Alumni:
I'm currently in the process of collecting information.
I would appreciate it if alumni were to email me
such information as years on the team, email, phone, location, and
maybe some little blurb about your experience with the team.
The alumni page shall metamorphose over time, and I would
also appreciate comments on its content.
Furthermore, to save myself much possible grief, I'm not going
to try to mediate any controversies over who did what.
| Name |
Years |
Thoughts |
|
| 1965 | |
| Jody Taylor | 1965 to ? |
Played in the first game GMU ever had in 1965 and the last game
Mason had as the old "original" Mason team. Played 18
straight years until 1983 for Mason and NOVA and then Old Boys for
Nova for another 5 years. Played every position as a forward except
2nd row.
Team started in 65 by high school football players who didn't
enjoy flag football. First coach was H. Mebain Turner, dean of
men, who played for UVA. Only teams around then locally to play
were Washington and Baltimore. Many of our games were on the road
- Old Blue in New York, Norfolk, UVA, Sais (John Hopkins), Manhattan
RFC, (NY), Richmond RFC, Whitemarsh, to mention a few. Many of
us actually played on Sundays for UVA's 2nd side. We would play
on Saturdays for GMU, party, and then drive Sunday morning to
UVA for another game. Making class on Monday in Fairfax was a
problem!
Rugby has always been a big part of my life. Actually still is.
Most memorable moments - Lets see - playing and beating Pontypool
Welsh side in the Cherry Blossom for the Cup, playing in Ottawa
in their home stadium against the Ottawa Beavers and having someone's
earlobe (Canadian of course) bitten off in the bottom of a collapsed
scrum. No one would admit to it, so the ref lined up both packs
and made them open their mouths to see if anyone had any extra
meat in between their teeth.
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| |
| 1971 | |
| Davey Williams |
1971 to ? | I played for George Mason beginning in the Fall of 1971.
Continued association with group that became Northern Virginia RFC.
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| 1973 | |
| Bill Gardner |
1973 to '75 | I played sporadically
with the group that became the charter
members of Northern Virginia RFC. |
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| |
| 1977 | |
| Chris Kirkwood |
1977 to '79 |
Moved on to western suburbs, since then I have played
with the old Aztecs in San Diego, cypress unicorns,
Norfolk City blues and now USUHS.
I must say I have truly enjoyed my 23 years playing rugby and still play. In
the old days, it was tough; we were a mix of students and older players and
played in the club division. It was a great place to get that rugby
initiation.
Good luck to the current team, hope you all enjoy the game as much I as I
have!
I currently live in Silver Spring, Maryland. |
| Carl Turner |
1977 to '81 |
2nd Row, 8, Prop (everything in the pack but hooker) One of the
original 4209 University Crew with JP Mendez, Juice Walker and Stu...the
original 24 hour nonstop animal house Still have my original moth
hole eaten jerseys Most memorable experiences - halftime exhibition
game at RFK, me on a 30 yard breakaway being tackled by Tony Brown
on the one after stopping to listen to all the 30,000 cheering in
RFK (or maybe Tony was faster...) seeing a piece of broom grass
shoved completely through some poor ruggers hand at a Hammond LA
Mardi Gras Tournament...20 naked ruggers led by Grandpa H. on top
of a George Mason bus in the Mardi Gras parade (try that today and
ye will be arrested, expelled & shot)...midnight naked calisthenics
in front of 4209 during an elephant walk (Fairfax City's finest
objected mightily)...me breaking my arm in half in March at Mason
(with 4" snow no less)...little Brit ruggers ganging up on Stumpy.
|
|
| |
| 1980 | |
| Paul Donovan |
1980 to '84 | 2nd Row/#8, and hey why not be a back
sometimes....
Memorable Player/Games/Parties:
Mt. Vernon H.S./Ft.Hunt H.S. Alum with fellow Mason players, Anderson
Brothers, Quinn Brothers, Jack Hagan, Gaetjen Brothers, Jake!, John
Dunaway,"Duck", Chris Mitchell, Tim cheese-Berger, and the list goes
on...and all of the Wash Club defects, that played for Mason, Sully, Paul,
Pete G. and the list goes on...and others from No.VA area, Ted, Bubba Rae,
Bobby Lillis, Jim Steigerwald, Tony, Barry Broadway and the list goes on
(and if I missed you you'll understand, right!). These were some of my
best college friends and we had kick-ass teams and repeatedly beat the
crap out of folks like Madison, Tech, MD, VA, etc., etc.
'88 Played for Huntington Beach Unicorns with J.P. Mendez (former famous
Mason Rugger) and the Zoggster
'91-'93 Played for Denver Barbarians 15's/7's (made 7's nationals in early
90's) and got to get back to VA for playoffs.
B.S. Economics 84', MBA studies Married 13 years (yes, its possible), 1
girl/1 boy in Denver area since y'89
Miss you all -- and my best to all fellow past and present GMU ruggers.
