September 23, 1961: East Brunswick High School Football Debuts

September 23, 1961, 60 years ago: East Brunswick High School plays its first varsity football game. They beat Carteret High School, 7-0.

EBHS, in Middlesex County, New Jersey, 38 miles southwest of Midtown Manhattan and 60 miles northeast of Center City Philadelphia, opened on September 8, 1958. Until then, public school students from the Township of East Brunswick attended South River High School, in the next-door town of the same name. E.B. experienced tremendous growth in the 1950s, and they knew even more was coming in the 1960s, so in 1955, they began building their high school. Two junior highs, eventually named for world statesmen Dag Hammarskjold and Winston Churchill, would open in 1961 and 1963, respectively.

When EBHS opened, it housed grades 6 through 9. Students in grades 10 through 12 were allowed to remain at South River. By the 1960-61 schoolyear, EBHS was ready to begin most varsity sports. In 1961-62, with grades 8 through 12, it was ready to begin varsity football.

James F. "Jay" Doyle was the school's 1st head coach in football, and also in wrestling, and also its 1st athletic director. He would coach the 1st 2 football seasons, then stick to coaching wrestling and running the athletic department. He died of a heart attack during Christmas Week 1972, only 41 years old. The school named its football stadium for him.

That stadium wouldn't be built until 1965. For the 1st 4 seasons, EBHS played on what became its practice field. As part of the 1998-2001 renovation of the school, that practice field and the varsity baseball field switched locations, so the baseball field, from the 1st base line to left field, is now the site of the 1st EBHS football field.

But that field would have to wait for the team's 2nd game, 2 weeks after its 1st. The opener was held at Carteret's field, names Walter B. Overholt Jr. Stadium, for a Carteret football player who died in service in World War II. With its distinctive overhanging roof, Overholt Stadium is known as "The Pit."

That nickname was not in place in 1961. The game in question was scoreless until the last 4 minutes, when a 2-yard quarterback sneak by Bill Gruver gave E.B. the lead. The Bears' defense held on for the win against the Ramblers.

The Bears would finish a respectable 4-4 that 1st season. They've won Conference Championships in 1966, '67, '68, '69, '70, '72, '84, '86, '87, '90 and '94; made the State Playoffs in 1980, '84, '85, '87, '88, '90, '94, '98, 2004, 2009 and '10; and won Central Jersey Group IV Championships in 1966, 1972, 2004 and 2009. However, that 32-year gap between 1972 and 2004 -- including my tenure there from September 12, 1984 to June 23, 1987 was full of moments that could lead people to think the program was cursed.

The program celebrates its 60th Anniversary this season. Under new coach Andy Steinfeld, things are looking up. (UPDATE: He guided them to their 1st Playoff berth in 11 years.)