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College football
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 3, 2003
NEW YORK -- Al Bart, a member of Fordham University's famed Seven Blocks of Granite defensive line, died at age 87.
He died Dec. 29 at Lincoln Park Manor in Kettering, Ohio, Fordham said Thursday.
Mr. Bart played at Fordham from 1935-37. His teammates on the line were Vince Lombardi and Alex Wojciechowicz, both members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Nat Pierce, Ed Franco, John Druze and Leo Paquin. Druze is the only one still alive.
At Fordham, Mr. Bart played by the name Al Babartsky but later shortened his last name because people frequently misspelled it.
In his three years at Fordham, the Rams went 18-2-5. He played six years in the NFL with the Chicago Cardinals and Chicago Bears.
ARIZONA STATE: Minutes after receiving the inaugural Ted Hendricks Award as the nation's best defensive end, Terrell Suggs announced he would turn pro. Suggs, who had an NCAA-record 24 sacks this season, is projected as a first-rounder. Wide receiver Shaun McDonald, also turning pro, is projected as a second-rounder.
PENN STATE: After completing his 37th season, coach Joe Paterno said he has no retirement plans. "I think as long as I think I can do a decent job, I'll probably coach a few more," said Paterno, who turns 76 next month. "Whether that's three years, five years, I don't know. I certainly have no plan to get out of it."
SOUTH CAROLINA: Linebackers coach Chris Cosh was named defensive coordinator, replacing Charlie Strong who left last week for the same position at Florida.
VIRGINIA: President John T. Casteen III apologized for a halftime performance by the school's pep band at the Continental Tire Bowl that depicted West Virginians wearing overalls and pigtails.