Watertown Red & Black
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[edit] Watertown Red and Black
The Watertown Red and Black is the oldest semi-pro football team in the United States of America.
[edit] History
The team started as the Watertown Athletic Association in 1896. It was in 1902 that Watertown Athletic Association became known as the Red & Black Professional Football Team. The team garnered its name from the red and black college uniform that player, and future business manager, J.B. Wise wore.
In 1903 the Red & Black participated in a Madison Square Garden tournament for the world championship. Watertown lost the championship to Frankling A.C. of Pennsylvania. The Red & Black team became semi-professional in 1904 and has played with semi pro status every since. Historian Alex Duffy claims that the team did not join the NFL due to the outrageous cost. Alex Duffy wore the colors for 17 seasons, the last 15 as captain during the 1910s and 1920s.
Several teams during the decades of the 1900s, 1910s and 1920s brought the semi professional championships of New York State home to Watertown. 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 40s and early 50s. In 1950, the Red & Black went undefeated until losing the championship game to Hudson Falls at the Fairgrounds in Watertown.
In 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, 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, the Red and Black did a commercial with Donovan McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles. When you see the commercial on TV with Donovan McNabb and his mom, it is the Red and Black players wearing the Cleveland Brown uniforms!
In 2006 the Red and Black again made it to the Empire Football League Championship, where they were Metro Malled by Albany 39-0.