Any GMU rugger, look me up for any reason if you come to town...
Paul B. Donovan
7158 S. Mount Holy Cross
Littleton, CO 80127
303-358-8786
303-932-0096 (fax)
pbdmail@mindspring.com
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| 1981 | |
| Max Waggoner |
1981 to '83 | Our big accomplishment was
to play in the Last Potomac Rugby Union Championship in 1983 (I guess they
brought it back). We lost to Navy 16-6 or something like that, and it
was the dirtiest game I ever played in, on both sides. Good thing too,
I'm sure some of those Navy guys went on to bomb the hell out of Saddam
Hussein. |
|
| |
| 1983 | |
| Pete Granholm | 1983 to '87 |
GMU rugby highlights/memories were too numerous to do justice here. I was a
Flanker, and President for a couple years and Captain, and was responsible
for getting GMU into the PRU College Division. Previously, GMU was in the
PRU Men's Club Division. From the early to late 80's GMU had some great
rugby talent that moved on to play for some top Men's clubs, such as
Washington and NOVA. We took great pride in GMU rugby, and did not lose many
games, nor did we accept losing. When I later played for Washington from 87
to 92 we had about 10 former GMU alumni's playing, and won the ERU and made
it to the National Championships 3 times. Not many people know that Mr.
Robinson (same man named for Robinson High School and Robinson Hall)
attended the first GMU rugby match played in 1965 and threw in the game ball
to dedicate the rugby pitch. In fact, we found a picture of that
commemorative moment in the school photo department at GMU, and we used it
for recruiting/advertisements. GMU rugby has a long tradition of excellence
and partying hard. I hope the young guys carry the torch.
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| |
| 1984 | |
| Chris Downey | 1984 to '88 |
played 1984 to 1988. I was the the club treasurer. Played my first game
due to UK and Granholm offering free beer! Lots of good memories. I have
recently located to West Des Moines Iowa. |
|
| |
| 1985 | |
| Barry Tidd | 1985 to '87 |
I was captain of GMU from 1985-87.
I played for Washington till 1990, then moved to Charlotte and play for
Charlotte Rugby. Was captain 1992-3.
Always interested in GMU rugger. I know Coach Chappy pretty well.
We also are interested in any GMU ruggers who may want to come to Charlotte
to live/play. |
| Darden Couch | 1985 to '90 |
After Mason I also played for the PRU, ERU, and was a Two time Collegiate All-American in 1989 and 1990.
After graduation I move to Atlanta, Ga. to play for Atlanta Old White, continued with various ERU teams,
played in Durban and Cape Town South Africa for a long season, also toured and played in England and Scotland. With the exception of an occasional "Old Boys" match, I have retired to the golf course.It is great to see many all too familiar names on your site.
The stories I could tell about some of these guys! My web address is couch@cdpartners.com |
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| |
| 1987 | |
| Patrick Clark |
1987 to '89 |
Chap was on the team at the same time.
The coach was Jim (can't remember his last name) then Tony Brown. I played
wing. I went to my first 7s tournament at Virginia Beach with George Mason.
I have a fond memory of playing Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. They brought a
keg to the field and tapped it as soon as the A-side game was finished, most
refreshing. After college I played for Western Suburbs in Fairfax. A few
years ago I enrolled at William and Mary to get another degree and played
one year there. I'm semi-retired and still play once in a while for Western
Suburbs and Western Suburbs Old Boys. |
| Jason Figley | 1987 to '92 | I was Captain in '92.
Best memories: whipping Navy at their pitch is 91, England/Wales Tour 91,
electing Tony Brown coach in 88, the Argentine connection (Marco Vietti and
Robert Olson, 92), winning Penn State's Tourny in 91, getting banned from
the Fairfax Fire house in 87 because of the Mason rugby post tournament
party and the panty raid at Catholic University
I currently play for the Northern Virginia Rugby Club. I married Linda and
we have one little boy with 1 more on the way. |
|
| |
| 1988 | |
| Nick Bell | 1988 to '92 |
I currently play for the Eagles (7s team) and am
heading to play in the Dubai International Sevens tournament (United Arab
Emirates) at the end of this month and owe a lot of me recent rugby success
to GMU and Tony Brown.
As a Mason player I had some great trips and played
in some great games. My favorite times were driving to West Point as severe
under dogs wearing wet jerseys because Jason Jackson forgot to dry them and
narrowly losing to Army in front of all the cadets. We were smashing them
and they came back at the very end.
I also remember the tour to
England/Wales with Matt Hassan and many other great guys. We had a blast
and even won some games. |
| Tony Brown | 1988 to '95 | Coach |
| Matt Hassan |
1988 to '91 |
Those were the days when Tony
Brown was the coach.
