on the mark. He was the second greatest athlete ever to come out of York. (The first was Bill Fry who played basketball for York High back in the 50s and I'd be surprised if you mention him.) But Sprenkle, who graduated the year before I played HS football since Central had a Jr. high - North
Hills - that included 7th, 8th and 9th grades) and as freshmen, we'd go to W. York games just to see this guy play. He was incredible. But Mark Brenneman, who graduated the following yr., was just about as tough and was down at 4th on your list. OOOPS! BUT - I'm certain the reason Sprenkle deservedly made the list was because he'd only
recently retired from being their football coach. I knew he should be the top person from that school but wouldn't have been shocked if he'd not have been on it at all with the way you guys are shooting. If your column was a basketball game and the people you missed would be your shots, you'd not even have touched the backboard, let alone
made it through the hoop.

So if you want to be considered more than just a joke with this series, and it's a great idea for a series of articles but only if it's properly researched, then contact retired teachers, coaches, athletic directors, your own former sports writers and photographers, and even former players from the various periods and various teams
over the period of time you're writing about. And if you don't revise the Southwestern list to include Mike and his daughter, Jennifer Furhman and especially Glenn Gieman, than you're just shooting air-balls.

Practice makes perfect and you really need to practice a lot more.

Yours,

Michael J. Wonders
Central class of 1972