Andrew Warde High School's Football Pioneer, Fern Tetreau, Elected to FCIAC Hall of Fame

Fern Tetreau, the first football coach at Andrew Warde High School, was inducted into the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference Hall of Fame on Tuesday evening, June 10. Tetreau was recognized for his excellence in coaching, and the leadership he provided in organizing the FCIAC. The annual awards program took place at Testo's Banquet Hall, 1775 Madison Avenue, in Bridgeport.

Tetreau came over from Roger Ludlowe High School and became Andrew Warde High School's first football coach when the school opened in 1956. He immediately built the squad into a powerhouse. His 1959 undefeated Crimson Eagles won a state championship.

Although his first two years at Warde brought the expected growing pains and only two victories, Tetreau was building a solid program at the Melville Avenue high school. As hard as it may seem to believe, just three years after Andrew Warde High School opened, the Crimson Eagles won a state football championship! The 1959 team went undefeated in nine games, and even produced a future National Football League star.

One year later, Tetreau's gridders went 8-1. Their two-year cumulative record was 17-1. And this for a program which was just starting.

Tetreau had grown up with a deep affection for the sport, and much of his values today reflect the teamwork and dedication it takes to be a good football player. From playing in college to coaching and teaching physical education at Warde and Ludlowe, his love of the game has never waned. In fact, the nickname “Coach” is still with him today because of his reputation in the Fairfield football community.

Bob Anderson, a former housemaster at Warde who passed away a few years ago, played at Ludlowe and then at Warde. He wrote about Tetreau's 1959 team.

"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 had to be able to do everything. That threw off the defense through Fern's effective use of the draw, screen, and third down-11 quick kick." Six of the nine games that year Warde held the opponent scoreless.

The Warde football field was dedicated and named in honor of Fern Tetreau during halftime of the 2006 Thanksgiving Day game victory over Ludlowe. The game marked the 50th anniversary of the opening of Andrew Warde High School, and it was the first meeting between both Fairfield public high schools at Warde since Thanksgiving Day, 1984.

The photo above shows Fern, seated to the left in the dark raincoat, during the field dedication ceremony, Thanksgiving Day, 2006. Congratulations, Fern. The honor is well-deserved.

Paul

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