The 50th anniversary mark celebrates the tradition of the Northeastern men's rowing program with its use of the official crest, complete with the Hovey cross. |
BOSTON—Northeastern University will celebrate 50 years of men's rowing with a yearlong celebration slated to kick off this fall.
The university launched its highly-accomplished rowing program in 1965, when a group of novice oarsmen took the rowing world by storm, defeating 33 of 34 crews and earning an invitation to the Henley Royal Regatta. Northeastern capped its impressive first half-century with a fifth-place team finish at the IRA National Championship in early June to solidify its standing as one of the nation's preeminent programs.
"The 50th anniversary of men's rowing provides us the opportunity to reflect on the success of the program, celebrate our standing as one of the nation's elite programs, and engage our alumni in elevating the program to even loftier achievement," said Director of Athletics
Peter Roby. "We are excited to mark this milestone and, together with our rowing family, will continue to do all we can to position our men's rowing program for national and international prominence."
Additional information about the 50th anniversary celebration, including events and online photo and story sharing, will be publicized later this summer. Rowing alumni who would like more information about how they can support the program or the anniversary celebration should contact
Shawn Cote at
s.cote@neu.edu.
"We are in the early stages of planning this celebration," said Cote, who works closely with the program as a member of the Office of University Advancement. "We are excited about the opportunity to celebrate and build upon the tradition of the program, to bridge our past with our present and future, and to generate increasing support for the program that will ensure its long-term success."
One of the nation's most resurgent programs, Northeastern crews have captured medals at each of the last four Eastern Sprints. A year ago, at the IRA National Championship, NU took home the Clayton Chapman Award for the greatest team point increase over the prior year, and at this year's championship, the Huskies advanced two of three eights to Grand Finals and placed fifth nationally as a team, ahead of Harvard and Yale.
"It's been my great privilege to lead the Northeastern men's rowing program for the past 14 years," said Head Coach
John Pojednic. "Rowing belongs at Northeastern—the 1965 crews proved that, and each generation of Husky oarsmen has left a legacy of its own that reiterates the prominence of Northeastern crews among the nation's elite teams and elite universities. We have always been one of the hardest working programs in the country. Our oarsmen and coaches have always known that we earn our speed through hard pulling, efficient rowing, and relentless desire to cross the finish line first. As we celebrate 50 years of rowing at Northeastern, the goal must be to ensure long-term, sustained excellence so that future generations have the opportunity to build upon the legacy of the past, and elevate the program to higher levels of achievement within the Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges and the Intercollegiate Rowing Association."
During its first season, Northeastern's 1965 record-breaking varsity crew would amaze the sports world. |
The Northeastern program traces its beginnings to the early 1960s, when Harry Paulsen '64 delivered a petition bearing the signatures of nearly one-quarter of the student body to athletic director Herb Gallagher. With the support of university president Asa Knowles, and with the financial backing of board member Chandler Hovey, rowing at Northeastern was on its way.
Hovey, a noted investment banker and owner of America's Cup challenger
Easterner, gave Gallagher his orders: "Don't try to save a few dollars by getting a part-time coach. Get a good one." And indeed they did, in G. Ernest Arlett. A native of England's famed rowing town, Henley-on-Thames, Arlett was a sculling coach and supervisor of Harvard's Weld Boathouse before arriving at NU. He spent 14 years at Northeastern, building the program into one of the nation's most respected. Arlett also was the United States Olympic coach for Sculling during the 1976 Summer Olympic Games and is credited with founding Boston's storied Head of the Charles Regatta.
"What a 50-year ride it's been," Associate Athletic Director Emeritus
Jack Grinold commented. "Starting with the Cinderella year of 1965, when 24 novice oarsmen defeated 33 of 34 crews, won the Dad Vail, and went to the Henley Royal Regatta. Over the next 49 years, you can sprinkle in 32 Eastern Sprints medals, 28 IRA medals, four major champions, six more trips to Henley, and 13 Olympians plus eight Olympic medals. We close out the half century by finishing third in the Rowe Cup standings, emblematic of team strength in the East, and fifth in the Ten Eyck trophy, certifying NU's standing in the nation. Certainly, it's a story of progress and prominence."
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