Watertown Red & Black Football

The Watertown Red and Black is the oldest semi-pro football team in the United States of America. They play in the Empire Football League. Over A Century of Pride Watertown, New York has often been called "The Green Bay of the East". The North Country is undeniably a football community. Since the inception of the Red & Black in 1896, the enthusiasm among the fans has steadily increased each year. Never since the football fever reached the peak in the early 1900s has a local pro team been able to garner a profit allowing it to pay players at a rate of $300 or more at the end of a season.

In those early years, avid fans watched the home games and followed the team whenever it went to play out of town contests. Huge sums of money were wagered on every game; some of the players themselves indulging in side betting when rivalry became especially keen.

It was in 1902 that Watertown Athletic Association became known as the Red & Black Professional Football Team. Football enthusiasm reached a peak locally in 1903, a year which ended with the Red & Black participating in a Madison Square Garden tournament for the world championship. Watertown lost the championship to Frankling A.C. of Pennsylvania; J.B. Wise, Mayor of Watertown and the Red & Black's business manager lost $8,000 in bets during this contest.

The Red & Black team became semi-professional in 1904 and has played with semi pro status every since. Several teams during the decades of the 1900s, 1910's and 1920's brought the semi professional championships of New York State home to Watertown. Alex Duffy wore the colors for 17 seasons, the last 15 as captain during the 1910s and 1920's. During the 1923-1925 seasons, the team won 31 games, losing only to Binghamton, 6-0. The 1927 squad was undefeated. In 1935, the Red & Black was reorganized under George (Buzzy) Gibson and produced several outstanding teams.

Jake Devito and Rocco Canale guided the team when it was a member of the Eastern Professional League in the late 40's and early 50's. In 1950, the Red & Black went undefeated until losing the championship game to Hudson Falls at the Fairgrounds in Watertown. I

n 1954, after a two year hiatus, the Red & Black was reorganized by Dick Doe and Budjo Alteri, assisted by Earl Cole. Johnny Marra was the sponsor. Boots Gaffney coached the team, assisted by Joe Guardino and Nelson Sholett. In four seasons, beginning in 1954, the team won 28 games, lost one and tied two. In these four seasons, the defense allowed but 50 points. Sadly the team once again became only a fond memory after the 1959 season.

In 1969, Carmen Scudera, Francis Lyng and John Morgia headed efforts to revive the Red & Black. Pat Killorin was selected as coach and the team had a successful season of 4 wins, 3 losses. It was not only competitively successful but financially successful as well. Crowds of 5000 to 6000 were reported at the games.

In 1971 and 1974, the Red & Black went undefeated. In 1980, the team reached its pinnacle of modern history, nearly comparable to that of the 1903 team. The team, playing under the direction of Jim Powers and Tom LaDuke won the Empire Football League Championship and was ranked second in the nation by Pro Football Weekly.

The Red and Black have their own showcase in the NFL Hall of Fame as being the oldest semi-pro team in the Nation. It is the very first showcase.

From 1980 until 1991 the team was under the direction of several different coaches. In 1991 to present, George Ashcraft took over as the Head Coach. Mike Britton was the Offensive Coordinator from 1992 through the 2000 season starting his own semi-pro team, the St. Lawrence Trailblazers in 2002. The Red and Black have made the playoffs every year since 1993. In 2003 they won the Northern Division Championship.

In 2005 agency producers contacted several AFA member teams regarding use of players and coaches to give their TV commercials the professional football appearance they are looking for. One such Chunky soup commercial, featuring Philadelphia Eagle's quarterback Donovan McNabb did just that. Several Empire League football players were used in the production of that popular TV spot. The agency relied heavily on the coaching experience of AFA Hall of Famer George Ashcraft from the EFL's Watertown Red and Black team. Ashcraft provided the agency with the technical football advice (and several EFL players) they needed to make the McNabb/Chunky soup commercial convincing to the viewers. When you see the commercial on TV with Donovan McNabb and his mom, it is the Red and Black players and other EFL players wearing the Cleveland Brown uniforms!

In 2006 the Red and Black was the floater team for the EFL. They played all of the teams once. They were the only floater team, but were still considered a Northern Division team. They won the Northern Division Championship game against the Vermont Ice Storm and lost to the Albany Metro Mallers in the EFL championship game.

In 2007 the team finished with a 12-4 overall record. They were the 2007 Western Division Champs and lost in the EFL championship game to the Vermont Ice storm 9-8. They went on to play in the National Tournament at Watertown High School. Before the game there was a tribute in memory of a fallen coach and soldier, Dave Connell, who lost his life in Iraq. The Tenth Moutain Division on Fort Drum landed a Helicopter on the field before the game to deliver the game ball. Four members of the Waterown Red and Black team returned home from Iraq that week and played in the game. They were Ben Pritchard, Lorenzo Sanchez, Gregory Duckson, and Mike Jester. The team lost to the Monroe County Sting 21-6. Monroe went on to win the National Championship game. We would also to note that long time veteran, Earnie Wash also returned home from Iraq earlier in the season to finish the year.

The Red & Black Football Association has always shown a unique ability to draw players, fans, workers and supporters from all social and economic backgrounds. It is from this unique ability that the organization has drawn its strength throughout its long history and developed a deep sense of pride that can only come from working with such an organization.

External links

* [http://eteamz.active.com/watertownredandblack/index.cfm? Official Web site]

See a slideshow on the Red & Black at:
* http://watertowndailytimes.com/section/multimedia?objdir=redandblack2007&objw=620&objh=503