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Post by football44 on May 10, 2023 11:47:30 GMT -5
I was just made aware of the passing of Coach Neil Wheelright. I played one year under Coach Wheelright. Tough guy but honest. Rest in peace coach!!
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Post by timholycross on May 10, 2023 13:57:46 GMT -5
www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/scituate-ma/neil-wheelwright-1127687290 years old, started a career in business at age 47 after leaving HC, which I remember hearing about. What I didn't know about him was that he was a Boston-area native, from Danvers. Followed Colgate a bit when he was there; a contemporary of mine was one of the 4 backs. Recall him running the wishbone when he started at HC; I don't think after Peter Colombo left he stuck with it, did he? So maybe 3 years wishbone and 2 no wishbone?
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Post by rgs318 on May 10, 2023 14:38:56 GMT -5
May his soul rest in peace.
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Post by sader81 on May 16, 2023 7:55:20 GMT -5
Played for him 3 years. Great recruiter, as he was personable and multitalented. It’s no surprise that he was successful in business/sales when he left coaching. His coaching style was a bit rigid, probably due to his marine background. He had a tough time keeping good assistants, and he had some really good ones. He stuck with the wishbone despite not having the greatest personnel to run it. He scrapped it mid season before the Brown game, and had Neil Solomon take over at QB. Neil could cock the rock - and we upset Brown that day at home. His last season was one I’ll never forget. It started out fine, but inexplicably, he made practices very arduous. The team didn’t respond well to it, and dissension started between the offense and defense, and then within the coaching staff. By the end of the 3-8 season, no one was happy, and the entire staff was let go. I learned a lot about people and life during that period. A couple years later, I ran into Coach on the street in Boston - his booming voice called out my name! We chatted for a few minutes, and I was glad to find out he was doing well. I haven’t seen nor heard about him since. It certainly was time for a change when HC parted ways with him. But I always thought he was a decent guy nonetheless. Rest in peace, Coach!
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Post by timholycross on May 16, 2023 9:56:47 GMT -5
Beat BC twice after losing his first game against them, 59-6.
Not only that, but the 1979 and 1980 games against the Eagles could have also been HC victories.
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Post by hcpride on May 16, 2023 10:08:58 GMT -5
Beat BC twice after losing his first game against them, 59-6. Not only that, but the 1979 and 1980 games against the Eagles could have also been HC victories. And in 1981 Coach Carter had a close loss (28-24) to BC using players Coach Wheelright had recruited. (After that BC/Flutie really took off).
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Post by jflare on May 18, 2023 12:36:16 GMT -5
Beat BC twice after losing his first game against them, 59-6. Not only that, but the 1979 and 1980 games against the Eagles could have also been HC victories. And in 1981 Coach Carter had a close loss (28-24) to BC using players Coach Wheelright had recruited. (After that BC/Flutie really took off). If my mind serves me I believe that the 1981 loss by 4 ended with us at the BC 4 yard line and stpped on 4th down there with only a few seconds left Devastating end to that one. Anyone else there too. I am sure a lot of you were
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Post by purple1 on May 18, 2023 14:30:40 GMT -5
You are correct, Dave Boisture almost pulled it off.....
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Post by hcpride on May 18, 2023 15:45:13 GMT -5
Coach Wheelright left a nice roster of players for Coach Carter.
Coach Carter certainly improved it (perhaps most significantly by winning the recruit battle v BC for QB Pete Muldoon who was a frosh on the bench for that ‘81 game).
Interestingly, as our losing margins significantly widened in subsequent BC games a few mistaken alums thought our team was getting worse. Nope, quite the contrary. But BC was improving like crazy.
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Post by timholycross on May 18, 2023 17:08:44 GMT -5
And in 1981 Coach Carter had a close loss (28-24) to BC using players Coach Wheelright had recruited. (After that BC/Flutie really took off). If my mind serves me I believe that the 1981 loss by 4 ended with us at the BC 4 yard line and stpped on 4th down there with only a few seconds left Devastating end to that one. Anyone else there too. I am sure a lot of you were Yes, crazy ending. Flutie (freshman) led BC down the field for the go ahead score, then when BC got the ball back, he fumbled and gave HC a chance. A HC receiver got injured badly right before the fumble, the ambulance was carting him off the field as the final plays were happening.
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Post by sader81 on May 19, 2023 10:55:14 GMT -5
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Post by beaven302 on May 19, 2023 11:48:48 GMT -5
And in 1981 Coach Carter had a close loss (28-24) to BC using players Coach Wheelright had recruited. (After that BC/Flutie really took off). If my mind serves me I believe that the 1981 loss by 4 ended with us at the BC 4 yard line and stpped on 4th down there with only a few seconds left Devastating end to that one. Anyone else there too. I am sure a lot of you were I was at that game and the final play was right across from where I was sitting. From my vantage point, it looked as if Dave Boisture couldn’t find an open receiver and his desperation pass went out of the side of the end zone. Here’s hoping that Chesney can end the “Beat BC”” drought.
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