150, Lightweight, Sprint Football

Click on the Team Photos and the highlighted player’s names for additional material

The First Year of 150s is below.

Army 150 lb. Football 1st season – Spring-Fall 1957

Many Cadets had been outstanding high school football players, but because they were small, had no chance of playing football at West Point.

Meanwhile, there was an Eastern Intercollegiate Athletic Association 150 pound Football League. Army was not in the League because Army Coach Earl “Red” Blaik didn’t want Army to have but one team – his. Navy, however, had been in the League since the start, and had won 9 of 11 championships.

Suddenly, in the Spring of 1957, at the end of our 2nd Class year, it was announced that Army would join the League, and field a team in the fall. Try-outs would take place over a 3-day period at the field next to Michie Stadium.

600 Cadets in the Classes of 1958, 1959, and 1960 signed up for the tryouts. 600! Soon, the big day arrived and we learned that the screeners would include Red Blaik, Doc Blanchard, Glenn Davis, and Arnold Tucker – Army Greats, all of them. We thought, “looks like they’re serious about this.”

Doc Blanchard, Glenn Davis and Arnold Tucker returning to the Academy for the first time since Graduation. (Note probably not in 1957) Photo

After 3 days of every imaginable football test, 200 of us were selected to report for final tryouts 3 months later in September 1957. The summer flew by – summer trip, summer duty, and every day 200 Cadets looked forward to 150 pound football.

Finally, the big day arrived, and two hundred 150lb. hopefuls turned out to meet our new coach and try to make the team. Our new coach was Eric Tipton, an All-American Football player at Duke in the late thirties, a professional baseball player and coach, and a great leader. Coach Tipton had 2 weeks to cut the squad from 200 players to 48 men who could play both offense and defense, could make weigh-in at 154 pounds, learn plays, and play our first game. Tall order – the pressure was on.

At the end of the week, several – 58ers had made the cut. The starting team included Quarterback Ralph Wensinger (a ’58 classmate just turned back to ’59), Running Back Jude Thiebert (a track sprinter who was on the “big” Army team, but dropped “down” to play 150lbs), Center Brad Johnson (who was to be our team Captain), Left Guard Bill Shely, Left Tackle John Brinson, and Left End Dick Schonberger. So 1958 had 6 of 11 starters, and a large number of other ’58ers made the roster, as well.

Within a week, Coach Tipton had us ready. We played and won our first two games, against Columbia and Cornell, by big margins, and then went down to Annapolis to play our biggest challenge – the U S Naval Academy, the undisputed rulers of 150 lb. Football. We went down 3 days early, so we could get over the jitters before the game. The Middies gave us the treatment in their Mess Hall, but we laughed them off.

Finally, the game came. President Eisenhower in the stands. We fought it out with Navy for 3-1/2 quarters. We could move the ball, but just couldn’t score from inside their 20. They couldn’t move the ball, but had a good punter. Neither side risked a passing attack. Finally, with 4 minutes left in the game, Navy fumbled on their own 43-yard line. Our second team, our best defensive team, was on the field and RG Dick Welch recovered the fumble. There was a lengthy time-out as one of our teammates was carried off the field with torn knee ligaments. We promised him we’d score. Coach Tipton sent in the first team, including 6 1958ers – Ralph Wensinger at QB, Jude Theibert at RB, Brad Johnson at Center, Bill Shely at LG, John Brinson at LT, and Dick Schonberger at LE.

1957 Team

5-0-1 Beat Navy
League Champions

formerly at http://forwhattheygaveonsaturdayafternoon.com/wp-1958/150team

Additional page –

https://forwhattheygave.com/2008/07/07/1957-150-pound-football-team/

As we went onto the field, we told Ralph, “Run it straight at ’em – no passes – we can beat ’em – they can’t stop us” – echoed by our whole team. And we ran it at them, knocking them back on their heels. Four yards, 5 yards, 4 yards – in 7 plays we were on the goal line with about a minute left. Ralph called a sneak – wedge blocking – and we pushed the very tough Navy line back over the goal line and Ralph plunged over.

Army 7 – Navy 0. On their last possession, Navy couldn’t move the ball. Time ran out. The game was over. It was a great night for us in Bancroft Hall coupled with a visit to the hospital to visit our wounded.

After we beat Penn handily, our over-confident team faced an excellent Princeton team who tied us 21 – 21. It was a huge disappointment. They had a great passing attack, and it was all we could do to hang on for a tie. Because of that tie, and because Rutgers was undefeated, we had to beat them to win the Championship. We went to New Bruswick and won 34-14.

Columbia, Cornell, Navy, Penn, Princeton, and Rutgers. The season was a great success. We not only were undefeated, and won the Eastern Intercollegiate Championship, but we beat NAVY! Through it all, our Classmate, Quarterback Ralph Wensinger was a rock. He was a super athlete, very competitive, never gave up, and loved football. We loved Ralph. Coach Tipton would go on to become the winningest coach in any sport at West Point.

Sadly, our great Quarterback, Ralph Wensinger, would be killed in Vietnam. None of us will ever forget him.

May 31, 2021

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Ralph Robert Wensinger

Dearest Daddy,

It is Memorial Day May 31, 2021.

I turned 60 two and a half weeks ago and sadly realized it has been 53 years my heart as a 7 year old child was broken.

I will always honor your bravery, courage and sacrifice to our country but it will never assuage the pain of losing you, no matter how many years pass.

I can still feel that last hug you gave me on June 5, 1968 before you boarded the plane for Vietnam. I can still see you in your khaki uniform as you carry your duffel bag and board the plane – waving one last time to Me (your oldest daughter) and Cynthia (your middle daughter).

The past recedes, but my memories don’t fade and my pain will never diminish.

I love you Daddy and I always will.

Be Thou At Peace,

Your eldest daughter Elaine

Ralph Robert Wensinger (Daddy) October 28, 1935 – October 21, 1968
Patricia Ann Wensinger (Mom) 1941 –
Elaine Ann (Wensinger) Knowles 1961- Daughter of Ralph Robert Wensinger
Cynthia Ann Wensinger 1964 – Daughter of Ralph Robert Wensinger
Kathleen Ann (Wensinger) LoFreddo 1965 – Daughter of Ralph Robert Wensinger

John Brinson, C-2, 1958