Crusader Football – 1
Crusader Football – 2 | Crusader Football – 3

Weird Night in Bay St. Louis

Sam "Monk" Zelden's 1936 St. Aloysius footballers, newly christened the "Crusaders" and sporting their new crimson uniforms, opened the season in Bay St. Louis MS at St. Stanislaus College, a sister school of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. A bizarre interlude interrupted play during the game. Just as Monk's offense lined up on the SSC three yard line, the lights went out in the stadium. When they came back on a few seconds later, the two elevens were still lined up at the three, but the ball was nowhere to be found. Suddenly, Zelden spotted a Rockachaw running down the field with the ball toward the opposite goal. However, the officials brought the ball back to the original line of scrimmage and scolded the player. The Crusaders then scored a touchdown on their way to a 13-0 victory. Zelden later congratulated the Rocks' player who grabbed the ball in the darkness for being alert. Interesting follow-up on "Monk" Zelden: He was an attorney during and after his five-year coaching stint on Esplanade Avenue. In 1963, he was offered an opportunity to participate in the defense of Lee Harvey Oswald, accused assassin of President John F. Kennedy. As Zelden considered the offer, he saw Oswald get shot by Jack Ruby on TV. He also at one time served as the attorney for Mrs. Frank Costello, wife of the gambling czar.

"Most Brilliant Performance in Many a Year"

On Sunday, October 13, 1940, the St. Aloysius Crusaders met the Jesuit Blue Jays at "Municipal Stadium" in City Park. The Jays were heavy pre-season favorites to win the Prep league with a team averaging 175 lbs. - their "heaviest in eight years" (according to The Aloysian) - and "three complete units." The first 11 were all lettermen led by star LH O.J. Key, who, at 6'2" 195 lb, was 40 lb heavier than the average lineman of the day. Jesuit had begun the season beating Behrman 74-0! They also handed St. Stanislaus and its celebrated FB Felix "Doc" Blanchard a 21-0 defeat.

The Crusaders were 1-0-1 after tying Moss Point 0-0 and trouncing the first football team of the newly-coed Nicholls High 40-0. In the latter game, sophomore HB Johnny Campora set a school record with 197 yards on 18 carries. The Red Knights were coached for the second year by Harry "Wop" Glover. He was assisted by George "Mud" Clay, the "star G on Tulane's powerhouse aggregation of the past year."

Heavy underdogs (5 TDs according to The Aloysian), the Saints "turned in their most brilliant performance in many a year." They forced the Blue Jays to play heads up ball from the opening whistle to the last seconds.

• Q1: Jesuit took advantage of mistakes to score first on Key’s pass to Johnny Ballatin. The PAT was muffed.
• Q2: The Crusaders marched to the tying TD. Campora, "behind brilliant blocking by Jimmie Filkins, circled his own right end to cross the goal line standing up." The PAT failed. The Jays pushed across a score to lead 13-6 at the half.
• Q3: SA drove 45 yards but lost the ball on downs. Then Key dashed 66 yards for a TD.
• Q4: Aloysius held for four downs on their own one. Special praise went to Leon Chaplain and Campora "for making such a staunch defense of their goal line."

The Saders had still not defeated the Banks Street school on the gridiron but were proud of the competitive battle they had waged. The Blue Jays went undefeated, including a Prep championship-clinching victory over Holy Cross before 34,345 at City Park Stadium, on their way to their second state championship, in which they vanquished Lake Charles and its star QB Alvin Dark, future LSU and major league baseball player and manager.

Famous Fan

The 1940 Crusader footballers battled the Fortier Tarpons to a 0-0 tie at "Municipal Stadium" (Tad Gormley). An article by Hap Glaudi in the Item-Tribune praised the St. Aloysius spirit and dubbed the Saints "the spunkiest team in the land" and "Wop" Glover "Prep coach of the year." You would never have believed that a few days before they had dropped their big game to Jesuits. They were out there whooping it up from the first horn to the last. Here is a note from The Aloysian about the game. Can it be that the New York Giants are contemplating forming a football team or is it just that Mel Ott likes to root for a scrappy team? At any rate, however, it WAS Mel Ott who added to the din of the cheering at the Fortier game. For a man who never went to St. Aloysius, Mel showed us youngsters how a fan really should behave when he wants his team to win. … Two cousins of Mel are Aloysians. Manuel has joined the order of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, and the other is at present attending school. Born in Gretna, Mel Ott is the greatest baseball player from the New Orleans area. He played RF for the Giants from 1926-1947 and managed the team from 1942-48. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1951. Mel Ott

Crusaders Scrimmage before NFL Exhibition

On September 5, 1964, the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys played a pre-season game at Tulane Stadium. Bill Arms' Crusader squad played a 15-minute scrimmage before the pro game against the Fortier Tarpons. The Aloysian reported:

Senior wingback Joe Smith stole the offensive spotlight for the Saints, as he picked up 54 yards in but four carries … Aloysius scored the game's only TD when [Kenny] Newfield drove into the end zone from three yards out and fumbled. But teammate Ben Plaia pounced on the ball for the score.

The '64 Saints bounced back from their 2-8 record in Arms' first season to finish 6-2-1 and district co-champions with Holy Cross, Jesuit, and Terrebonne. The District committee, using a three-part point system, chose the Tigers and Blue Jays to represent the district in the state playoffs.

Smith (24) and Newfield (33) against Holy Cross in 1964.

Hurricane Washout

With Gustav approaching, we look back at a football game that was cancelled because of a storm.

On Friday, October 2, 1964, St. Aloysius was scheduled to meet the Behrman Bees at Behrman Stadium in Algiers. However, the contest fell victim to Hurricane Hilda, which hit Louisiana on October 3 as a Category 3 storm in St. Mary Parish.

The Crusaders stood 2-0-1, with wins over West Jefferson, 14-6, and Terrebonne, 12-7, and a tie with East Jefferson, 7-7.

New Coaches for 1964-5

Brother Martin Debuts on the Gridiron

Conlin's first crew finished 7-3 and accepted an invitation to the Miracle Strip Bowl in Choctawhatchee FL where they lost to the host team 20-0.