PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University Department of Athletics announced that the 1976 football team was selected as the fourth Pace team to be recognized with the Team of Distinction Award. The team will be honored as part of the 2017 Pace Athletics Hall of Fame Dinner & Awards ceremony on Thursday, April 27, 2017. The event will be held at Whitby Castle in Rye, N.Y. A cocktail reception will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner and awards to follow at 7 p.m.
The 1976 football team finished with an outstanding 7-1 overall record, an impressive feat for a program created just eight years prior. A superior defensive team, the Setters allowed just 6.5 points per game that season, including a trio of shutouts against St. John's University (27-0), Marist College (28-0) and Saint Peter's University (21-0). The team's fantastic season culminated in victory in the Metropolitan Conference Championship.
The Setters were coached by Pace Hall of Famer George Maier, and featured 11 All-Conference athletes. Among them is Pace Hall of Fame quarterback Doug Woodward, who went on to play professionally in the NFL, CFL and USFL after graduation. Woodward recently spoke briefly with PaceUAthletics.com to answer a few questions about the 1976 Pace football season.
1. What are some of the best memories that you can recall from the 1976 season?
The bonds you build with your teammates and having both sets of grandparents, my parents, my four sisters and brother and many friends coming to see us play.
2. What did it mean for the Pace football program to take home the Metropolitan Conference Championship?
The success of any team starts from the top ... from our president Dr. Edward Mortola, to the last role player on the team... everyone contributing and making sacrifices for the good of the team... very special... competing against some very good schools.
3. What are some things you would like to say about fellow Hall of Famer, Head Coach George Maier?
Not enough time to share all the genuine thoughts we all have for Coach Maier. For me, the greatest asset any coach can have is caring and truly believing in his student-athletes, and Coach Maier gave me that support and confidence every day at Pace, and every day when I left Pace. I will always have a special place in my heart for Coach Maier!!!
4. How often do you communicate with your teammates from that season today?
Not often enough, but when we do call, text, email or see each other in person, time stands still, and the good memories and bonds we made 40 years ago are just as strong. And when we visit or laugh or share a story, the bond continues to grow... very lucky.
5. Is there anything more you would like to say about the 1976 football team?
We all were truly blessed.
The 1976 Pace football team will be recognized with this year's Athletics Hall of Fame inductees. The newest members to the Pace Athletics Hall of Fame are Chris Bayer (Baseball '91), Luke Hirten (Men's Lacrosse '00), James Stewart (Football '71), Patricia Thomas-Arscott (Women's Tennis '00) and Kim Zornow-Wise (Women's Basketball '89). In addition, Pace Hall of Fame member Gene Westmoreland '65 will be awarded with the Peter X. Finnerty Leadership Award. The Pace Athletics Hall of Fame was started in 1997 with this year's ceremony marking the 16th induction class.
Tickets for the event are available for $125 per person. For more information on the 2017 Pace University Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, please contact Associate Athletics Director
Drew Brown at 914-773-3271 or
dbrown4@pace.edu. To register for the event please visit
www.alumni.pace.edu/HOF2017.
For all information regarding Pace University Athletics, log on to
www.PaceUAthletics.com and follow Pace Athletics on Facebook (
T-Bone, Official Mascot of Pace University Athletics), Twitter (
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@PaceAthletics).