My most memorable trip was the
England/Wales tour of March 1991 if memory
serves we did not do too shabbily for a bunch of yanks! Saw some brilliant
play from the natives. |
|
| |
| 1989 | |
| Zach David |
1989 to '93 |
Captained side from Fall 92- 93. Greatest memories were
winning St. Patricks Day in 1990 when the tourney was on the mall, beating Army in Cherry
Blossom semifinal in 1992 and putting together the first annual Alpha Phi Rugby mixer halloween
party. Worst memory was getting spanked by Navy in the final immediately after playing Army in
semifinal. |
| David Lazzo |
1989 to '92 |
I play for NOVA now and am a sub for the Bolivian National Team. Best
memories of our England Wales tour is sleeping next to Jason Figley in
England; and the worst memory was waking up next to him; the man is
notorious for his wet dreams. No no, my worst memory was playing prop in
England against a 18 year old kid who turned my back into a turtle shell.
All that was heard from within the scrum was a high pitched voice yelling,
"BE COOL, BE COOL!!!" |
| Marco Vietti. |
1989 to '91 |
I currently live in San Martin de Los
Andes, Argentina. I played 8 man and second row. I am currently banned from
playing rugby in my country. I broke the cardinal rule of rugby, don't
punch the referee in his nose. My greatest memory was putting together an
alumni team in 1992 and beating the shit out of Harvard Law. One of my
greatest inspirations was Ryan Warren, because he showed me that the right
diet and work out program could enhance my performance. Another one was
Nick Bell, who always had some extra gel for my hair; and David Lazzo, who
would show up to Mason when he wasn't a student his first year, with a back
pack full of news papers, posing as a student. That dude really wanted to
play rugby. |
| Ryan Warren |
1989 to '92 |
I went on to continue playing with
NOVA up until this last season when I thought I might try to retire. I'm
getting the itch back so I'll probably be back in the mix in the Spring. We all loved
playing for Mason and still talk about some of our good times, especially
our trip to England/Wales. I'm not sure those stories should be posted
anywhere! Anyway, I know I'll ALWAYS remember my time
playing rugby at Mason.
People from other schools ask me if I was in a
fraternity at Mason and I tell them it was rugby. Several of the other
guys I'm still the best of friends with from the Mason team feel the same
way. |
|
| |
| 1991 | |
| Kashka "Cash" Ashford |
1991 to '94 |
Member of the team reaching the East Final four in 1994. Most of my best
GMU memories came from playing rugby at Mason. Currently play with NOVA.
Best memory was playing Army in the East Final Four and scoring the first
try. I consider Mason rugby a defining period of my life. |
| Sal Montema |
1991 to '95 |
too blurry to remember any stories |
| Paul Webster |
1991 to '92 |
I played for GMU for only one year, when Tony Brown was coaching.
I was playing for Washington RFC, and Tony convinced me to come out
and play, and I'm glad I did. My most memorable experience:
we were beating a team so badly, that Tony made all the backs play the forward
positions, and vice versa. Being a flyhalf, it really gave me
an appreciation for the work of the forwards. After graduating, I resumed playing for
Washington for two years, at one point playing against Tony.
I am currently living in Santa Monica, CA, pursuing acting and
stand-up comedy. As for anything that Nick Bell and Barry Tidd claim,
it is entirely false and should be stricken from the record. |
|
| |
| 1992 | |
| Dave Shacochis |
1992 to '94 | Highlights include traveling to Providence, RI
for the Rugby Imports tournament in 1993. Standing at the Tourney Schedule Board with Rich
Spillane hearing some other rugger say "Oh no! George Mason's here! They're
the club that beat Army!" Being the recipient of the last GMU collegiate
rugby assist by the great Weasel Williams. |
| John Redmond |
1992 to '95 |
I played
various Forward positions until I found my place as the HOOKER. I ate and
breathe that position. My whole rugby career at Mason was a great
experience and playing with Tony Brown, as coach, made it even better.
Looking back, those years were the best. I'm starting to play with the
Vipers down here in North Carolina, however, nothing can compete with the
team that I played with, at Mason. GMU has a great Rugby History and
Tradition and I am very glad I was a part of that. redmondjw@yahoo.com |
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| | 1994 | |
| Andrew "Bull" Martin |
1994 to '98 |
One of my highlights was scoring a try against navy back in 96. Also when we
played at the St. Patrick's tourney in D.C.,in 97 with snow and ice on the
ground and wind and rain pouring down on us. It was probably the most
uncomfortable I have ever been, besides riding in the back of Chris Knights
VW. Mason Rugby has great tradition, and I hope you all keep it alive. |
| Trung Tran |
1994 to '98 |
My most memorable experience was my
first A-side game in a playoff match against Brown. It was great because it
was my first semester playing rugby and we went to the East Coast Final Four
located in Orlando, Florida. I played with a great bunch of guys and got to
travel up and down the east coast. |
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