St. Mary's Lax Book

daffy russell

1965-1976

finding a lacrosse coach, and she would call Mr. Russell to confirm his availability to coach the lacrosse team. She warned me that money was still a problem. Transportation to and from games could be covered, but the limited equipment and uniforms from previous years “had gone missing.” Maybe those weren’t her exact words, but I knew what she meant. The lacrosse cupboard was bare. If we wanted a team, we would have to fund it. Lacrosse sticks prior to the 1970’s were treasures – very personalized and unique possessions. Each player’s “crosse” was different from every other stick. The quality of the leather, the weight and balance of the wood, and the flexibility of the “gut” had to be just right for each and every player. Some sticks had a “whip” in the pocket, but it was your “whip” and woe to another person using your stick who tried to excel in throwing without several practice tries and tightening or loosening the strings. A broken stick provoked mourning, and maybe even a few tears, as the player faced the task of replacing a trusted friend. Few players had backup sticks, and the only sporting goods store in the Annapolis area was Eddie Leonard’s where they had a limited number of sticks for purchase. And the decades old tradition of “borrowing” sticks from the Naval Academy was always a risky proposition. Willy Keyworth and I talked with some of the players from the previous year’s team. We organized a couple of trips up to Bacharach Rasin on Howard Street in Baltimore and used our own money or cash donated from parents to buy what we could afford. To pay for uniforms we enlisted the help of the booster club and organized a Friday Night dance fundraiser at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Compromise Street. We raised enough money to purchase jerseys, shorts, and some really cheesy knee-high socks. A few of us managed to acquire gloves, arm pads and a helmet or two with the telltale NAAA (Naval Academy Athletic Association) markings either removed or camouflaged. Somehow, and I’m not completely sure, we managed to piece it all together. We played out the season with 6 wins, 2 losses and what may be one of the most dramatic games in St. Mary’s lacrosse history. The “overmanned” and on paper “out-matched” 17-member Saints’ lacrosse team broke Annapolis High’s 38 game winning streak spanning the first half of the decade with a 13-13 double overtime tie. Daffy Russell continued coaching at St. Mary’s for the next decade plus and became a beloved legend to all who knew him. As far as I know, none of the players on the 1965 team, whether because of injuries, service in the military during the war in Vietnam, or changes in their priorities ever won any awards for lacrosse excellence in college. In my imagination I see Sister Grace Marie smiling, satisfied that she gave us a challenge that we met. We all learned some lessons that have benefitted us throughout our lives. Oh, and one final note: There were no “academic cuts” during the St. Mary’s Saints’ 1965 lacrosse season. Buz Winchester ‘65

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