A Tribute to the "Coach" and the '59 State Champions

The following was written by Bob Anderson, a former housemaster at Fairfield High School, in 1998 as a tribute to Fern Tetreau, who guided the Andrew Warde High School Crimson Eagles football team to a 9-0 record and state championship in 1959 and an 8-1 record in 1960. Tetreau coached at Warde from 1956 to 1969.

Tetreau and the late Bill Davis, his successor at Andrew Warde from 1970 to 1979, will be honored by Warde High School during the Thanksgiving Day football game by having the field named in their honor. Two statues will be unveiled by the flagpole. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of Andrew Warde High School.

Bob Anderson, the author of this tribute, passed away a few years ago.

I played for Fern both at Ludlowe and Warde in the mid to late fifties. We had .500+ teams at Ludlowe under Fern; however, right after the enrollment split into two high schools, the new school, Warde, also under Fern, won only two games in its first two years. Yet, it took only two years more for Fern to build the undefeated state power house Warde team of 1959.

Many Fairfield citizens recall the success of that team, with its "tricky" single-wing T-formation, using an unbalanced line, and a side-saddle blocking quarterback. The tailback in this formation had to be able to do everything which is what threw off defenses through Fern's effective use of the draw, screen and "the third down 11 quick kick." In addition, in six of its nine victories, this team held its opponents scoreless!

I returned to my alma mater in 1963 to teach English and assist Fern in coaching Warde football teams for about 10 years. It was during this time that I truly learned what the term "Coach" means, especially when it is associated with a fine man such as Fern Tetreau: One day before practice we learned that a player's father had died suddenly. His mother had asked Fern to "break the news" of this tragedy to him. I can vividly remember Fern doing this so caringly, as if he were himself an older brother of this young man. My respect for Fern that day and since has grown well beyond one who taught me trap blocking and planning a game strategy with x's and o's!

I am now well beyond my last coaching days with Fern; yet, every now and then, when former players call me "Coach," I am touched that they might use that term with me, because it conveys my relationship with them beyond what I taught or failed to teach them about football; far more, it conveys what my coach and mentor taught me about life, ethics, the treatment of others and, most importantly, the value of human relationships.

Thanks, Fern, from the many of us who continue to be able to call you "Coach."