When half a loaf is better than no loaf at all

By Ron Brocato, Sports
Clarion Herald

There’s a trophy in the lobby of the Holy Cross administration building that stands as one of the oldest relics of New Orleans prep football. It has survived for 97 years.

The prize once earned in battle is one half of a silver football mounted on a wooden plaque. It marks the first time the local Catholic school held its own against the mighty Warren Easton team at the dawn of its rivalry.

The plaque tells a story of a furious and often bitter battle between one Catholic and one public school whose only similarity was their sports teams’ zeal to beat each other. It was a war of wills that over the decades became a model of respect for the enemy.

Holy Cross’ football program was just three years old when the 1925 season started. In three earlier meetings against the Eagles, Holy Cross was beaten by scores of 38-0, 9-0 and 53-6.

But that all changed in 1925 when Coach Jimmy Burns inherited several boarding students who had migrated from Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. It seemed that these students knew a thing or two about playing with the pigskin.

Nevertheless, Easton’s coach, Perry Roehm, dismissed Holy Cross’ early 4-0 record as an anomaly heading into the clash of the two schools in Week 5. After all, his team’s true rival was Jesuit, against whom they played every year since 1915 before large crowds. And the Eagles had won five games in a row entering the fray.

Most of Holy Cross’ home games were played on Sundays in the school’s baseball park, but this one was moved to the larger Heinemann field which could accommodate a larger crowd (the attendance was recorded as 1,200).

But there was a lot of spirit in the stands. Holy Cross’ male cheerleaders recruited several girls from nearby Holy Angels Academy, who, in turn, encouraged their friends attending the other all-girls Catholic schools to lend their support to the Tigers.

When the contingent of cheerleaders, now fortified with feminine rooters, entered the stadium, they encountered their public school counterparts from Sophie Wright and Esplanade Schools for Girls. It was a festive and spirited gathering, with both sides exchanging volleys of partisan cheers.

Accounts of the game cited that Easton outplayed Holy Cross for 60 minutes, pounding out 14 first downs, but was unable to move the ball into their opponent’s end zone. Roehm’s team was stymied by penalties and fumbles and a defense that turned back the Eagles six times from inside Holy Cross’ 5-yard line.

After the game ended in a scoreless tie, the local media criticized Roehm’s strategy of running the same line plunges into the heart of the Tigers’ resilient and persistent defense on every down.

Following the game, Easton factions filed a protest with the Prep League alleging that several Holy Cross players did not meet the terms of eligibility. Hearing that, an investigation was mounted by league president P.J. Flanagan, who concluded after conferring with league secretary Leon DiBenedetto, that Easton had based its opinion on rumors and not a specific charge.

“In conclusion, we might add that Holy Cross is the only school in New Orleans to ever open its books for an investigation of this kind to show that they are conducting athletics on a higher plane than any other school we know of,” Flanagan said.

Roehm then tried to have the tie for the city championship nullified by claiming that Holy Cross was not a member of the state association and was not eligible for state championship honors. Flanagan dismissed the argument and verified the dual championship.

The silver football was cut in half, and trophies were presented to each school, proving that a half-loaf is better than none at all.

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