Tag Archives: football

Retro RFH Football Boys

With the advent of the football season comes memories of old days when the RFH Band played on with more members, but many may not recall that the football team was small.

Band was big in the 1970s. But, going back more than half a century, like back to the 1930s, when RFH was Rumson High School, the football team appeared small. There was no regional. And the population was, well, small. There were sprawling estates, farms (with a lot of asparagus growing wild) and berries aplenty for picking.

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Leaving the Scene of a Unique Retro RFH Cheer

Those special RFH Powder Puff Football cheerleaders of the 1970s. Photo/George Day
Those special RFH Powder Puff Football cheerleaders of the 1970s.
Photo/George Day

What would a string of cheerleading for the team pics be without a cap-off of some special cheerleaders leaving the scene of the cheer?

So, the Retro Pic of the (George) Day is a vision — of those crazy 1970s dudes and their “different” idea of cheering for the team and, well, those outfits.

So, here’s to that big cheer for RFH football, champions and, yes, those cheerleaders of the past.

Now, does anyone know who these guys are and whose skirts they’re sporting here?

Many thanks to the one and only George Day for capturing this gem of a look into the RFH past! 

— Elaine Van Develde

Retro RFH Cheer for the State Football Champs

The role reversed cheerleaders of RFH Powder Puff Football 1977. Photo/RFH yearbook screenshot
The role reversed cheerleaders of RFH Powder Puff Football 1977. Photo/RFH yearbook screenshot

When RFH won its fourth consecutive football state championship on Saturday, cheers could be heard for miles around — and days.

In fact, fans and alumnus from all over are still shouting the ol’ “Hey, purple, hey white, you look so good to me … Hey! Hey!” Well, it went something like that back in the 1970s.

And in the 70s there was also a very special group of cheerleaders with a unique twist on a cheer and, of course, those outfits. Never mind the pom-poms and mustaches.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day honors that special cheer that can be heard for miles around led by this special group of RFH Class of ’78 guys.

Recognize any of these special fellas? One or two of them may have actually been at Saturday’s game. Can you hear them now?

— Elaine Van Develde

Focus: RFH Football Champs’ Game

It didn’t take long for news to travel when the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Football Team won its fourth consecutive state championship on Saturday.

Sirens were blaring and shout-outs on social media ran rampant as the Bulldogs scored the major win and wound their way home to firetruck escorts in a mini parade of fanfare down River Road.

The Bulldogs beat South Plainfield in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III championship game at Rutgers University with a score of 27 to 22.

RFH alumnus were there and grabbing a glimpse in photos of some of the game’s milestone moments. Take a look …

— Photos/Cole Van Develde

 

A Retro RFH Football Home Game Cheer

The boy cheerleaders of RFH Powder Puff Football 1977 Photo/George Day
The boy cheerleaders of RFH Powder Puff Football 1977
Photo/George Day

Friday night is the night — homecoming football game at RFH and, well, carnival.

There is no Thanksgiving Day game anymore welcoming RFH alum back from college in a mini reunion of sorts. The game isn’t against Red Bank Catholic (RBC). There’s no dance the night before the game with invites to those alumni who came home from college for the first time. And, the latest controversy among many RFHers of the past and present is the nixing of the homecoming king and queen.

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Retro RFH Bleacher Blast & Love Story

Bleacher fun at RFH circa 1970s Photo/George Day
Bleacher fun at RFH circa 1970s
Photo/George Day

Yes, it’s that time again … RFH football.

Friday night the game’s on at Middletown South at 7 p.m and, yes, there are South bleacher security rules, too. It’s a sign of the times.

The open letter of rules goes like this …

“Middletown South contacted me with information regarding the football game at Middletown South on Friday Night, 7pm.

“There will be NO pre-sale tickets for the game
An additional entrance will be established for RFH fans — on the visitor side of the bleachers

“Backpacks and large bags, including large pursues, will not be permitted into the game. Smaller personal bags will be subject to search by Middletown Police

“Parking will be very tight on campus and families are encouraged to car pool as possible.

Respectfully,

Chris Lanzalotto
RFH Athletic Director

Go Bulldogs!”

But, back in the day, at least in the 1970s, there was little, if any of all that. Teens bagged it and packed it all up with lots of smiles and innocent, well, pretty innocent antics.

So, the Retro Pic of the (George) Day offers a glimpse back to the RFH bleachers again … with some smiles.

Recognize this crew from the Class of ’79? There’s one gal here who recently came home and married a fellow RFHer who she didn’t know in high school (’cause he was a tad older). He brought her back home to Fair Haven. And they live there again together … happily ever after … or at least smiling like in the old days on those bleachers when they hadn’t even passed by one another in the hallway.

Now that’s a home game.

— Elaine Van Develde

 

RFH Football Players Sign

Three Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) football players have something to celebrate in addition to their recent state championship win.

RFH seniors Michael Caruso, James Oncea, and Maxwell Pfrang made their college commitments official on National Signing Day 2016. With families, coaches, and members of the school administration in attendance on the morning of Feb. 3, they signed their letters of commitment to play college football.

Caruso, a cornerback and wide receiver for RFH, will play Division I football for the Bucknell University Bisons. A Rumson resident, he is the son of Catherine and Scott.

Oncea, a Bulldogs offensive lineman, will be playing Division III football for the Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays. He is a resident of Fair Haven and the son of Laura and Sam.

Pfrang, a linebacker who played a key role for the Bulldogs’ defense, will be joining the Division III Wagner College Seahawks. A Rumson resident, he is the son of Teri and Philip.

“We are extremely proud of the efforts of these amazing young men, on the field and more importantly in the classroom,” said Chris Lanzalotto, RFH director of Athletics and School Activities.

RFH earned its third consecutive state title on Dec. 5 in a match-up with Red Bank Regional High School. The RFH Bulldogs have won four sectional championships in the last six seasons.

— Edited press release from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School

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RFH Athletes’ Letters of Intent Signed

An official goal has been scored for four student athletes at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH).

Letters of Intent — the written commitments of those sports stars to play college soccer and football at certain schools — were signed on Feb. 4 in the RFH library.

Parents and faculty present, the following RFH athletes did their signing to the specified colleges on National Signing Day 2015:

• Sam Eisenstadt, Elon University, football;
• Meagan McGurl, Lafayette College, soccer;
• Grant Rataski, Bryant University, football;
• Charlie Volker, Princeton University, football.

Volker is one of four Shore Conference athletes who will play football in the Ivy League. Others will be playing for Yale University and University of Pennsylvania.

*Information culled from a Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School press release.

A Retro Look at RFH Football

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Back in the day, in the 1970s, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School’s big football rivalry game, always against Red Bank Catholic, started just about everyone’s Thanksgiving Day.

People went to the traditional game, then home for Thanksgiving dinner. The homecoming dance was the night before, when all the recent graduates would reunite. And the announcement of the new homecoming king and queen came on the football field at the game’s half-time.

Take a look back with us in the Retro Pic of the Day photos above. Do you recognize anyone on the team? Some are still in the area. Who were the football stars of the day?