The 1983 Nanty Glo championship team

In my Sunday Postcard on June 8 I discussed the 1939 and 1949 Nanty Glo championship football teams. Undoubtedly these teams were great, but they suffered the blemish of having been defeated at least once during their winning seasons.

Hugh Conrad, assistant coach of the BVHS 1983 championship team and now a columnist for the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat, wrote about it in a column last week.

A timely article that appeared in the August 24 issue of the Nanty Glo Journal and written by sports columnist Dave Sutor featured a story about the 1983 Blacklick Valley Vikings, probably the greatest football team the town has ever fielded. In 1983 the team had the distinction of having an 11-0 record, including a 28-7 victory over Blairsville in the Appalachian Bowl at Johnstown's Point Stadium. The previous year, in 1982, they began their drive to excellence with a 9-1 record, their only loss coming by one point to Shade Township. I remember taking pride in the team and Nanty Glo when reading about their weekly exploits on the gridiron. Led by an inspirational coach, Paul M. Shandor, the 1983 Vikings captured the attention of the entire surrounding region and fan support was rabid.

Outstanding players and staff, too many to mention, were common on the team. Paul M. Shandor (1954 -1987), the Vikings coach, contracted Hodgkin's disease and passed away at the young age of 33, and in his memory, a Paul M. Shandor Memorial Scholarship is offered by Blacklick Valley High School each year to an outstanding student. An assistant coach, Hugh Conrad, later became head football coach at St. Francis College (now University). Erik Johnson, a defensive and offensive lineman, earned the title of Appalachian Player of the Year. A tailback standout was speedy Ted Worthington, who scored 23 touchdowns. Worthington was also an outstanding basketball player who took the Vikings basketball team to the regional championship finals. Fullback Ted Marines with 10 total touchdowns blasted over for four of his touchdowns in the Appalachian Bowl. Skip Cook, the quarterback, completed passes for 16 touchdowns and 1370 yards.

A reunion of this championship team of 20 years ago is planned September 6, after the Blacklick Valley versus Berlin game at McMullen Memorial Field. The players should have fond memories of the glory days when they placed their town in the spotlight.

— Frank Charney

Kids think the strangest things

I recall reading something years ago about the Pledge of Allegiance. Some child thought it began, "I led the pigeons to the flag."

— Sent by Sallie Covolo

Thought for today

If a man understands something and does not practice it, how can he teach it to his neighbor?

— Abba Poemen 
Sent by Christopher Haas

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