Orono, Maine -- The 1951 season kicked off a new era of success for the University of Maine football program.
After two years as an assistant, Harold Westerman took over as the Black Bears' head coach. With a talented and hardworking roster in place, the group embarked on a historic season that ignited an extended period of consistent excellence for the program.
Spearheaded by All-Yankee Conference first-team stars Ed Bogdanovich, Harry Easton, team captain Peter Pocius and Gene Sturgeon, the Black Bears logged what remains one of the most impressive seasons in program history. The unit posted a 6-0-1 overall record that was the first of only two undefeated campaigns ever by a UMaine squad.
Westerman's charges, who also claimed the State Series title, went 3-0-1 in the Yankee Conference to annex the league crown.
"The boys deserve the credit," Westerman told the Bangor Daily News after UMaine's season-capping 40-14 victory over Bowdoin. "They made the necessary sacrifices and they had the desire to go all the way. I am exceedingly proud of every one of them."
Jack Butterfield and Gordon Thorburn were named second-team, All-Yankee Conference picks, while Dick Breen, Charlie Burgess, Jack Butterfield, Jim Butterfield, Ed Cianchette, Ray Cox, Harry Easton, Harry Richardson, Gene Sturgeon and Bob Whytock claimed All-Maine accolades.
Woody Carville, who went on to hold several key positions in UMaine athletics as a coach and administrator, was a member of the 1951 team. He had been convinced by Westerman to give football a try.
"I'd been playing basketball with him, he was my freshman coach, and he said it was a good idea if I got with him, joined in and see what we could do," said Carville, who later coached basketball, baseball and football at UMaine.
Carville, who also served as the associate athletic director, the assistant athletic director and director of compliance during nearly 40 years on the Orono campus, was inducted into the UMaine Sports Hall of Fame as an individual in 2001.
Westerman earned individual Hall of Fame honors in 1990.
What the '51 UMaine football team did was combine its talent with hard work, passion and teamwork to put together a season that remains one of the program's shining accomplishments.
The Black Bears built their undefeated season primarily around defense. They allowed only 40 points in seven games (5.7 points per game) while registering four shutouts, including victories over Rhode Island (12-0), Vermont (42-0) and Colby (24-0), along with the team's only blemish, a 0-0 tie against Massachusetts.
UMaine also boasted plenty of offensive punch, putting up 27.6 points per contest. Bogdanovich and Gordie Pendleton each racked up five touchdowns, while Bob Whytock scored four times. Win Brown booted 19 extra points.
Bogdanovich (462 yards, 5.9 yards per carry), Pendleton (253 yds., 3.95 ypc) and Jack Butterfield (240 yds., 5.22 ypc) spearheaded the Black Bears' ground game that set the tone. The team didn't throw the ball much, with Sturgeon and Steve Novick combining for only 340 yards and four touchdowns through the air.
Whytock led the receiving corps with 10 receptions for 239 yards and Jack Butterfield sparked the kickoff and punt return units. Pendleton, with a 35.6-yard average, handled the punting and led the squad with three interceptions.
The UMaine coaching staff also included future University of Delaware head coach Tubby Raymond, Les Leggett, Bob Holloway and John Maturo.
"We might not have been the No. 1 team in the country, but we had a lot of good players and good coaches," Carville said. "Everybody was out to do the best thing they could for the university."
Carville said the Black Bears' excellence on the field was attributable in part to the cohesiveness of the players, coaches, staff and faculty, which helped create a positive atmosphere.
"I kind of go back and live with history and what a good time we had with all the sports and the good coaches and the good people that supported our kids in the classroom," Carville said. "It was amazing. It was a lot of fun."
Bogdanovich, Jack Butterfield and Jim Butterfield also were previously inducted into the UMaine Sports Hall of Fame.
Other members of the 1951 team included Walt Hewins, Bill Lindquist, Gordie Thorburn, Bob Hefler, Perley Hamilton, Win Brown, Glenn Folsom, Gerry Hodge, Lucien Garneau, Bob Wallace, Dick McGee, Ted Sparrow, Don Stevens, Carl McDermott, Ray Cox, Don Waterman, Allen Bancroft, Vern Napolitano, John McCann, Tom Pike, George Benoit, Ron Perry, Walter John, Jerald Fletcher, Bill Grove, Erving Bickford, Joe Bernard, Joe Alex, Vince Calenda, Mark Lieberman and Dave Wiggin.
McGee went on to become a highly successful football coach at Colby College in Waterville, in addition to stints at Lawrence High School in Fairfield and Bowdoin College. Hodge later became the head football coach at Bangor High School, a position he held for 18 years, after a stint at Mexico High School.
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The 2023 UMaine Sports Hall of Fame class will be officially inducted at a banquet held at Jeff's Catering on Friday, Sept. 29. For more details on this year's class, please click here.
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