Warde's First Thanksgiving Day Football Rivalry

I'm somewhat surprised that there wasn't even one response to last week's trivia question. I wanted to know which school was the first football rival of Andrew Warde High School on Thanksgiving Day.

Believe it or not, Roger Ludlowe High School had a well-established rivalry with Bassick High School of Bridgeport, dating back to the days before the opening of Warde. That tradition continued even after the Melville Avenue high school opened in 1956.

The Crimson Eagles' first Thanksgiving Day rival was Kolbe High School of Bridgeport. Warde never lost a game against Kolbe, which played its home games at Hedges Stadium at Harding High School.

I distinctly remember watching games from both Hedges Stadium and Andrew Warde High School in the late 1960s. In fact, the following is taken from a blog entry from October 26, 2006:

"Thanksgiving Day was always a football day," mentioned Tom Davis. "It was an enjoyable day. We were thankful that we won every Thanksgiving we played." He pointed out that during his playing days, Warde took on Kolbe in the annual Turkey Day rivalry. Davis said the Eagles never lost a Thanksgiving Day contest against Kolbe when he attended Andrew Warde.

So, the next time anyone asks you about Warde's Thanksgiving Day football rivalry against Ludlowe, tell them that Kolbe was actually the first rival the Eagles played back in the 1960s.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.

Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film."