The Boston Patriots of the ‘60s were the last throwback to the old NFL — the really old NFL, the NFL of the Akron Pros and the Massilon Tigers. Not only were the Pats boring on offense and merely adequate on defense, but they were almost entirely comprised of locals, or guys like Gino Cappelletti and Babe Parilli and Nick Buoniconti who could have passed for locals. Defensive end Bob Dee and center Jon Morris came from Holy Cross. Dartmouth produced linebacker Don McKinnon. Quarterback Tom Yewcic played for the Red Sox, as had end Art Graham’s dad. Quarterback Butch Songin taught school in town. And Graham, Songin, defensive end Larry Eisenhauer, defensive back Ross O’Hanley, end Jim Whalen, and end Jim Colclough were products of Boston College. Everybody on the Patriots dropped R’s on certain words and added them to other words, and made sure their pro cards showed them in their college uniforms at least once. If the Pats could have found a way to get Ted Williams in cleats and pads they would have. They were even pronounced in their proclivities than the Minnesota Vikings of the ‘70s, who annually led the league in Slavic prairie linemen and Scandinavians from St. Cloud State.
Jim Colclough looked and caught passes like an accountant. He’s usually shown on cards regarding the ball like it was made out of red ink. But here — here he’s a high-school kid posing for his dad, the guy in the plaid slacks with the movie camera, the afternoon before the big game.
Home is just across the field. And we’re having ham and scalloped potatoes for supper.
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