SELINSGROVE, Pa. -- The Susquehanna University Quarterback Club kicks off its weekly luncheon meetings on Friday, September 1, one day before the Crusaders open the 2000 season on the road at Middle Atlantic Conference opponent FDU-Madison. The luncheons will be each Friday beginning at noon in the Shearer Weber Dining Room of the Degenstein Campus Center on the Susquehanna campus.
As in past years, the luncheons will feature the team's weekly Gus Weber Crusader Football Player of the Week, sponsored by the Golden Corral Family Restaurant of Routes 11 and 15 in Shamokin Dam. The award is named in honor of the late Susquehanna president and former head football coach Gustave Weber, who was Susquehanna president for more than 18 years from 1959 through 1977. A collegiate football standout at Wagner College, Weber was an avid Crusader athletics booster who actually served as head football coach for the final two games of 1965.
Golden Corral will once again present $100 each week in the name of the Gus Weber Crusader Player of the Week to that player's favorite charity. This is the fourth year Golden Corral has sponsored the program - donating $2,400 to charities in its first two seasons. The Player of the Week will be featured each week on WQSU-FM's "Coach's Corner Show," which airs 20 minutes before the station begins its live on-site coverage of Crusader football. He will also be the guest speaker each Friday at Quarterback Club, where former Crusader player and Golden Corral Manager Ron Laniewski, will present him the $100 check for the charity of his choice.
"The commitment by both Ron and The Golden Corral has been greatly appreciated by our program. It's a great motivator for our players, and the money has gone to some great charities over the years," says 11th-year Crusader head coach Steve Briggs.
Briggs will speak about his 2000 Crusaders at Friday's luncheon, as the team begins its quest for a third consecutive Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth League championship and 15th consecutive non-losing season. The Crusaders return 28 letterwinners and 16 starters from last year's squad and were tied with Widener for first place in balloting by the league's six head coaches in the annual preseason poll.
In addition to Briggs, speakers at the opening meeting will also include the team's tri-captains in senior free safety Mario Cromartie (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna H.S.), senior center Dave Wonderlick (Shenandoah, Pa./Shenandoah Valley H.S.) and senior offensive tackle Randy Zook (Belleville, Pa./Indian Valley H.S.).
The meetings are open to the public and cost $6.95 each week for lunch. Quarterback Club membership for the year is $20. Quarterback Club members receive tickets to the club's annual post-season awards' banquet.
More details concerning the Quarterback Club may be obtained by calling the Susquehanna Athletic Office at (570) 372-4270.
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