Undefeated Cumberland Township football team to reunite for 50th anniversary event

09/08/2002

CARMICHAELS - Cree, Stuvek and the "boys of '52" will be reunited once again during the weekend of Sept. 13.

Team members from the 1952 championship Cumberland Township "Mikes" football team will travel from as far away as Surprise, Ariz., and Puyallup, Wash., to celebrate the team's 50th anniversary. Cumberland Township High School began its first football season in 1923.

Although it's the same school, in 1963 Cumberland's named changed to the present day Carmichaels Area High School.

Festivities for the event will begin at 7 p.m. Friday before the Carmichaels High School home football game against California and culminate at the sold-out recognition banquet to be held Saturday evening.

Twenty-seven men will return to relive the 1952 season during which they won the western Pennsylvania Class B football championship.

Tammy Cree Christopher and Billy Cree will represent their grandfather, the late Al Cree, who was the head coach. Tom Stuvek and Fred Stuvek Jr. will represent their father, the late Fred Stuvek, assistant coach.

The team members will be introduced at the game in their replica championship game jerseys Friday night and gather for breakfast Saturday morning in Carmichaels, before touring their alma mater. At the banquet, an audio of the game highlights will be played.

Jim Zalar, superintendent of the Carmichaels Area School District, is the featured speaker and plans to speak about the strong football tradition of the high school. The original WPIAL championship trophy, which has been refurbished, will be rededicated to the school during this gala evening.

Several team members of this 11-0 team went on to college and professional careers. Larry Krutko, Jerry Urda and Jim Haught all played together on the same West Virginia University football team. Krutko went on to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Friends and acquaintances are invited to attend the game and renew old friendships.

The 50th anniversary reunion of this undefeated and untied football team expresses the enduring spirit of the Carmichaels Area High School football tradition, said organizer Gary Osborne, who added that this tradition is best exemplified by the fact that Carmichaels is the "town that didn't forget."

Mayor Norma Kelly has proclaimed the weekend of Sept. 13-15 as 1952 Cumberland Township Mikes Blue and Gold Days. She asks that all businesses and supporters decorate with the school colors of blue and gold and display them for the remaining weeks of the current season.

The event is sponsored by the Carmichaels Quarterback Club. The Herald Standard 2002 Go To

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