The_Rambler_1972-02-16

              studentpublicationatsuatcfarmingdale vol 33 no. 12
feb 17, 1972
An Era In Phys Ed. Ends
The oldest and perhaps the most imposing
intercollegiate track dynasty in the east has come to an,
"but, I am sure, one equally as good, if not better, will get
underway next Wednesday." The speaker was a buoyant
Tomm Watt, State University at Farmingdale's track and
field coach for the past 24 years, who announced today
that his successor, Joe Redmond, former scholastic and
eastern intercollegiate champion, will make his debut as
the new Aggie mentor next Wednesday when more than 50
candidates will respond for the first meeting of the season
at Roosevelt gymnasium.
Since his arrival to the
campus in 1947, the 54-year-old
W a t t has c o m p i l e d an
overwhelming record as track
coach, his teams winning 14
Regional chan>pionships, turning
in 129 victories as against 43
losses for a remarkable 75 per
cent won-and-lost record over a
24-year span.
As impressive as this slate
is, the Aggies' Athletic Director
is quite keen about the role that
h i s y o u t h f u l successor,
3 5 - y e a r - o l d Redmond, will
establish "in many years to
come. Joe has a tremendous
b a c k g r o u n d - - a w o n d e r f ul
personality, a talented coach, a
fierce competitor and a wealth
of experience. I am sure he will
do even a better job that I
have," is the wway Watt sizes up
the prospects of the new coach.
Trim as a bird-dog with 165
lbs. in his solid 5 f t . 11 in. frame,
Redmond conies to Farmingdale
with an outstanding schoolboy
and college athletic record.
While at Mt. St. Michael High in
the Bronx, he was a versatile
member of the varsity track
team, excelling in high and low
hurdles, pole vault, high jump
and the 440-yard dash and also
won hi; letter three years in a
row for his football prowess. He
was a City CHSAA high hurdles
and pole vault champion two
times.
He went on to Manhattan
College where Coach George
Eastman termed Redmond "one
of the finest athletes we have
ever had." During his freshman
year in 1954, he won the
M e t r o p o l i t a n Intercollegiate
Athletic Assolciation high and
low hurdles crown and for the
next three yeats he captured six
M e t r o p o l i t a n I . C . A . A.
championships, while Manhattan
College each year won the team
h o n o r s . He won the
M e t r o p o l i t a n Intercollegiate
Championships in indoor and
outdoor pole vault in 1956 '57
and '58.
Following a four-year stint
in the Marine Corps, the new
Aggie athletic coach launched
his physical education carreer in
the Commack School District,
serving as track coach for North
Commack High from 1963 to
1967 and has held the same post
at South Commack since 1968
where he also directed the cross
country squad.
His Commack South
harriers have won 34 and lost
only 4 meets, and went through
three undefeated seasons, 1968,
1970, and last year. The last two
teams have won League number
two. Section 11 championships.
While succeeding Watt as head
track coach at Farmingdale,
Redmond will continue to hold
his full-time job as Physical
E d u c a t i o n D e p a r t m e nt
Chairman at Commack South
High.
An ardent sports "buff,"
President Laffin paid tribute to
Watt for the fine record "you
have compiled for more than
two decades." He recalled that
he retiring Agtrack coach had
made a remarkable comeback
after suffering a heart attack
four years ago. Notwithstanding
his illness, Dr. Laffin brought
out that "Tom refused to give
up coaching; however, with our
riew $3.5 million gym scheduled
to open next June here on the
Farmingdale campus. Watt is
certainly going to have his hands
full as Athletic Director in
charge of ' 3 varsity sports and
our massive intra mural
program."
The new Green and White
'coach lives with his wife, Irene,
and their three daughters and a
s o n at 71 Lolly Lane,
Centerreach, New York.
Frank Elkins
Aggie Old And New: Athletic Director Tom Watt (center), who finished a reign of 24 years with a .t.'xU imposing
record as a track coach at our college, wishes good luck to his successor, .loe Redmond, former Manhattan College
Metropolitan Intercollegiate champion. Dr. Laffin joins in the congratulatory ceremonies.
iisiisiiliiiis
Master Plan
1 On February 6 and 7 a
state wide conference on the
Master Plan was held, This was
manned by students across the
state to get together and discuss
on a state level the symposia
papers. A cross section of the
informed campus was invited up
to Albany for the two days.
R e p r e s e n t e d groups were,
Student Association of the State
U n i v e r s i t y (SASU), State
University of New York Press
A s s o c i a t i o n (SUNY PA),
S t u d e n t Presidents, campus
newspapers, and other informed
p e o p l e s on campus. The
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r om
Farmingdale were Terry Olten,
Joe Czajka, Tony Schumacher,
and myself.
The conference took place
on the down town Albany
campus where we were greeted
by the assistant to chancellor
Boyer, Mr Ru&s Guigino
The proceedings started at
3:00 with opening remarks from
the planning committee. The
g r o u p of approximately 75
representatives then broke up
i n t o the different topics of
discussion. I went into Access to
a n d Delivery of Educational
Services and certification. Topics
d i s c u s s e d i n c l u d e d the
possibility of a state-wide degree
instead of an individual degree
f r o m each university. This
included access by the students
t o many campuses and facilities,
and complete transfer of credits
f r om one school to another.
A l s o discussed were open
a d m i s s i o n s in SUNY, the
increase in tuition coming next
year, and the feasibility of a
c e n t r a l a d v i s o r y system
throughout the state that will
help misguided students with
course problems.
At 7:30 on Sunday night
all 75 representatives arrived at
Chancellor Boyers House for a
dessert reception. This was a
nice gesture by the chancellor
for first-hand personal discussion
on specific proublems. It is too
bad he is only a very good
listener.
M o n d a y a f t e r n o on
continued the same as that
morning, discussing the topics in
the symposia papers but with
o n e exception. Present were
many members of Central
A d m i n i s t r a t i o n who were
supposed to be for reference
discussion. Only being human,
they were provoked into the
discussions and the scene soon
looked like a battle field of
intellects. The meetings ended
on this happy note with nothing
more accomplished than on the
previous day. It was a very
disappointing meeting. A copy
of the symposia papers is
available from the Rambler or
through the library if anyone is
interested in.seeing what is going
to happen to the SUNY system
in the next ten years.