'It's like a brotherhood here'

By Erin Hussey

The autumn air was thick with the anticipation of a football game. Laughter, the pop of cold Budweiser bottles and the puffs of barbeque smoke created a tailgate atmosphere. But behind the lively ambiance of Kerr Alumni Park, Buck Shaw Stadium remained silent, alone and completely empty.

Returning to campus for the second-annual Bronco Football Reunion, over forty ex-players, family, and fans gathered to celebrate not only the game, but their bonds as players.

"It's more than football that's here," Rick Medeiros '78, co-event organizer and ex-offensive guard, said. "It's more than playing a ball game. It's like a brotherhood here. A guy from the class of '77 and a guy from '90 all feel like brothers."

The Park, located between Buck Shaw and Leavy, which had once been used to tailgate before football games, was littered with small groups of men.

Co-event organizer, John Albanese '66, recalled when students and alumni used to tailgate.

"Back then the school was awesome," he said through his scratchy voice, his lip plump with chewing tobacco. "To me, it isn't awesome any more. I mean I love it, we all still love it, but I don't exactly like what's going on. I look over here and it's missing something, it's called tradition and family."

Santa Clara football played its inaugural game in 1896 against Saint Mary's, and ironically, their last in 1992 was against the Gaels. From 1929 to 1942 the team was coached by various University of Notre Dame alumni including the late Lawrence T. "Buck" Shaw. Home games were played in Kezar Stadium in San Francisco where the "Little Big Game" against the Gaels drew in crowds around 60,000.

After winning three bowl games: the Sugar Bowl in 1937 and 1938 and the Orange Bowl in 1950, the program was cut in 1952 due to an increase in costs and the birth of the San Francisco 49ers.

But in 1959, George "Pat" Malley arrived and gave new life to the dormant program. Despite his passing in 1984, Malley's spirit seemed to join the reunion.

"Pat Malley was the center of the campus in a sense," ex-tight end Rick Giorgetti '70 said. "There were a lot of schools like Santa Clara, but they didn't have Pat Malley."

During his 26 seasons, Pat Malley took an unknown, independent football team and turned it into a recognized and powerful Division II squad. He coached the Broncos to a 142-100-3 overall record. For his success, Pat Malley won District IX Coach of the Year in 1979. Following his death, his son, Terry Malley '76, coached the team until 1992, the year the program was cut.

Many of those in attendance at the reunion still expressed the pain about the decision to eliminate the football team.

"It was like a friend died," ex-linebacker Brian Gooder '91 said. "One of the biggest things with football being dropped is you don't have ties. You don't have anything to come back to. There is just nothing there."

Brad Mazucca '79, co-event organizer and ex-offensive/defensive guard, agreed that the campus just isn't the same.

"Probably the negative part about (the event) is that in some ways, we are really not welcomed here," Mazucca said as he manned the barbeque pit.

The only formal part of the evening was two speeches. One was given by co-event organizer and non-alumnus Duffy D'Anglo, who didn't play football as a Bronco because he "peaked in eighth grade." None the less D'Anglo loved Bronco football and shed a few tears during his speech. The other was from Terry Malley.

The Pat Malley Tribute was awarded to Bill Crowley '44, who was unable to attend.

As each man stood on a picnic table to talk, the park seemed like a locker room. Everyone listened with intent as if expecting the new strategy to start the second half.

"There's not a day that goes by that you don't wish that some of those young men could have had the same unique experience that some of you people had," Malley said. The stadium lights shimmered in the background, lighting the night sky with their intensity.

"Athletics and competition is good," Malley said, his voice raising with emotion.

"It's being able to have friends like I have, and I wouldn't trade it. Everything I know about dealing with people and coaching the game I learned from you people." Some eyes in the crowd began to glisten with tears.

"We never thought we had just a DII team, we had something more than that," Malley concluded.