Jeff Benjamin was at the late Coach Joe Newton's Memorial service. One of the pieces that came out of meeting all of those Newton friends was the the nickhames that Coach Newton used to remember his teams over the years.
This is a funny one, and we thought you might enjoy this it! The obvious affection that Coach Newton held for his athletes is here too.
Coach Newton and his team, 1991, photo courtesy of Jeff Benjamin
"I love all of these kids but I'll be darned if I remember all of their names so I came up with nicknames for all of them" Coach Joe Newton in 1992 interview introducing this writer to York Alum and Asst Coach Vito Purpura who was known as "Fido"!
Yes - the quote about Newton Nicknames above is a PG cleansed version!
One must wonder how long the vaunted "Green Line" would be when it consists of more than 50 years of nicknames?
This team bonding technique definitely had a great effect, as evidenced by 28 State Titles!
This writer on social media asked for York Duke Alums to submit nicknames. One should know that only a fraction of these Championship Runners and People got back to me for sure.
But hey, it's a start!!
Here's the shortlist!!
Newms
Mui Mui # 1
Mui #2
Mui # 3
O
Cars
Nick
Beatles Burke 1
Beatles Burke 2
Troj
Furgenson twins
Fish
Giz
One Eye
Baldy Mighty Mite
Mul
VooVoo
Nick Mac Kookie
Smelz
Chaz
Walt
Red
Fraz
Big H
Clarker
Whit
Johnny C
Good Moose
Big Z
Gold Dust Twin # 1
Gold Dust Twin #2
Fogie
Bergie
Hollywood
Little Hen
Mother Hen
Tooth
Big Willie
Max Mayo
Swyle
Sher
Captain James
Sheri
Ironman
Conman
The Jerk
Young Mr. November
Whitey
Hershel
JD
Drisc
#2
Red
Shunny
The Chief
Disco
Jake the Flake
Fabulous
Ziggy
Golden Rocket
Crowsie
Oats
Too Tall
Chosto 1
Chosto 2
The Man of I.C.
Fieldoof 1,
Fieldoff 2,
Fieldoff 3
Cecil B. DeMille
Hambone
Red
Big Leo
Little Leo
Twin # 1
Twin # 2
Heintze
Shadrack
Meatball
Mastrama
Johnny King
Flash
Mas
Pauly
Bigfoot
Lick
Brother Ben
Pietro
Jojo
Hollywood JR
Bobo
Alphabet
Wacko
Schultzy
Herm
Pizza
Stuff
Venuto
Sacamokie
Little Sacs
Red Berge
Fast Hands
No Shave
No Show
Boydo
Z
Evangafofo
Fofo
Vess
The Broad
Big Hal
Little Hal
Kle
Big Fry
Small Fry
Mini Fry
Lucky Lars
Pinocchio
Joe Henderson
Bell Lap -York Alum Daniel Maroney confided that his teammates actually had a nickname for their Coach - "Tiger Joe" but
Bell Lap-York Alum, Daniel Maroney confided that his teammates actually had a nickname for their coach-"Tiger Joe", but, none of them ever let Newton know they had nicknamed him too!!
Finally - Is "Shostakovich" the most creative?
You be the Judge!!
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