It took us a long time to ascertain the origins of the team cheer and mascot (of sorts). It turned out that the
original Rusty Boots were actually javelin spikes sometime in the 60's. With the spikes in the front AND the back, javelin spikes are like the
velociraptors of track and field equipment.
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| Artist's Conception of Javelin Spikes portrayed as a Dinosaur. |
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| Artist's Conception of Other Track Spikes portrayed as a Dinosaur. |
So when I got wind of a javelin thrower who won the Penn Relays Javelin and the 4 x 100 Relay minutes apart, I was intrigued. It gets even better when you realize that
Jerry Dyes was wearing his Javelin Spikes for the entire competition. Meet Officials would not allow him to change spikes, so he just kept wearing his
Rusty Boots!
There's a heck of a lot more at the link on Jerry,
including stories of challenging college quarterbacks on who could throw a football further. Indeed, Jerry Dyes is a fellow Rusty Boots member. (Thanks to
George Brose for the tip.)
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| The original PSU Rusty Boots. |
And
Group Friend and Museum Curator Mike Fanelli came across this great listing from the 1949 Penn Relays high school 4 x 880 yd Relay. It happens to list
Leonard Black, father of Alumni (Golfers)
Barb Black, Steve Black and
Gary Black, running in the same heat as
Coach Groves.
For those who don't realize it, the story of the origins of Rusty Boots is not meant to be taken as Gospel. While we have the testimony of several track athletes from the early to mid 60's, no one actually knows the complete story. Which is probably as it should be. No one should become exercised about any of it. We should just enjoy it and smile. Remember the mirth. Make up your own story and I may post it.
ReplyDeleteYou would think that the inclusion of a cartoon dinosaur in the post would tip off a college graduate that "Truth" is sometimes fungible.
ReplyDeleteI saw a dinosaur similar to the second one right next to me at a Dead concert in the early 80s. It then got up and walked away. Nothing cartoonish about that exerience!
ReplyDeleteI was at the Dead concert in Rec Hall in 1979 or so. The thing that struck me the most was the gentleman from Oregon who was selling hits of acid right next to a policeman at the front entrance.
ReplyDelete