Posted by Gene Richardson '74 on April 19, 2011:

1938-2011, the dates bring tears, but what matters to me most is the dash between those years, for that dash represents the time Coach spent on earth, and those of us who loved him, especially the 150-lb Football players in the early '70s, know what that little line is worth. Coach Cerjan was the motivating force behind one of the most dominating and successful Army sports programs of any era, helping the Little Rabble to win all but one game during his tenure as line coach under Coach Tipton. He was also the force behind my deciding to remain a cadet and I never regretted his tactic, with the help of the company TAC, to not allow me to resign before the First Captain, a 150s player, and the team captain, the Brigade Athletic Officer, skillfully convinced me that I should remain a cadet. That year we crushed Navy 41-0 on their home field and it was Coach Cerjan who rushed to greet me after I had checked off Coach Tipton's dive play on 4th and 2 from our own 38 and hit our split end for 61 yards, telling me that Tip almost swallowed his cigar when he saw me raise up to make that pass. Coach Cerjan was also there to support the Fellowship of Christian Athletes when we needed him, lend a fishing rod on the weekends, and even his car. I will forever be grateful to my coach, a fine example of an officer, and his wife, Pat, for their support of me during my cadet years and afterwards as a young officer.

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