Tag Archives: Buff Donelli
Al Paul
Al Paul (College athletics. Born, Baltimore, MD, Sept. 17, 1926.) A coach and administrator, Alvin R. Paul was involved in New York sports for more than 40 years. A graduate of Western Maryland, where he played football and lacrosse, Paul came to Hofstra as lacrosse coach and an assistant on Howdy Myers’ football staff in […]
Billy Gonsalves
Billy Gonsalves (Soccer. Born, Fall River, MA, Aug. 10, 1908; died, Kearny, NJ, July 17, 1977.) When the names of American-born soccer greats are discussed the one name that leads all the lists is that of William (Billy) Gonsalves, a potent scoring threat and an even better set-up man from his inside forward position. Gonsalves […]
Buff Donelli
Buff Donelli (Soccer and college football. Born, Morgan, PA, July 22, 1907; died, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Aug. 9, 1994.) Because he was a big fan of Buffalo Bill, Aldo Theodore Donelli earned his peculiar childhood nickname, “Buff,” that remained with him his entire life. One of the most successful college football coaches of his time, […]
Brian Dennehy
Brian Dennehy (College football. Born, Bridgeport, CT, July 9, 1938.) A two-sport star (football and track) at Chaminade H.S., Brian Dennehy went to Columbia as a football lineman. A freshman in 1956 (Lou Little’s last as varsity coach), Dennehy impressed new coach Buff Donelli as a sophomore, becoming the regular right tackle in 1957. The following […]
Bill Campbell
Bill Campbell (College football. Born, Homestead, PA, Aug. 31, 1940.) A smallish but intensely competitive guard at Columbia (1959-61), William Vincent Campbell was an outstanding on-field leader. Campbell captained the 1961 Columbia team that earned an Ivy League co-championship (with Harvard). Called “the best captain I ever had” by veteran coach Buff Donelli, he joined Donelli’s […]
