Honoring the 50th Anniversary of the ’74 Pledge Class
Circa 1973, West Virginia Alpha only had a few Morgantown active members (aka townies). In August of that year, their two active brothers, Jim and Dave, who decided it would be helpful to invite a few of the Morgantown High School graduates and would-be incoming freshmen, to visit the frat house to ‘wet their appetite’ about future Greek life.
After visiting the library and living room, the group retreated to the basement for a quick tour, followed by consumption of a favorite meal of an 18-year old–beer/pizza. [Editor’s Note-legal drinking alcohol in those days was age-18].
As they toured the basement, the boy’s noted several of the old goal post remnants hanging from the rafters. Coincidentally enough, the (Pitt) sports segment appeared on TV, with an interview of Johnny Majors promoting the upcoming season. Of course, this segment also highlighted Tony Dorsett.
Before long, a chant of Goal Post…Goal Post… could be heard a block away. With emotions running at a high-octane level, a station wagon was loaded up and headed north on I-79. The cast of characters in the car included two brothers, and several future brothers. They arrived in Oakland (Pitt Campus) ~2:00 AM. The group had to first scale a steep wall. Then climb a fence which put them on top of a concession stand. After a mere 8ft jump, access to the stadium was achieved.
Some stayed on top of the concession as a ”look out party”, while the others made their way to the field. They were able to rock the goal post ‘back n forth’ before it finally gave way. After securing one of the uprights, it was carried up the 66-steps and handed off to the group on the concession roof, who dropped the prized position over the fence, and then loaded it into the wagon. As the upright was much longer than the car, it extended from the rear window through the front passenger window.
In their haste to escape, it was realized the group left behind one of the brothers. He hid in the bushes for several minutes… with thoughts of spending the night in the Allegheny County Jail…as local police were now surveying the outside of the stadium. But lo and behold, the loyal band came back to retrieve their missing comrad. As the sun rose the next day, the group signed their prize possession and hung it from the basement rafters. It is worth mentioning that evening as the (TV) station showed Pitt’s practice, it was noted that all kicking drills had to be done at just one end of the field.
The few months later, Jim Lorenze, Gary Waters, Junior Taylor, Dave Pill, Dick Ratcliff, Jeff Tenant, and Sky King all became members of WV Alpha in spite of (or perhaps because of) their loyal actions. The only thing better than beating the ‘Hell out of Pitt’…is stealing their goal post.
And now, as Paul Harvey would say, you know the rest of the story!
Congratulations to all of the 1974 initiated Brother’s as they celebrate their 50th Anniver- sary in Phi Psi. They will be recognized at our Founder’s Day Event, Sunday, October 20th @ The Erickson Alumni Center. See link in this newsletter to register for this event.
