WORCESTER, Mass. – Holy Cross director of athletics Nathan Pine has announced that two former football standouts will be honored this fall, as the sixth class in the Crusader Football Legends Ring of Honor. Jack Lentz (Class of 1967) and Glenn Verrette (Class of 1980) will be honored in a ceremony at the game against Harvard on Oct. 15, and receive permanent recognition at Fitton Field.
Lentz was one of the finest option quarterbacks ever to play football at Holy Cross. During his sophomore season, he set what was then a school single-season record with 802 rushing yards in only 10 games. After missing his junior season due to injury, Lentz returned to the field as a senior to rush for 685 yards and lead the Crusaders to a 6-3-1 overall record. He finished his career with 1,487 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on 323 carries, and still ranks seventh all-time at Holy Cross with seven career 100-yard games. Lentz also threw for 1,016 yards and five scores during his career with the Crusaders. He was a two-time recipient of the O'Melia Award, including during his senior season when he threw a game-winning pass to Pete Kimener in the final minute to defeat Boston College 32-26. Lentz also won the Davitt Award twice as the team's top back, and went on to play two seasons with the Denver Broncos as a defensive back following his graduation.
Verrette was one of Holy Cross' most successful student-athletes during the late 1970s. He was not only a four-year starter at safety, he also started in left field on the baseball diamond for three years. Verrette ranked fifth in the nation with seven interceptions in 1978, a mark which remains tied for the eighth-best single-season performance in school history. His 15 career interceptions ranked second in school history at the time of his graduation, and are still the fifth-most ever by a Crusader. Verrette received the O'Melia Award following the 1978 Boston College game, after totaling 18 tackles, two interceptions and breaking up a two-point conversion pass in the final minute to secure a 30-29 Holy Cross victory. A first team All-New England selection in both 1978 and 1979, he also took home first team All-ECAC honors as a junior. In addition, Verrette was a two-time recipient of the Davitt Award as the team's top defensive back.
Only former Crusader football players who have been elected to the Holy Cross Varsity Club Hall of Fame are eligible for the Ring of Honor. The inductees to be honored were chosen by a special committee, which includes representatives from the Holy Cross Athletic Department, the Friends of Crusader Football Executive Committee, the Holy Cross Varsity Club and the Holy Cross Development Office. In addition, fan voting accounted for a small percentage of the final tally. With the addition of these two individuals, a total of 22 former players will now be included in the Ring of Honor.
Individuals who have previously been inducted into the Crusader Football Legends Ring of Honor include Ronnie Cahill (Class of 1940), Tom Ciaccio (Class of 1992), George Connor (Class of ex1946), Gill Fenerty (Class of 1986), Harry Flaherty (Class of 1984), Tom Greene (Class of 1959), Tom Hennessey (Class of 1963), Bruce Kozerski (Class of 1984), Gordie Lockbaum (Class of 1988), Charlie Maloy (Class of 1953), Pat McCarthy (Class of 1963), Jon Morris (Class of 1964), Edmund Murphy (Class of 1943), Bill Osmanski (Class of 1939), Vince Promuto (Class of 1960), John Provost (Class of 1975), Dave Quehl (Class of 1976), Johnny Turco (Class of 1952), Jeff Wiley (Class of 1989) and Joe Wilson (Class of 1973).
Make sure not to miss the Ring of Honor ceremony at the Harvard game on Oct. 15 by ordering you season tickets today! Tickets are available online at GoHolyCross.com/tickets or over the phone by calling 1-844-GOCROSS.
