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Post by hc89 on Jun 3, 2021 8:02:48 GMT -5
Hearing this morning that All-Time HC Football Great Vince Promuto has passed away. May he Rest In Peace.
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Post by td128 on Jun 3, 2021 8:30:18 GMT -5
This is a real bummer. Vince was a gentle giant literally and figuratively. Holy Cross meant so much to him. After he was inducted in the inaugural class of the Ring of Honor he insisted that my wife Valerie and I and our son Tim ‘21 join him for dinner soon thereafter at his family’s restaurant in Norwalk CT. What a night.
The stories he shared about Holy Cross and the impact that the Jesuits had on him are memories I’ll never forget.
He truly had a larger than life persona. He had an incredible career in the NFL and is in the Washington Redskins Ring of Honor. There is an incredible photo of Vince in I believe Life magazine of him towering over I believe Deacon Jones of the Los Angeles Rams. I’m going to look for it.
Edward Bennett Williams, the then president of the Redskins impressed upon Vince that he needed to prepare for life after football so while still playing and a perennial 1st Team All Pro player, he matriculated at American University Law School. He couldn’t believe that Georgetown wouldn’t accept him.
At his induction into the Holy Cross Ring of Honor, he recounted how as a young freshman coming to the Cross from Mt. St. Michael’s in The Bronx (our great fellow Crusaders Gary and Kenny Acquah’s Alma Mater) he sat in Kimball Dining Hall with his classmates listening to the welcoming remarks by then a young Jesuit named Fr. John Brooks. Vince remarked, “I didn’t understand a word he said.” He further recounted how he struggled initially on the academic front but that Holy Cross stood by him. He was certainly forever grateful.
When I told him prior to his induction on that beautiful September 2010 day of his and fellow Crusaders’ (Gordie, Ed Murphy, John Provost, Gill the Thrill, Bullet Bill Osmanski) RoH induction that there was a freshman Crusader on the team who had also graduated from Mt. St. Michael’s, Vince immediately said, “Please introduce me to him.” I welcomed doing so.
Vince Promuto is the stuff of legends and represented true greatness on and off the field. A true Crusader, his Christian charity was not displayed on the field but it certainly was enormous off the field.
The night before his HC RoH induction, we had a group dinner at The Sole Proprietor of all those being inducted the next day and shared great stories. Vince’s sharing of his playing under Coach Vince Lombardi are memories I’ll never forget. My Dad was in attendance and was in his glory engaging Vince that night.
I had the great good fortune over these last ten years of speaking with Vince numerous times.
What a guy. What a Crusader.
Rest In Peace, Vince.
LD
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Post by rgs318 on Jun 3, 2021 8:33:15 GMT -5
May the soul of this great and loyal Crusader rest in peace.
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Post by td128 on Jun 3, 2021 9:28:00 GMT -5
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Jun 3, 2021 10:50:03 GMT -5
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Post by timholycross on Jun 3, 2021 11:05:01 GMT -5
I read where he did a great imitation of Vince Lombardi screaming "What the hell is going on out there?", made famous in several NFL Films pieces. Wish I could have heard him say it.
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Post by wayback on Jun 3, 2021 12:20:26 GMT -5
Vinnie was my classmate. We were always proud of him as a player and as a person. He had a nickname "Cochise" because he was thought to look like an Indian chief and was a warrior on the field. He and some of the other football players had the "grinder franchise" coming around at night selling grinders as we studied in our rooms. A great break in the evening and we all thought a nice way for the players to get some extra money. Not sure that would be allowed under present NCAA rules..
A good man.
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Jun 3, 2021 13:22:20 GMT -5
The grinder franchise would likely violate NCAA rules today. Here's why: at HC the players might buy the grinders wholesale for $5.00 each and sell them for $7.00 each. At Big State Football Power U the players would buy them for $2.00 apiece from a booster and sell them for $20.00 apiece to other boosters and sales would be brisk
Vince Promuto RIP--I had him as a top 4 HC athlete when we engaged in that debate a few weeks ago
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Post by alum on Jun 4, 2021 7:21:59 GMT -5
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